George I of Georgia

"Giorgi I" redirects here. For the King of Imereti, see Giorgi I of Imereti. For the Prince of Abkhazia, see Giorgi I Shervashidze.

There was also a Giorgi I, Catholicos of Kartli who ruled in 677–678.

George I გიორგი I
A symbolic representation of George I ("Georgios of Abasgia") fleeing on horseback from Emperor Basil II after defeat, Skylitzes Chronicle
King of Georgia
Reign	7 May 1014 – 16 August 1027
Predecessor	Bagrat III
Successor	Bagrat IV
Born	998 or 1002
Died	16 August 1027 Mqinwarni or Itaroni
Burial	Bagrati Cathedral, Kutaisi
Spouse	Mariam of Vaspurakan Alda of Alania
Issue	Bagrat IV Guarandukht Martha Kata Demetrius
Dynasty	Bagrationi
Father	Bagrat III of Georgia
Mother	Martha
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church

I dont care, bozo + ratio + maldEarly reign

Giorgi was born in 998 or, according to a later version of the Georgian chronicles, 1002, to King Bagrat III. Upon his father's death on 7 May 1014, he inherited the kingdoms of Abkhazia, Kartli and Kakheti united into a single state of Georgia. As his predecessor, Giorgi continued to be titled as King of the Abkhazians (Ap'xaz) and Georgians (K'art'velians). Contemporary sources, however, frequently omitted one of the two components of this title when abbreviating it.

The new sovereign's young age was immediately exploited by the great nobles, who had been suppressed under the heavy hand of Bagrat. Around the same year, the easternmost provinces of Kakheti and Hereti, not easily acquired by Bagrat, staged a revolt and reinstated their own government under Kvirike III (1010/1014–1029), who also incorporated a portion of the neighbouring Arran (Ran), allowing him to claim the title of King of the Kakhetians and Ranians. Giorgi was unable to prevent the move and sought an alliance with this kingdom, rather than attempting to reincorporate it into the Georgian state, thus leaving a long-standing claim to Kakheti and Hereti to his successors.

War and peace with Byzantium

The construction of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was initiated in the 1020s by George I.

The major political and military event during Giorgi's reign, a war against the Byzantine Empire, had its roots back to the 990s, when the Georgian prince David III Kuropalates, following his abortive rebellion against Emperor Basil II, had to agree to cede his extensive possessions in Tao and the neighbouring lands to the emperor on his death. All the efforts by David's stepson and Giorgi's father, Bagrat III, to prevent these territories from being annexed to the empire went in vain. Young and ambitious, Giorgi launched a campaign to restore the Kuropalates’ succession to Georgia and occupied Tao in 1015–1016. He also entered in an alliance with the Fatimid Caliph of Egypt, Al-Hakim (996–1021), that put Basil in a difficult situation, forcing him to refrain from an acute response to Giorgi's offensive.

Beyond that, the Byzantines were at that time involved in a relentless war with the Bulgarian Empire, limiting their actions to the west. But as soon as Bulgaria was conquered, and Al-Hakim was no more alive, Basil led his army against Georgia (1021). An exhausting war lasted for two years, and ended in a decisive Byzantine victory, forcing Giorgi to agree to a peace treaty, in which he had not only to abandon his claims to Tao, but to surrender several of his southwestern possessions to Basil, and to give his three-year-old son, Bagrat, as hostage. Following the peace treaty, Constantinople was visited by Catholicos-Patriarch Melchizedek I of Georgia, who gained Byzantine financial aid for the construction of "Svetitskhoveli" (literally, the Living Pillar), a major Orthodox cathedral in the eastern Georgian town of Mtskheta.

Afterwards, Basil kept the peace with Georgia, permitting prince Bagrat to return home two years later (1025): but the new emperor, Constantine VIII, who succeeded upon the death of Basil, decided to bring Bagrat back to Constantinople. However, the imperial courier could not overtake the prince – he was already in the Georgian possessions. The Byzantine-Georgian relations subsequently deteriorated, particularly after a conspiracy, organized by Nikephoros Komnenos, the katepano of Vaspurakan, and allegedly involving Giorgi I, was brought to light.

Giorgi was evidently preparing to take revenge for his defeat, but he died suddenly in Trialeti on 16 August 1027. He was buried in the Bagrati Cathedral in his capital Kutaisi. A recently discovered grave, presumably robbed in the 19th century, is proposed to have belonged to Giorgi I.

Family

Giorgi I was married twice – first to the Armenian princess Mariam of Vaspurakan with whom he had a son called Bagrat and daughters: Guarandukht, Marta, and Kata; and second to Alde of Alania, who gave birth to a son, Demetre.

In literature

The most important representation of Giorgi I in historical fiction is probably in Konstantine Gamsakhurdia's magnum opus, The Hand of the Great Master. The author has often noted that he has been deeply interested in George's character and historical figure for a long time, as well as his reign full of turmoil and turbulence. In the story, the king is portrayed as a philanderer who enjoys feasting in low-class taverns with his comrades disguised as random peasants. The author seems to be emphasizing on the king's human, fleshly wishes and desires, despite his position on the social ladder, such as lust, love, loathing and compassion.

