Gabriel of Melitene

• Preferred Name: Gabriel of Melitene ^{[1] [2]}
  
• Alternate Name: Gabriel of Melitene
  
• Alternate Name: Gabriel van Melitene
  
• Alternate Name: Gabriel Melitene Governor Prince
  
• Gender: M
  
• Death: 1102 in Anatolia, Turkey at LATI: N9 LONG: E5
  
• Birth: 1058 in Melitene, Armenia at LATI: N0 LONG: E5 with note: calculated
  
• http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: Govenor in Ruler Of Melitene with note: Description: [modern Malatya]
  
• http://familysearch.org/v1/TitleOfNobility: Gouverneur de Mélytène
  
• Occupation: sire de Meletin en Arménie et d'Edesse
  
• FSID: G994-99J
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Gabriel of Melitene (died 1102/3[1]) was the ruler of Melitene (modern Malatya). Along with Thoros of Edessa, Gabriel was a former officer of Philaretos Brachamios. Philaretos had installed Gabriel as the ruler of Melitene. Following the death of Philaretos in 1086 Melitene became completely independent of Byzantine control with the aid of the Danishmends. Eventually the Danishmends began harassing Melitene. Gabriel appealed to Bohemund I of Antioch for assistance.
  
  In 1100 Bohemund came to Gabriel's aid along with his cousin Richard of Salerno and the Armenian Bishops of Marash and Antioch, but they were both captured and the Bishops slain by Malik Ghazi Gumushtekin, the Danishmend Emir of Sebastea, in the Battle of Melitene. Malik was now constantly raiding Gabriel's territories. Fearing an imminent attack on the city itself, Gabriel asked for help from Baldwin of Boulogne who had recently become King of Jerusalem, despite concerns that Baldwin might take over Melitene, as he did Edessa. Baldwin relieved the siege of Melitene and rescued Bohemund after which Gabriel recognized him as overlord of the city.
  
  Some sources state that Gabriel's wife was a daughter of Constantine I, Prince of Armenia; however, the dates simply do not allow for it. The confusion appears to stem from identifying Thoros I, son of Constantine with Thoros of Edessa, the latter of whom Gabriel is attested as being the father-in-law.[citation needed] Gabriel must have had some connection to the Greek culture, either via his mother or wife and, if that connection was to the family of Constantine I, it was most likely further back. His wife may have been a daughter of Constantine's father Roupen, for example; or she may have been a daughter of Philaretos, the general under whom Gabriel served, but this is only speculation. In any case, he was presumably known by his contemporaries and subjects to be descended from a prominent family that was acceptable to both the Greeks and to the Armenians, which could suggest a mixed heritage. Gabriel was disliked by a number of his subjects for his Eastern Orthodox faith.
  
  In 1101 Baldwin of Bourcq married Gabriel's daughter Morphia of Melitene, who later became Queen of Jerusalem. Gabriel, who was reputedly very wealthy, gave 50,000 gold bezants as a dowry. William of Tyre described Gabriel as Greek by religion, Armenian by race, language and custom. Byzantine seals bearing his name testify him as Gabriel, protonobelissimos and doux of Melitene.
  
  Beginning in 1103, the Danishmends again attacked Melitene. Gabriel asked the Crusaders for support, but they did not send help because they were negotiating with the Danishmends Emir at this time about the release of Bohemond. Melitene was conquered and Gabriel was captured. One of Gabriel's castles resisted the Turks. Gabriel was forced to give the crew of the castle the order to surrender. However, the garrison disobeyed his orders, and he was executed by soldiers of the sultan under the walls of the castle.
  
  BIO
  BIO: from http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ARMENIA.htm#MorphiaMBaudouinIIJerusalem as of 3/30/2016
  
  GHAVRIL [Gabriel] (-1103). An Orthodox Christian. Lord of Melitene, he is named by William of Tyre
  
  === Weis. 103A-25. Gabriel was the Armenia ===
  Weis. 103A-25. Gabriel was the Armenian Governor of Melitene on the upper Euphrates.
  
  === !AKA: Gabriel, Armenian governor of Meli ===
  !AKA: Gabriel, Armenian governor of Melitene on the upper Euphrates Doc. Line 103A-25 !CHILDREN: Of Gabriel and [ ] Malfia - Doc. Line 103A-25 !DEATH: Date: 1103 - Doc. Line 103A-25
  
  === !SOURCE: ANCESTRAL ROOTS OF SIXTY COLON ===
  !SOURCE: ANCESTRAL ROOTS OF SIXTY COLONISTS WHO CAME TO NEW ENGLAND BETWEEN 1623 AND 1650, SIXTH ED, PG 100 LINE 103A #25
  
  === Gabriel was Armenian Governor of Meliten ===
  Gabriel was Armenian Governor of Melitene on the Upper Euphrates river per Weis, "Ancestral Roots...."
  
