List of monarchs of Georgia

This is a list of kings and queens regnant of the kingdoms of Georgia before Russian annexation in 1801–1810.

King of Georgia
Portrait of King George XII, last Georgian monarch
Details
First monarchPharnavaz I
Last monarchGeorge XII
Formation299 BC
Abolition1800 AD
ResidenceArmazi
Mtskheta
Artanuji (now in Turkey)
Kutaisi
Tbilisi
Gremi
Telavi
Pretender(s)David Bagration-Mukhranski[1]
Nugzar Bagrationi-Gruzinski[2]

For more comprehensive lists, and family trees, of Georgian monarchs and rulers see Lists of Georgian monarchs.

Kings of Iberia

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Name Portrait Reign[3] Notes
Pharnavaz I
ფარნავაზი
 
299 – 234 BC
King of Iberia.
Sauromaces I
საურმაგ I
234 – 159 BC
King of Iberia. Son of Pharnavaz.
Mirian I
მირიან I
159 – 109 BC
King of Iberia. Son-in-law and adopted son of Sauromaces I.
Pharnajom
ფარნაჯომი
109 – 90 BC
King of Iberia. Son of Mirian I.
Artaxias I
არშაკ I
90 – 78 BC
King of Iberia. Husband of Pharnajom's sister.
Artoces
არტაგი
78 – 63 BC
King of Iberia. Son of Artaxias I.
Pharnavaz II
ფარნავაზ II
63 – 30 BC
King of Iberia. Son of Artoces.
Mirian II
მირიან II
30 – 20 BC
King of Iberia. Son of Pharnajom.
Arshak II
არშაკ II
20 BC – 1 AD
King of Iberia. Son of Mirian II.
Pharasmanes I the Great
ფარსმან I დიდი
 
1 – 58
King of Iberia. Grandson of Pharnavaz II.
Mihrdat I
მირდატ I
 
58 – 106
King of Iberia. Son of Pharasmanes I.
Amazasp I
ამაზასპი
106 – 116
King of Iberia. Son of Mihrdat I.
Pharasmanes II the Valiant
ფარსმან II ქველი
 
116 – 132
King of Iberia. Son of Amazasp I.
Ghadam
ღადამი
132 – 135
King of Iberia. Son of Pharasmanes II.
Pharasmanes III
ფარსმან III
135 – 185
King of Iberia. Son of Ghadam.
Amazasp II
ამაზასპ II
185 – 189
King of Iberia. Son of Pharasmanes III.
Rev I the Just
რევ I მართალი
189 – 216
King of Iberia. Son of Amazasp II's sister.
Vache
ვაჩე
216 – 234
King of Iberia. Son of Rev I.
Bacurius I
ბაკურ I
234 – 249
King of Iberia. Son of Vache.
Mihrdat II
მირდატ II
249 – 265
King of Iberia. Son of Bacurius I.
Amazasp III
ამაზასპ III
260 – 265
Anti-king of Iberia.
Aspacures I
ასფაგურ I
265 – 284
King of Iberia. Son of Mihrdat II.
Mirian III
მირიან III
 
284 – 361
King of Iberia. Husband of Aspacures I's daughter. The 1st Georgian king who adopted Christianity and introduced it as a state religion during his reign.
Co-ruled with his son Rev II of Iberia (345–361).
Rev II
რევ II
 
345 – 361
Sauromaces II
საურმაგ II
361 – 363
King of Iberia. Son of Rev II.
Aspacures II
ასფაგურ II
 
363 – 365
King of Iberia. Son of Mirian III.
Mihrdat III
მირდატ III
365 – 380,
diarch 370–378
King of Iberia. Son of Aspacures II.
Ruled with Sauromaces II between 370 and 378.
Aspacures III
ასფაგურ III
380 – 394
King of Iberia. Son of Mihrdat III.
Trdat
თრდატი
394 – 406
King of Iberia. Son of Rev II.
Pharasmanes IV
ფარსმან IV
406 – 409
King of Iberia. Son of Aspacures III.
Mihrdat IV
მირდატ IV
 
409 – 411
King of Iberia. Son of Aspacures III.
Archil
არჩილი
411 – 435
King of Iberia. Son of Mihrdat IV.
Mihrdat V
მირდატ V
435 – 447
King of Iberia. Son of Archil.
Vakhtang I Gorgasali
ვახტანგ I გორგასალი
 
447 – 522
King of Iberia. Son of Mihrdat V.
Dachi
დაჩი
522 – 534
King of Iberia. Son of Vakhtang I.
Bacurius II
ბაკურ II
534 – 547
King of Iberia. Son of Dachi.
Pharasmanes V
ფარსმან V
 
547 – 561
King of Iberia. Son of Bacurius II.
Pharasmanes VI
ფარსმან VI
561 – ?
King of Iberia. Son of Pharasmanes V's brother.
Bacurius III
ბაკურ III
? – 580
The last king of Iberia. Son of Pharasmanes VI. Kingship was abolished by Hormizd IV.

