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The Kingdom of Cilicia is considered by eminent historians, archaeologists
and anthropologists as one of the greatest ancient empires of
all time. It did not last very long in the history of human kind
but, most certainly, it made an immense mark on the European civilization,
its way of life, its trade and commerce, its arts and laws, its
architecture and above all, it left an extra-ordinary impact on
early Christianity edifices, castles, palaces, cathedrals and
churches, as well as on the Crusaders who learned from the Armenians
how to build circular- round-shaped castles and towers. Back then,
the Crusaders in Europe knew only how to build square-shaped towers
and castles. They did not know how to build fully circular towers
and round castles until they learned the trade from their teachers
the Armenian architects, and castles and towers builders in pre-medieval
Armenia! Europe began to erect really fabulous castles in the
10th century, while Armenia by the 9th century
has already demonstrated to the world its superior architecture
mastery in building elegant and prestigious castles, palaces and
fortresses, long long time before Europe!
 Photo:
Crusaders’ Shoback Castle in Jordan. Its architecture was influenced
by the Cilician architecture. Its two front round shaped towers
are clearly the product and direct influence of Armenian architecture.
One of the most predominant effects of Cicilian art and direct
impact on Europe was obviously the Armenian architecture. More
precisely, the architecture of churches, cathedrals, religious
buildings and monasteries. The Cilician kingdom architects invented
the church pentacle domes and the cross-shape lay-out of early
European churches and cathedrals including those of Venice, Florence,
Rome, Constantinople, Moscow, Leningrad, Nantes, Reims, Orleans,
Paris, Maronite Lebanon, Coptic Egypt, Syriac-Aramaic Syria, Assyrian
(Ashourian) Iraq, Orthodox Greece and Cyprus, Nestorian, Gnostic,
Agnostic, Reformed, Orthodox and Medieval Christian Turkiye, the
Near East, the Middle East and wherever there is a Christian church
or an iron bell on the face of the earth. Among the greatest architects
of ancient and medieval centuries, the world witnessed and recognized
the Babylonians, Assyrians, Hittites, Egyptians, Ionians, Phoenicians,
Greeks, Romans and Armenians. Cilician Armenia gained knowledge
and experience in many human endeavors throughout many centuries
beginning with the majestic reigns, epochs and times of the Armenian
kingdoms of Mitanni and Ararat (2nd millennium B.C),
when Armenian architecture has already reached a level of almost
perfection and was in those days considered as the most advanced
architecture in the known world. The early Armenians of Ararat
were already master-builders and accomplished architects. They
were among the first architects of the nations of the ancient
world to design and build multi-story edifices and buildings,
including domestic houses, residences and centers of learning.
Some of the Cilician palaces, temples, theistic and pre-theistic
foundations were recently found in excavations and were acknowledged
to be as the world’s first multi-story architecturally designed
edifices.
 Photo:
Drawing/illustration of an early Armenian church with its noticeable
altar dome. Armenian altars and domes style later were frequently
copied, used and shaped after in European architecture for and
in churches, cathedrals, royal palaces, universities, immense
libraries and governmental edifices.
The gigantic palaces and castles of enormous proportions of Ararat
were the source of inspiration, data, collection of know-how and
information for the forthcoming castles and buildings of Bagratouni
(Bagratid), Arshakouni (Arsacid) Yervandouni, Artashesian (Artaxiad)
and the Roubinian, Hetoumian and Lusignan periods. The Cilician
architects and master-builders taught architects, fortresses and
castles builders of ancient and medieval countries, the art, the
science and the strategic lay-out, design and sites selection
of castles , towers and fortresses. Many of the remaining ramparts,
walls, towers, arcades and ruins of the Crusade castles in Syria,
Palestine and Lebanon are living examples and witnesses of the
Armenian ancient and medieval architectural genius and original
creativity that shaped and influenced the architecture of the
Crusaders, ancient and medieval Europe and the Middle East, including
the Ottoman (Turkish) Sarails (Sarayat) , castles, sultanic palaces
and cities fortresses.