Genealogy

Georgian monarchs family tree of Bagrationi dynasty of united Georgia

BAGRATIONI of Tao-Klarjeti Bagrat III b.≈960-d.1014 King of Abkhazia r.978–1014 King of Georgia r.1008–1014 Mariam Queen consort r.1014-c.1018 George I King of Georgia b.998/1002–d.1027 r.1014-1027 Alda of Alania Basil of Khakhuli b.≈981-d.≈1040 Gurandukht d.bef.1072 Marta Kata Helena Argyre Queen consort of Georgia d.≈1033 Bagrat IV King of Georgia b.1018–d.1072 r.1027–1072 Borena of Alania Queen consort r.≈1032–1033 Demetrius of Anacopia d. 1042 George II King of Georgia b.≈1054–d.1112 r.1072–1089 Mariam Michael VII Byzantine emperor r.1071–1078 Martha-Maria Byzantine Empress consort r.1071–1081 Nikephoros III Byzantine emperor r.1078–1081 David Rusudan of Armenia David IV King of Georgia b.1073–d.1125 r.1089–1125 Gurandukht Aton of Alania Demetrius I King of Georgia b.≈1093–d.1156 r.1125–1154; 1155–1156 George Zurab d.1125 Tamar d.1161 Kata David V King of Georgia r.1154–1155 Rusudan George III King of Georgia r.1156–1184 Bagrationi Rusudan Jadaron of Alania Demna of Georgia b.bef.1155- d.≈1178 Rusudan b.1158/1160 Yury Bogolyubsky Prince of Novgorod r.1172–1175 Tamar King of Georgia b.≈1160–d.1213 r.1184–1213 David Soslan King Consort r.≈1187/1189 –≈1207 George IV King of Georgia b.1191–d.1223 r. 1213–1222/1223 Rusudan Queen of Georgia b.≈1194–d.1245 r.1223–1245 Ghias ad-din 1223–c.1226 David VII King of Georgia b.1215–d.1270 r.1247–1270. David VI b.1225–d.1293 King of Georgia r.1245–1259 King of Imereti r.1259–1293 Pervâne Gürcü Hatun fl.1237-1286 Queen consort of Rum r.?–1246 Kaykhusraw II Sultan of the Seljuqs of Rûm George Tamar Demetrius II King of Georgia b.1259–d.1289 r.1270–1289 Vakhtang II King of Georgia r.1289–1292 Constantine I King of Imereti r.1293–1327 Michael King of Imereti r.1327–1329 Kayqubad II Sultan of Rûm r.1249–1257 Prince Lasha Prince Manuel Princess Rusudan Prince Baidu Prince Iadgar David VIII King of Georgia b.1273–d.1311 r.1293–1311 George V King of Georgia b.1286/89–d.1346 r.1299–1302; 1314–1346 Vakhtang III King of Georgia b.1276–d.1308 r.1302-1308 Ripsime Queen consort of Georgia r.1301/1302– 1304/1308 Princess Jigda Empress consort of Trebizond r.≈1300–1330 Alexios II Emperor of Trebizond r.1297–1330 George VI King of Georgia r.1311–1313 David IX King of Georgia r.1346–1360 Demetre Ruler of Dmanisi Giorgi Ruler of Samshvilde Alexios III Emp. of Trebizond b.1338–d.1390 r.1349–1390 Helena Queen consort of Georgia 1360–1366 Bagrat V King of Georgia r.1360–1393 Anna of Trebizond b.1357-d.1406 Queen consort r.1367-1393 Gulkhan- Eudokia Empress consort of Trebizond r.1390–1395 Manuel III Emp. of Trebizond b.364–d.1417 r.1390-1417 George VII King of Georgia d.1405/1407 r.1393/1395- 1407/1405 Constantine I King of Georgia r.1405/1407-1412 David Tamar Olympias Alexander I King of Georgia b.1386–d.1445/46 r.1412–1442 Bagrat Prince George Co-king of Georgia r.1408-1412 Vakhtang IV King of Georgia b.≈1413–1446 r.1442-1446 Bagrationi b.≈1411/1412 – d.bef.1438 Empress consort of Trebizond r.1429–c.1438 Prince Demetrius b. c.1413-d.1453 Co-King of Georgia r.1433–1446 George VIII King of Georgia b.1417–d.1476 r.1446–1476 David II Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia 1426–1428 Zaal Bagrat VI b.≈1439–d.1478 King of Imereti r.1463–1478 King of Georgia r.1465–1478 David Constantine II b.≈1447–d.1505 King of Georgia (Kartli) r.1478–1505 Alexander I b.1445/c.1456– d.1511 King of Kakheti 1476–1511 Alexander II King of Georgia r.1478 King of Imereti r.1483–1510 BAGRATIONI of Kartli BAGRATIONI of Kakheti BAGRATIONI of Imereti

Bibliography

• Rapp, S. H. Jr. (2016) The Sasanian World Through Georgian Eyes, Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature, Sam Houston State University, USA, Routledge, ISBN 9781472425522
• Rayfield, D. (2013) Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia, Reaktion Books, ISBN 9781780230702

References

• Lordkipanidze, Mariam (1987), Georgia in the XI-XII centuries, Ganatleba, edited by George B. Hewitt. Also available online at [1]
• Rapp, SH (2003), Studies In Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts, Peeters Bvba ISBN 90-429-1318-5
• Suny, RG (1994), The Making of the Georgian Nation (2nd Edition), Bloomington and Indianapolis, ISBN 0-253-35579-6