Presiding princes of Iberia

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Ruler Portrait Reign Family Overlord Notes
Guaram I 588-590 Guaramid
Stephen I   590-627 Guaramid
Adarnase I   627 – 642 Chosroid
Stephen II 642-650 Chosroid
Adarnase II 650-684 Chosroid
Guaram II 684-693 Guaramid
Guaram III 693-748 Guaramid
Adarnase III 748-760 Nersianid
Nerse 760-772 Nersianid
Vacancy: 772-775
Nerse 775-780 Nersianid
Stephen III 780-786 Guaramid
Vacancy: 786-813
Ashot I   813-830 Bagrationi
Bagrat I 830-876 Bagrationi
David I 876-881 Bagrationi
Gurgen I 881-888 Bagrationi

Georgia under Bagrationi dynasty

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Ruler[a] Born Reign Death Territory Consort Notes
Ashot I the Great
(აშოტ I დიდი)
  Before 807
Son of Adarnase I of Tao-Klarjeti
807-830

(813-830 as Prince of Iberia)
c.830
Nigali valley
aged at least 22/23
Principality of Tao-Klarjeti Unknown
four children
First of the Bagratid family to be Prince of Iberia, in 813. From his base in Tao-Klarjeti, he fought to enlarge the Bagratid territories and sought the Byzantine protectorate against the Arab encroachment. A patron of Christian culture and a friend of the church, he has been canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Bagrat I
(ბაგრატ I)
Before 826
Son of Ashot I
830-876 876
aged at least 49/50
Principality of Tao-Klarjeti Unknown (of Armenia)
(daughter of Smbat VIII Bagratuni)

three children
Also Prince of Iberia. Bagrat shared with his brothers the patrimonial holdings, but which lands he actually possessed is not directly indicated in the medieval sources. He found himself in a constant struggle with the Arabs, the Abasgians and the Kakhetians over the possession of central Iberia.
Adarnase II
(ადარნასე II)
Before 826
Sons of Ashot I
830-867 867
aged at least 40/41
Principality of Tao-Klarjeti Bevreli of Abkhazia
(daughter of Bagrat I of Abkhazia)
three children
Brothers of Bagrat, ruled in different parts of the principality.
Guaram
(გუარამ)
830-882 882
aged at least 55/56
Principality of Tao-Klarjeti Unknown (of Armenia)
(daughter of Smbat VIII Bagratuni)

one child
David I
(დავით I)
?
Son of Bagrat I
876-881 881 Principality of Tao Unknown
(daughter of Constantine III of Abkhazia)

two children
Also Prince of Iberia. David shared the Bagratid hereditary lands in Tao-Klarjeti with his uncles and cousins.
Gurgen I
(გურგენ I)
?
Son of Adarnase II and Bevreli of Abkhazia
876-891

(881-888 as Prince of Iberia)
891 Principality of Tao Unknown (of Armenia)
(daughter of Smbat VIII Bagratuni)

two children
Joined prince Adarnase and king Ashot I of Armenia against prince Nasra of Tao-Klarjeti, who wanted to dispossess Adarnase of his patrimonial inheritance. Adarnase claimed a royal status since then, and Gurgen retained his patrimony.
Sumbat I
(სუმბატ I)
?
Son of Adarnase II of Tao-Klarjeti and Bevreli of Abkhazia
876-889 889 Principality of Klarjeti Khosrovanush
two children
Sumbat received the province of Klarjeti as an appanage where he ruled with the title of mampali, which seems to have passed on to Sumbat and his progeny after the extinction of the line of Guaram Mampali.
Adarnase IV[b]
(ადარნასე IV)
?
Son of David I
888-923[c] 923 Kingdom of Iberia Unknown
six children
As he was still a minor, the Byzantine emperor – pursuant to the policy of division – appointed as curopalates, not Adarnase, but his cousin Gurgen. However, the latter joined Adarnase and king Ashot I of Armenia against prince Nasra of Tao-Klarjeti, who wanted to dispossess Adarnase of his patrimonial inheritance. The victory allowed Adarnase to claim a royal status for himself. Adarnase was, then, responsible for the restoration of the Iberian kingship, which had been in abeyance since it had been abolished by Sasanian Empire in the 6th century, in 888.
David I
(დავით I)
?
Sons of Sumbat I
889-943 23 February 943 Principality of Klarjeti Unknown
one child
Sons of Sumbat I, ruled jointly.
Bagrat I
(ბაგრატი I)
889-900 20 April 900 Principality of Klarjeti Unknown
five children
Adarnase III
(ადარნასე III)
?
Son of Gurgen I
891-896 896 Principality of Tao Unknown
three children
Ashot I (II) the Immature[d]
(აშოტ კუხი)
  ?
Son of Gurgen I
896-918 918 Principality of Tao Unknown
three children
Uncle and nephew, probably ruled jointly. After the death of his nephew, Ashot continued his rule alone.
David
(დავით)
?
First son of Adarnase III
896-908 908 Principality of Tao Unknown
three children
Gurgen II the Great
(გურგენ II დიდი)
?
Second son of Gurgen I
918-941 14 February 941 Principality of Tao Unknown (of Klarjeti)
(daughter of Ashot the Swift)

