Bohemond IV of Antioch, also known as Bohemond the One-Eyed, was Count of Tripoli and Prince of Antioch. He seized control of Antioch in an alliance with the Knights Hospitallier, the Knight Templar and Italian merchants.

He is my 20 x great-grandfather.

He was born sometime in 1175 but it is not known where he was born. He is the son of Bohemond III of Antioch and Orgueilleuse of Harenc1.

The coat of arms of the House of Poitiers
The coat of arms of the House of Poitiers

Titles

While he is recorded as a Prince of Antioch1, it is not clear when or how he received this title.

Family

Bohemond’s first wife, Plaisance, gave birth to 4 sons and 2 daughters1:

  • Raymond, who was murdered at the age of 18.
  • Bohemond, who succeeded his father.
  • Philip, who ruled over the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.
  • Orgueilleuse
  • Marie, who married Thoros of Armenia.
  • Henry, whose son inherited Cyprus in 1267.

His second wife, Melisende de Lusignan gave birth to 3 children2.

Notable events

Bohemond IV led an eventful life.

In 1194, Leo of Cilician Armenia worked with Bohemond’s step-mother, Sybil, to imprison him. Sybil wanted to secure succession of Antioch to her own son. The Latin and Greek burghers of the crusader state of Antioch resisted the Armenian army. Leo released Bohemond only when his father, Bohemond III, renounced his claim to Cilicia2.

In April 1201, Bohemond went back to Antioch when his father died. Leo again besieged Antioch. Bohemond formed an alliance with the Emir of Aleppo, Az-Zahir Ghazi, and the Sultan of Rum, Kaykaus I. Together they forced the Armenian troops back into Cilicia2.

A map of the Crusader states in 1190
A map of the Crusader states in 1190
By MapMaster – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Leo tried to get help from Rome by promising to unite the Armenian church and the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Innocent III sent an emissary but Bohemond refused to see him because he had been excommunicated by the patriarch of Jerusalem when he had argued with the Knights Hospitallier.

During a siege of Tripoli in 1204, Bohemond lost an eye at the gates of the town leading to his nickname1.

Death

He died in March 12331. It is not known how he died and where they buried him.

Lineage

Bohemond is my 20 x great-grandfather.

  1. Medieval Lands; Charles Crawley; (Retrieved 2018-04-25) [↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
  2. Medieval Lands; Charles Crawley; (Retrieved 2018-04-25) [↩][↩][↩]