Keran, Queen of Armenia

Keran (died July 28, 1285) was the wife of Leo II of Armenia. She was the daughter of Prince Hethum of Lampron. Born Anna, she was called Kir Anna (Lady Anna) beginning in 1270. This name was later shortened to Keran, or Guerane.

Many words of praise were made about Queen Keran by her contemporaries. Her son Hethum claimed that "she had a wonderful soul and a beautiful body." The chronicler and scribe Avetis, described her as "a good friend to her husband in trouble and joy."

They had fifteen children:

# Hethum II (ruled 1289 to 1293, 1294 to 1297, 1299 to 1307)
# Princess Fimi of Armenia (born c.1266)
# Princesse Sybil of Armenia (born c.1269)
# Thoros III (ruled 1293 to 1298)
# Prince Ruben of Armenia (born c.1272)
# Princess Zablun of Armenia (born c.1274)
# Princess Sybil (or Zabel) of Armenia (born c.1276)
# Sempad (ruled 1297 to 1299)
# Constantine III (ruled 1299)
# Isabelle of Armenia (died c.1321), who married Amalric of Tyre
# Princess Theophane of Armenia (born c.1278)
# Rita of Armenia, who married Michael IX Palaeologus, co-Emperor of the Byzantine Empire with his father Andronicus II Palaeologus. They were parents to Andronicus III Palaeologus.
# Prince Nerses of Armenia (born c.1279}
# Oshin (ruled 1308 to 1320)
# Prince Alinakh of Armenia (born c.1283}.

After the birth of her last son, Keran became a nun and entered the Monastery of Drazark, assuming the name of Theophania. She died on July 28, 1285 and was buried in the monastery.

Bibliography

*cite book|last=Khachatrian|first=Hayk|title=Queens of the Armenians: 150 Biographies Based on History and Legend|year=2001|publisher=Amaras|location=Yerevan|id=ISBN 0-9648787-2-0