[citation needed] Roupen was the son of Thoros II, lord of Armenian Cilicia, by his second wife (and great niece) whose name is unknown.
[citation needed] However, Thoros II’s brother, Mleh disputed the succession; Mleh had fled to Nur ad-Din (the emir of Aleppo) and become a Muslim after quarreling with Thoros II and attempting to assassinate him.
Mleh (…) was with the Sultan of Aleppo, and hearing of the death of his brother he came with an army into the country, and dealt very cruelly with its inhabitants.
Not being able to conquer the possessions of his brother he returned to Aleppo, and came back with still greater forces.
Receiving a message from the Armenian Barons that they would freely acknowledge him as their sovereign, he sent back the Turks, and governed in peace for some time.