The present paper challenges the assertion that John II Komnenos’ first campaign against Cilician Armenia (1137) was directly connected with the conflict between the Byzantines and the Principality of Antioch. The supposed anti-Byzantine alliance between the Armenians and the Crusaders is examined within this context; excerpts from the relevant sources not only cast doubt on its existence, but also allow the assertion that during the period under examination the relations between the Armenians and the Crusaders were hostile. Thus, the issue that arises is the following: If Levon was an enemy of the Crusaders, why did he not stand at the Byzantines’ side, instead waging war against them? The assertion of the present paper regarding this policy decision is that it was due to Levon’s alliance with John’s primary enemy in the East, the Danishmends. In fact, the sources indicate that the subjugation of Armenia was of greater priority for the Byzantine emperor in his campaign than the conquest of Antioch. This is demonstrated by the fact that John refused to conclude a treaty with the Rubenid lord similar to that which he had concluded with the prince of Antioch, and is supported by the operational maneuvers of the Byzantine forces during the campaign. To connect John’s activities in Cilicia with his subsequent campaign in Pontus and the Turkish reactions to these Byzantine strategic moves, the present paper asserts that John’s conquest of Cilicia was part of a wider policy of strategic encirclement of the Danishmends.

中文翻译：

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John II Komnenos 在奇里西亚亚美尼亚的竞选活动

本文对约翰二世科姆尼诺斯第一次对抗奇里西亚亚美尼亚 (1137) 与拜占庭人和安条克公国之间的冲突直接相关的断言提出质疑。亚美尼亚人和十字军之间所谓的反拜占庭联盟在此背景下进行了审查；相关来源的摘录不仅让人怀疑它的存在，而且还允许断言在审查期间亚美尼亚人和十字军之间的关系是敌对的。那么问题来了：如果列文是十字军的敌人，为什么他不站在拜占庭一边，而是与他们开战呢？本文关于这一政策决定的断言是，这是由于列文与约翰在东方的主要敌人丹麦人结盟。事实上，消息来源表明，对于拜占庭皇帝来说，征服亚美尼亚比征服安提阿更重要。约翰拒绝与鲁本尼德领主缔结类似于他与安条克王子缔结的条约的事实证明了这一点，并且得到了拜占庭军队在战役期间的作战演习的支持。为了将约翰在西里西亚的活动与他随后在本都的战役以及土耳其对这些拜占庭战略行动的反应联系起来，本文断言约翰征服西里西亚是更广泛的丹麦人战略包围政策的一部分。约翰拒绝与鲁本尼德领主缔结类似于他与安条克王子缔结的条约的事实证明了这一点，并且得到了拜占庭军队在战役期间的作战演习的支持。为了将约翰在西里西亚的活动与他随后在本都的战役以及土耳其对这些拜占庭战略行动的反应联系起来，本文断言约翰征服西里西亚是更广泛的丹麦人战略包围政策的一部分。约翰拒绝与鲁本尼德领主缔结类似于他与安条克王子缔结的条约的事实证明了这一点，并且得到了拜占庭军队在战役期间的作战演习的支持。为了将约翰在西里西亚的活动与他随后在本都的战役以及土耳其对这些拜占庭战略行动的反应联系起来，本文断言约翰征服西里西亚是更广泛的丹麦人战略包围政策的一部分。