  === Statthalter v. Byzanz am oberen Euphrat ===
  Statthalter v. Byzanz am oberen Euphrat (Armenien)
  
  === Lord of Melitene, ===
  Lord of Melitene,
  
  === Ref: Weis Ancestral Roots 103A-25. Arm ===
  Ref: Weis Ancestral Roots 103A-25. Armenian governor of Melitine on the upper Euphrates.
  
  === Armenian governor of Melitene on the upp ===
  Armenian governor of Melitene on the upper Euphrates
  
  === ANCESTRAL ROOTS, by F. L. Weis, 7th Ed., ===
  ANCESTRAL ROOTS, by F. L. Weis, 7th Ed., Line 103A #25, pg. 99: d. 1103, Armenian gov. of Melitene on the upper Euphrates.
  
  === SOURCE ===
  SOURCE
  1 > Wikipedia
  Gabriel of Melitene (died 1102[1]) was the ruler of Melitene (modern Malatya). Along with Thoros of Edessa, Gabriel was a former officer of Philaretos Brachamios. Philaretos had installed Gabriel as the ruler of Melitene. Following the death of Philaretos in 1086 Melitene became completely independent of Byzantine control with the aid of the Danishmends. Eventually the Danishmends began harassing Melitene. Gabriel appealed to Bohemund I of Antioch for assistance.
  
  In 1100 Bohemund came to Gabriel's aid along with his cousin Richard of Salerno and the Armenian Bishops of Marash and Antioch, but they were both captured and the Bishops slain by Malik Ghazi Gumushtekin, the Danishmend Emir of Sebastea, in the Battle of Melitene. Malik was now constantly raiding Gabriel's territories. Fearing an imminent attack on the city itself, Gabriel asked for help from Baldwin of Boulogne who had recently become King of Jerusalem, despite concerns that Baldwin might take over Melitene, as he did Edessa. Baldwin relieved the siege of Melitene and rescued Bohemund after which Gabriel recognized him as overlord of the city.
  
  Some sources state that Gabriel's wife was a daughter of Constantine I, Prince of Armenia; however, the dates simply do not allow for it. The confusion appears to stem from identifying Thoros I, son of Constantine with Thoros of Edessa, the latter of whom Gabriel is attested as being the father-in-law.[citation needed] Gabriel must have had some connection to the Greek culture, either via his mother or wife and, if that connection was to the family of Constantine I, it was most likely further back. His wife may have been a daughter of Constantine's father Roupen, for example; or she may have been a daughter of Philaretos, the general under whom Gabriel served, but this is only speculation. In any case, he was presumably known by his contemporaries and subjects to be descended from a prominent family that was acceptable to both the Greeks and to the Armenians, which would suggest a mixed heritage.
  
  In 1101 Baldwin of Bourcq married Gabriel's daughter Morphia of Melitene. Gabriel, who was reputedly very wealthy, gave 50,000 gold bezants as a dowry. William of Tyre described Gabriel as Greek by religion, Armenian by race, language and custom. Byzantine seals bearing his name testify him as Gabriel, protonobelissimos and doux of Melitene. The Melitene Armenians initially met Crusaders with happiness but turned to the Danishmends due to Crusaders' lootings and cruelties. Melik Ghazi sieged Melitene in beginning of 1101. The siege was firstly relieved by Baldwin. But Baldwin left only 50 soldiers in Melitene.[2] During the siege, the city suffered from shortages. Gabriel and the Greeks of Melitene used the pretext that the fault lied with the city's Armenians and Syriacs. They took goods from Armenians and Syriacs and killed a certain number of them.
  
  The Melitene Syriacs sent Barsabuni, who was their Metropolitan of Melitene, as an envoy and wanted to surrender the city to the Turks. Gabriel considered this a challenge to his authority and killed Barsabuni and some notables of the city. Consequently, the Melitene Armenians and Syriacs invited Melik Ghazi to their rescue. He besieged the city again and breached on September 18, 1101 after a month-long siege with aid from the city's Christians. Gabriel was tortured and slain.
  
