Editing Hethum II (section)

==Second reign==
In 1295, Thoros III asked Hethum to resume the throne to help renew the Mongol alliance. Hethum made the long journey to the Mongol capital, and was successfully able to request aid from the Mongols. When he returned to Armenia in 1296, further good news manifested from the Byzantine Empire, with an offer of a marital alliance. Hethum and Thoros placed Armenia under the regency of their brother [[Sempad of Armenia|Sempad]], and traveled to [[Constantinople]] to bestow their sister [[Rita of Armenia|Rita]] upon the [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Michael IX Palaeologus]]. However, during their absence Sempad usurped the Armenian throne with the aid of another brother, [[Constantine I, King of Armenia|Constantine]]. Hethum and Thoros were both captured in [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] upon their return, and imprisoned in the fortress of [[Partzerpert]]. There, Hethum was partially blinded by [[cauterization]]. Thoros was murdered in Partzerpert in 1298; but Constantine turned against Sempad, usurped the throne for himself, imprisoned Sempad and freed Hethum.<ref name=kurkjian-204/>
[[File:Hethumprayer.jpg|thumb|King Hethum II in prayer from a decorative plate]]