House of Dadiani

Dadiani დადიანი
Nobility
Motto: Hос Noli Tangere
Parent house	House of Vardanisdze
Country	Georgia
Titles	Grand duke of Odishi Principality of Mingrelia
Estate(s)	Mingrelia Abkhazia Guria Lechkhumi Svaneti Bedia Samokalako Tskhumi

The House of Dadiani (Georgian: დადიანი [dadiani]) was a Georgian family of nobles, dukes and princes, and a ruling dynasty of the western Georgian province of Samegrelo (Mingrelia) or Odishi.

The House of Dadiani

The first data about the family dates back to 1046. Presumably, the Dadiani descended from a certain Dadi, of the House of Vardanisdze. Appointed as hereditary eristavi (dukes) of Odishi (Samegrelo) in reward for their military services, the family had become the most powerful feudal house in western Georgia by the 1280s. At that time, the branches of the family governed also Svaneti, Guria, and Bedia.

In 1542, Duke Levan I Dadiani became hereditary Prince (mtavari) of Mingrelia and established himself as an independent ruler. His descendant Prince Levan III Dadiani was forced to abdicate in 1691 and Dadiani’s relatives from the Chikovani (ჩიქოვანი) family, hitherto Princes of Salipartiano, inherited the title of Princes of Mingrelia and the surname of Dadiani. Accepting Russian sovereignty in 1802, the Dadiani were elevated to the dignity of Prince of the Russian Empire (Template:Lang-ru) and enjoyed significant independence in their home affairs. Russia made a de facto annexation of Samegrelo in 1857, but Samegrelo remained nominally in existence until January 4, 1867, when Niko Dadiani, the last Prince of Samegrelo, was deposed and the principality was abolished. Prince Niko Dadiani officially renounced his rights to the throne in 1868.

Dukes (eristavi) and Princes (mtavari) of Mingrelia

David Dadiani, Ruler of Mingrelia

Ekateriné Dadiani-Chavchavadze, Princess of Mingrelia

Niko Dadiani,Elder Son of David

Salome Dadiani, Daughter of David

Andria Dadiani, Younger Son of David

Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi.

Tsalenjikha Cathedral which contains the Dadiani dynastic chapels. Built in the 12-14th century.

See also: List of monarchs of Mingrelia

• Vardan I Dadiani (c. 1180s – 1190s)
• Shergil Dadiani (c. 1220s – 1240s)
• Vardan II Dadiani (c. 1240s – 1250s)
• Tsotne Dadiani (c. 1260s)
• Bedan Dadiani (c. 1270s – c. 1290s)
• Giorgi I Dadiani (c. 1293 – 1323)
• Mamia I Dadiani (1323–1345)
• Giorgi II Dadiani (1345–1384)
• Vameq I Dadiani (1384–1396)
• Mamia II Dadiani (1396–1414)
• Liparit I Dadiani (1414–1470)
• Shamadavle Dadiani (1470–1473)
• Vameq II Dadiani (1474–1482)
• Liparit II Dadiani (1482–1512)
• Mamia III Dadiani (1512–1533)
• Levan I Dadiani (1533–1546)
• Giorgi III Dadiani (1546–1573, 1574–1582)
• Mamia IV Dadiani (1574, 1582–1590)
• Manuchar I Dadiani (1590–1611)
• Levan II Dadiani (1611–1657)
• Liparit III Dadiani (1657–1658)
• Vameq III Dadiani (1658–1661)
• Levan III Dadiani (1661–1681)
• Levan IV Dadiani (1681–1691)
• Giorgi IV Dadiani (Lipartiani) (1700–1704, 1710–1714)
• Katsia I Dadiani (1704–1710)
• Bezhan I Dadiani (1714–1728)
• Otia I Dadiani (1728–1758)
• Katsia II Dadiani (1758–1788)
• Grigol I Dadiani (1788–1791, 1794–1802, 1802–1804)
• Manuchar II Dadiani (1791–1793)
• Tariel Dadiani (1793–1794, 1802)
• Levan V Dadiani (1804–1840)
• David I Dadiani (1840–1853)
• Niko I Dadiani (1853–1857)

Heads of the Princely House of Mingrelia

• Niko I Dadiani (1857–1903)
• Niko II Dadiani (1903–1919)
• Shalva Dadiani (1919–1959)
• Archil Dadiani (1959–1976)
• Niko III Dadiani (1976–present)

Other members of the family

• Mariam Dadiani, a 17th-century princess
• Constantine Dadiani, poet and general of Russian army
• Andria Dadiani, chess player and tournament patron
• Ekaterine Dadiani, Regent Princess of Mingrelia
• Salome Dadiani, wife of Prince Achille Murat
• Shalva Dadiani, prominent writer and dramatist

External links

• Dadiani Dynasty. A project by Smithsonian & National Parliamentary Library of Georgia