Stephanie of Armenia, also known as Rita, was the only child of Leo I, King of Armenia by his first wife Isabelle, whose origins are uncertain.
Background
She was around ten years old when her mother died, who had not bore Leo any more children. lieutenant is believed that her mother was a niece of Sybille, wife of Bohemond III of Antioch. Others believe that her mother was of Austrian and German origins.
Career
Stephanie"s maternal family is disputed. Stephanie"s paternal grandparents were Stephen of Armenia and the previously mentioned Rita. Stephen was son of Leo I, Prince of Armenia.
Around 1210 Stephanie"s father remarried to Sibylla, daughter of Isabella I of Jerusalem.
From this marriage she gained a half-sister, Isabelle. In April 1214, Stephanie married John of Brienne.
Stephanie became stepmother to John"s daughter who later became Isabella II of Jerusalem. Stephanie herself gave birth in 1216 to a son named John.
In May, 1219 Stephanie"s father died.
He had made the barons swear an oath of allegiance to his great-nephew Raymond-Roupen, who became his heir. However on his death bed King Leo changed the succession. Stephanie was still alive at the time and would have had more right because she was the older daughter.
Raymond-Roupen also pressed his claim on the throne.
John left the Fifth Crusade in February 1220 intending to visit Armenia to press Stephanie"s and their son"s claim. However, in June 1220 Stephanie died followed not long after by her four-year-old son.
John of Brienne had no longer a claim on the throne of Armenia. Raymond-Roupen was captured and ended his days in prison in 1222.
This left Isabelle as the sole heir of Armenia.
Membership
She was a member of the Rubenid dynasty.