Levon V of Armenia

Levon V was crowned King of Cilician Armenia in Sis, the capital, after the death of his cousin King Constantine IV. His coronation was contested by rival claimants and occurred during a period of intense Mamluk pressure on the kingdom.

Mamluk forces captured the capital Sis after a siege, ending the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia. Levon V was taken prisoner and the kingdom was annexed by the Mamluk Sultanate, marking the end of Armenian statehood in Cilicia.

After seven years of Mamluk captivity, Levon V was ransomed by King John I of Castile. He traveled to Europe, seeking support for a crusade to restore his kingdom, but failed to secure military aid. He spent his remaining years in Spain and France.

Levon V died in Paris and was buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the traditional burial place of French kings. His tomb became a symbol of the lost Armenian kingdom and a site of pilgrimage for Armenians in Europe.