 Long
before its established boundaries and kingdom perimeter as the
Greater Armenia, Cicilian terrain in the region of Lake Van and
Mount Ararat was the center of culture, art, science for the ancient
Near East, Middle East, Indo-European countries, Anatolia, Syria,
Palestine, Iraq and other regions, countries and inhabitants of
Asia who interacted with the people of the kingdom of Urartu (Ararat
or Armenia today) and the kingdom of Cecilica. The Cilicians were
very hospitable, peace loving, and extremely friendly with their
neighbors and the tribes that lived in their surrounding regions.
Around the end of the 7th century B.C., the kingdom
of Urartu (Ararat) went into a deep sleep giving birth to a new
nation called Armenia. It would take this new country several
centuries before it would claim its independence from the Hellenics.
Armenia became a free country, free from the Greek Seleucids and
the influence of other foreign powers and cultures in the 2nd
century B.C. At that time, Armenia became very influential and
its trade and commerce rapidly flourished thanks to its northern
trade passage to Asia Minor, the Near and the Middle Eastern countries.
Unfortunately, Armenian could not protect their territories and
preserve their independence. In the 11th century, the Turkish
Seljuk dominated Asia Minor including all the surrounding countries
and neighboring nations. This lead to the absorbance of Urartu
and the Armenian population into the mighty Ottoman empire. The
Byzantines relocated the Armenians in Cilicia. Thus, the Armenians
began to regroup and re-form a new national identity.
 They
regrouped and settled in the mountainous areas, prairies, hills
and valleys of Cilicia where they established the last known autonomous
Armenian state (Kingdom). The very first thing they did, was to
build ramparts, high walls, fortresses and habitats for their
families and volunteered soldiers. They succeeded in protecting
their kingdom, possessions, castles, arts, heritage and way of
life for almost three hundred years. Cicilia was the region of
the lesser Armenia. Cilicia became a prosperous carrefour for
trade and commerce and cultural exchange. Neighboring inhabitants
and people from far lands including Europe had to pass through
the land of Cilicia en route to Palestine and the regions of the
Middle and Near East. This included, Asians, Europeans, Crusaders,
Greeks, Muslims, and other ethnic nationals. Unfortunately, everything
in life must come to an end and so did Cilicia in 1375 when it
rendered its independence to the Mamelukes.
 From
the beginning of time, the Turks (Turkish, Ottoman, Seljuks, Mamelukes,
etc.) had their eyes open on Armenia. Threatened by domestic political
differences, weakened by wars and struggles with greedy neighbors,
decimated by foreign invasions, humiliated and dominated by unmerciful
conquerors, the great kingdom of Cilicia rendered its last breath
and vanished from history in 1375, never again to rise up and
equal the majesty and glory of its legendary Armenian kingdom
(s). Thus, the Cilician identity was erased from history but not
from the memory of its people and nations which witnessed its
glorious past. Nevertheless, Cilicia ceased to exist and became
a part of the Ottoman empire for centuries. C!ilicia became part
of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. It was completely absorbed
and dissolved in the immensity of the Ottoman empire which ruled
over all the Middle East, the Near East, Asia Minor, and almost
one quarter of Europe! Nobody, no nation, none of the mighty European
powers could or would help the Cilician Armenians. The Ottoman
empire seemed too powerful and invincible. European countries
such as Spain, France, Italy and England would not interfere.
The Outhmany (Ottoman) empire was a formidable power, at least
on the surface. No wise man could tell or imagine that the Turkish
empire would easily collapse during the first world war. It did!
The Ottoman empire collapsed but it took with it the lives of
millions of Armenians. Around 1920-1922, the French and the British
tried to help the Armenians. But unfortunately, all their plans
and wishful friendly assistance came to a halt. Once again, the
Armenian people had to suffer the consequences. Armenians, young
and old, families and communities were driven to other countries.
Many of them relocated in Syrian cities like Aleppo, Kamishly,
Antioch and a greater number of Armenians settled in Lebanese
cities and towns like Anjar, Al Naher (a suburb of Beyrouth),
Kaslik, Antileas and other areas. Armenians who live today in
Syria and Lebanon and a few of them in Cyprus are the direct descendants
of Cilician Armenia. Lord! What a great and an honorable lineage.
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