one child
A patron of local monastic communities, Gurgen presided over the construction of a new cathedral at Khandzta. Gurgen was an energetic ruler and accumulated in his hands much power, ruling over Tao, parts of Klarjeti and Javakheti, and also Adjara and Nigali. The expansion of his territories was at the expense of his cousins and neighbours. However, left no male children and his lands went to his cousins.
David II
(დავით II)
?
Son of Adarnase IV
923-937 937 Kingdom of Iberia Unknown
four children
In spite of his royal title and unlike his father, David did not bear the traditional high Byzantine title of curopalates, which was bestowed by the emperor upon David's younger brother Ashot II. As a result, David's influence and prestige were overshadowed by those of this younger brother.
Sumbat I
(სუმბატ I)
?
Son of Adarnase IV
937-958 958 Kingdom of Iberia Unknown
two children
Heir of his two brothers, he united Iberia with part of Tao.
Bagrat I
(ბაგრატ I)
?
Son of Adarnase IV of Iberia
941-945 March 945 Principality of Upper Tao Unknown (of Klarjeti)
(daughter of Ashot the Swift)

one child
Ashot II
(გურგენ II დიდი)
?
Son of Adarnase IV of Iberia
941-954 954 Principality of Lower Tao Unmarried Left no descendants. After his death his lands went to Iberia.
Lower Tao annexed to the Kingdom of Iberia
Sumbat II
(სუმბატ II)
?
Son of David I
943-988 988 Principality of Klarjeti Unknown
one child
Adarnase IV[e]
(ადარნასე IV)
?
Son of Bagrat I
945-961 961 Principality of Upper Tao Unknown
two children
Bagrat II the Simple
(ბაგრატ II რეგუენი)
?
Son of Sumbat I
958-994 994 Kingdom of Iberia Unmarried Frequently appeared as a collaborator of his relative David III of Tao, the most influential person among the Bagratids of that time, aiding him against the Rawadids of Azerbaijan.
Bagrat II
(ბაგრატ II)
  ?
Son of Adarnase IV
961-966 966 Principality of Upper Tao Unmarried
David III the Great
(დავით III დიდი)
  ?
Son of Adarnase IV
966-1001 1001 Principality of Upper Tao Unknown
two children
David II
(დავით II)
?
Sons of Sumbat II
988-993 993 Principality of Klarjeti Unmarried Sons of Sumbat II, ruled jointly for forty days, before Bagrat's death.
Bagrat II
(ბაგრატი II)
988 988 Principality of Klarjeti Unknown
two children
Sumbat III
(სუმბატი III)
?
Son of Bagrat II
993-1011 1011 Principality of Klarjeti Unknown
two children
Gurgen II
(გურგენი II)
?
Son of Bagrat II
994-1008 c.830
Nigali valley
aged at least 22/23
Kingdom of Iberia Gurandukht of Abkhazia
one child
In 1008, Bagrat, who had been King of Abkhazia since 978, inherited from his father Gurgen the crown of Iberia. The two kingdoms united into what came to be known as the Kingdom of Georgia.
Bagrat III the Unifier
(ბაგრატ III)
  960
Kutaisi
Son of Gurgen of Georgia and Gurandukht of Abkhazia

Adopted son of David III
1001-1008 7 May 1014
Tao
aged 53/54
Principality of Upper Tao Martha
two children
Nephew of Theodosius III of Abkhazia. United for the first time all the territory of Georgia.
1008–1014 Kingdom of Georgia
In 1008, Upper Tao was annexed to Georgia
Bagrat III
(ბაგრატ III)
?
Son of Sumbat III
1011-1028 1028 Principality of Klarjeti Unmarried In 1028 he was imprisoned by Bagrat IV of Georgia, and died during captivity. His lands were absorbed by Georgia.
In 1028, Klarjeti was annexed to Georgia
George I
(გიორგი I)
  998 or 1002
Son of Bagrat III and Martha
1014–1027 16 August 1027
Mqinwarni or Itaroni
aged 24/25 or 28/29
Kingdom of Georgia Mariam of Vaspurakan
c.1018 (annulled)
four children