  === M E Sorley: The Sorley Pedigrees P. 27 ===
  M E Sorley: The Sorley Pedigrees P. 27
  
  === !#12109; !#12755-p135; Gabriel (Khoril) ===
  !#12109; !#12755-p135; Gabriel (Khoril) was an Armenian prince who ruled Melitene until 1103. During his life he was the father-in-law of both Thoros of Edessa and Baldwin II of the same place;

1. Morphia Melitene-i Örmény nemes jeruzsálemi királyné, b. 1080 in Malatya, Turkey     d. 1 OCT 1127 in Jerusalem, Yerushalayim (Jerusalem District), Israel

1. Title: Gabriel of Melitene
   Publication: Name: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_of_Melitene;
   Note: Gabriel of Melitene (died 1102/3[1]) was the ruler of Melitene (modern Malatya). Along with Thoros of Edessa, Gabriel was a former officer of Philaretos Brachamios. Philaretos had installed Gabriel as the ruler of Melitene. Following the death of Philaretos in 1086 Melitene became completely independent of Byzantine control with the aid of the Danishmends. Eventually the Danishmends began harassing Melitene. Gabriel appealed to Bohemund I of Antioch for assistance. In 1100 Bohemund came to Gabriel's aid along with his cousin Richard of Salerno and the Armenian Bishops of Marash and Antioch, but they were both captured and the Bishops slain by Danishmend Gazi, Emir of Sebastea, in the Battle of Melitene. Malik was now constantly raiding Gabriel's territories. Fearing an imminent attack on the city itself, Gabriel asked for help from Baldwin of Boulogne who had recently become King of Jerusalem, despite concerns that Baldwin might take over Melitene, as he did Edessa. Baldwin relieved the siege of Melitene and rescued Bohemund after which Gabriel recognized him as overlord of the city. Some sources state that Gabriel's wife was a daughter of Constantine I, Prince of Armenia; however, the dates simply do not allow for it. The confusion appears to stem from identifying Thoros I, son of Constantine with Thoros of Edessa, the latter of whom Gabriel is attested as being the father-in-law.[citation needed] Gabriel must have had some connection to the Greek culture, either via his mother or wife and, if that connection was to the family of Constantine I, it was most likely further back. His wife may have been a daughter of Constantine's father Roupen, for example; or she may have been a daughter of Philaretos, the general under whom Gabriel served, but this is only speculation. In any case, he was presumably known by his contemporaries and subjects to be descended from a prominent family that was acceptable to both the Greeks and to the Armenians, which could suggest a mixed heritage. Gabriel was disliked by a number of his subjects for his Eastern Orthodox faith. In 1101 Baldwin of Bourcq married Gabriel's daughter Morphia of Melitene, who later became Queen of Jerusalem. Gabriel, who was reputedly very wealthy, gave 50,000 gold bezants as a dowry. William of Tyre described Gabriel as Greek by religion, Armenian by race, language and custom. Byzantine seals bearing his name testify him as Gabriel, protonobelissimos and doux of Melitene. Beginning in 1103, the Danishmends again attacked Melitene. Gabriel asked the Crusaders for support, but they did not send help because they were negotiating with the Danishmends Emir at this time about the release of Bohemond. Melitene was conquered and Gabriel was captured. One of Gabriel's castles resisted the Turks. Gabriel was forced to give the crew of the castle the order to surrender. However, the garrison disobeyed his orders, and he was executed by soldiers of the sultan under the walls of the castle.
   
2. Title: GHAVRIL [Gabriel] (-1103) - FMG
   Author: FMG Projects/MedLands
   Publication: Name: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ARMENIA.htm#MorphiaMBaudouinIIJerusalem;
   Note: GHAVRIL [Gabriel] (-1103). An Orthodox Christian. Lord of Melitene, he is named by William of Tyre[1148]. Vardan's History records that "Ghilich Arslan sultan of the West, grandson of Ddlmush, came into Melitene" in 1098 but "the prince of the city Ghavril, father-in-law of the curopalate of Edessa turned them back in disgrace"[1149]. Albert of Aix records that "Gaveras Armenici ducis principis et domini…Malatinam" requested Bohémond Prince of Antioch to help against "Donimannus quidam princeps Turcorum", dated to 1100 from the context[1150]. He was executed by the Syrians after they captured Melitene[1151]. m ---. The name of Gabriel's wife is not known. Ghavril & his wife had [three] children: a) daughter . b) MORFIA of Melitene . c) [--- of Melitene .
   Page: Source record for GHAVRIL [Gabriel] (-1103) - FMG