Mongols defeated Sultanate of Rum forces led by Kaykhusraw II and approached the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.

General Bilarghu, the representative of the Mongol Khan, harbored a deep grudge against King Hethum for preventing the construction of a Muslim mosque in Sis, the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.

He invited King Leo, the Regent, and forty Armenian nobles to Anazarba under the guise of discussing urgent political matters.

Once the unsuspecting guests entered the Tartar general's tent, Bilarghu drew his sword and cried, "Allah is great!"

Oshin and Alinakh, uncles of the slain king, rallied forces and laid siege to Anazarba in a fierce act of retribution.