We have stated above that there was an Armenian princedom established in Cilicia by Philaretos. Philaretos pretended to be the representative of the Byzantine and satisfied the Greek people in the region and he gave several presents to the Turkish detachments that sometimes dropped by there. Through these actions, the adventurer and rude Philaretos pretended to act like an ally of them through thousands of intrigues. Then, Philaretos got the benefit of the dispersion of the Byzantine armies and the occupation of Tuks in other regions and expanded its borders of domination. He had conquered Malatya in 1074 and then, he established dominion in Palu, Harput (Khartpert), Ayn-i Zarba, and Tarsus, Misis, Elbistan, Raban, and Kaysun. As a result, he captured Urfa from the governor of the Byzantine upon a rebellion of the people of this city most of which were Armenians. Afterwards, Philaretos gave the city of Urfa to the administration of his son, Barsam and lusted after the Antioch. Izak Komnenos who had been assigned as a duke in this region until 1078 was called to Istanbul by the new emperor, and one of the Armenian seniors was assigned instead of his place. The murder of this person by the Greeks in the bazaar of the Antioch was an opportunity for Philaretos to realise his old dreams: the soldiers of the slain duke and the major people invited him to the city and he took delivery of the city. However, there were not any normal conditions despite the organisations of princedoms, etc. in this region that was full of Turkmen people. According to the observation of the historian Mateos from Urfa that coincided with the year of 1079, "There were conflicts and turmoils everywhere extending towards Tarsus, Maras, and Deluk (Ayintab). The aristocrats who had gone hungry were begging for food all over the streets. The roads were full with the corpses, and there were birds crowded together over the corpses."

Armenians had had an important role in this terrible condition of Cilicia. Therefore, Philaretos constitutes a good example. This man considered everything permissible for the sake of domination and he deemed all sorts of vulgar and cruel treatments proper for not only his enemies, but also for the Greeks among his submissive people and also the Armenians who were of the same race. Nobody liked this man who changed sects and religions as required by the policies and he was the target of heavy blames of his fellow countrymen. Due to his tyranny, he was even betrayed by his son. In order to protect his lands, he declared his submission to the Byzantine Emperor Botaniates and then, he was entitled with the task of the dukedom of Antioch and the titles like Sebastos, etc. On the other hand, he used to pay taxes and give presents to Serefu'd-devle Muslim who was the ruler of Mosul and Aleppo, Suleymanshah who was the ruler of Anatolia, and Tacu'd-Devle Tutus who was the ruler of Syria.

Furthermore, he sent some presents and letters of fidelity to the Great Sultan Melikshah. He was on strained terms with his son who had become the governor of Urfa in the year of 1084 and Barsam was caught and arrested. Barsam who was worried as a result of this treatment and complainant about the actions of his father collaborated secretly with Muslim Ismail who was the governor of Antioch connected to his father. Then, he decided to invite the ruler of Anatolia to invade this city. He fled from the prison, went to Iznik and instigated Suleymanshah for the advance towards the Antioch. With the adequate forces, Suleymanshah advanced only at nights in order not to make anybody perceive this progress and he arrived in the Antioch in twelve days. He made 280 soldiers climb up the city walls from the predetermined places. The people who hated the Armenians did not show any resistance and they withdrew to the mountain of Habib Neccar and the citadel. The soldiers of Philaretos were running away.

The forces in the command of Moncukoglu suppressed the small resistance that burst out on the following day. This important city that was the last Christian castle of the Byzantine in Syria was conquered (the first week of December in 1084). Suleymanshah behaved kind to the people, he set the slaves and prisoners free, and he did not seize the properties of the people. The famous Christian church was restored as a mosque and the first prayers of Friday were performed through the azan read simultaneously by one hundred and twenty muezzins. Pursuant to the delivery of the citadel on the date of 12th January 1085, Suleymanshah invaded Ayintab, Artah, Bagras, Iskenderun, Suveydiye and the other towns and castles that were connected to the Antioch one by one. Pursuant to these invasions, he told the good news to the Great Sultan. This victory that pleased Melikshah very much was celebrated with great enthusiasm in all the Islam countries.

Philaretos who had heard of the fate of Antioch could not find any opportunity other than going to Honi in Ceyhan. Since he was dismissed from this place by Poltaci (Baltaci?), he took refuge in Maras. After a while, Poltaci invaded Honi, Goksun, Elbistan, Keysun, and finally Maras in the year of 1085. Upon these invasions, Philaretos had to go to his son in Urfa. But when the people of Urfa who disliked him gave him the cold shoulder, he decided to go to the side of Melikshah with the hope of settlement in any castle. Philaretos who was not received kind in the beginning was entitled with the city of Maras pursuant to the capture of Urfa by Seljuk State (February 1087) and the adoption of the religion of Islam by Philaretos in a ceremony in the presence of the great sultan.

The city of Harput that was subject to Philaretos was captured by Cubuk Bey and this bey had also invaded Egin, Arapkir, Cemishkezek, and Hanzid (Palu-Genc) region.

On the other hand, Karategin who had conquered Cankiri expanded his conquests towards the coastal sides and he besieged and conquered Sinop. The city of Ephesus and the region of the Aegean coasts were under the dominion of Tanrivermis Bey and Izmir and its environs and some of the islands were under the domination of Cakan Bey.

Therefore, in the days before the death of Suleymanshah, the entire country that extended from the Antioch towards the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles- excluding naturally some castles and the fortified cities on the coasts- were under the domination of Turks and submissive to the Great Seljuk Empire.

The End

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