Alda of Alania
one child
Bagrat IV
(ბაგრატ IV)

(Under guardianship of Mariam of Vaspurakan
(მარიამი, Մարիամ)
(1027-1037))
  1018
Son of George I and Mariam of Vaspurakan
1027–1072 1072
Marabda[4]
aged 53/54
Kingdom of Georgia Helena Argyre
1032
Kutaisi
no children

Borena of Alania
Between 1033 and 1040
three children
His mother, while regent, negotiated a peace treaty with the Byzantine Empire, and returned with the high Byzantine title of curopalates for Bagrat in 1032. Bagrat had the opposition of:
George II
(გიორგი II)
  1054
Son of Bagrat IV and Borena of Alania
1072–1089

1089-1112
(nominally)
1112
aged 57/58
Kingdom of Georgia Helena
c.1070
one child
Previously opposed to his father. Unable to deal effectively with the constant Seljuk Turkish attacks and overwhelmed by internal problems in his kingdom, George was forced to abdicate in favor of his energetic son David, to whom he remained a nominal co-ruler until his death in 1112.
David IV the Builder[f]
(დავით IV აღმაშენებელი)
  1073
Kutaisi
Son of George II and Helena
1089–1125 24 January 1125
Tbilisi
aged 51/52
Kingdom of Georgia Rusudan of Armenia
c.1090
(annulled 1107)

four children?

Gurandukht of the Kipchaks
c.1107
four children?
Popularly considered to be the greatest and most successful Georgian ruler in history and an original architect of the Georgian Golden Age, he succeeded in driving the Seljuk Turks out of the country in 1121. His reforms enabled him to reunite the country and bring most of the lands of the Caucasus under Georgia's control.
Demetrius I
(დემეტრე I)
  1093
Son of David IV and Rusudan of Armenia
1125–1154

1155–1156
1156
Mtskheta
aged 62/63
Kingdom of Georgia Unknown
Before 1130
four children
Also a poet. In 1154, he was forced by his own son David to abdicate and become a monk. With David's death months later, he was restored to the throne, but did not survive much longer. Demetrius had the opposition of:
  • Prince David (დავით) (1130)
    Demetrius' heir, opposed to his father for a brief period. Even with the rebellion crushed, he ended up expelling his father from the throne.
David V
(დავით V)
Before 1130s
First son of Demetrius I
1154–1155 1155
aged at least 24/25
Kingdom of Georgia Unknown
Before 1130
at least one child
Previous opponent against his father. Forced him to abdicate, but died a few months later.
George III
(გიორგი III)
  Before 1130s
Second son of
Demetrius I
1155–1184 27 March 1184
aged at least 53/54
Kingdom of Georgia Burdukhan of Alania
c.1155
two children
His reign was part of what would be called the Georgian Golden Age – a historical period in the High Middle Ages, during which the Kingdom of Georgia reached the peak of its military power and development. However, George had the opposition of:
Tamar I the Great
(თამარ მეფე)
  c.1160
Daughter of
George III and Burdukhan of Alania
1184–1213 18 January 1213
Agarani
aged 52/53
Kingdom of Georgia Yury Bogolyubsky
c.1185 (annulled 1187)
no children

David Soslan
1189
two children
Co-ruler with her father since 1178. Ruled in a period of political and military successes and cultural achievements, presiding the peak of the Georgian Golden Age.
George IV the Resplendent
(გიორგი IV ლაშა)
  c.1191
Son of David Soslan and Queen Tamar
1213–1223 18 January 1223
Bagavan
aged 31–32
Kingdom of Georgia Unmarried Co-ruler with his mother since 1207, continued her policy, but, at the end of his reign was defeated by a Mongol expedition.
Rusudan
(რუსუდან მეფე)
  1194
Daughter of David Soslan and Queen Tamar
1223–1245 1245
Tbilisi
aged 50–51
Kingdom of Georgia Ghias ad-din
c.1223 (annulled 1226)
two children
Period marked by Mongol invasions of Georgia. The queen was forced to accept the sovereignty of the Mongol Khan in 1242, to pay an annual tribute and to support the Mongols with a Georgian army.
David VI & I the Younger
(დავით VI ნარინი)
  1225
Son of Ghias ad-din and Queen Rusudan
1245–1259

(From 1248 junior co-ruler of David VII)
1293
Tbilisi
aged 67–68
Kingdom of Georgia Tamar Amanelisdze
before 1254
three children

Theodora Doukaina Palaiologina of Byzantium
1254
one child
Co-ruler with his mother since 1230. Forced by the Mongols to share power with his cousin David VII (1248), he rose against Mongol domination (1259), but failed, and became restrained to an eastern kingdom, named Imereti, from 1259, where he ruled alone, passing it to his descendants. As King of Imereti, developed friendly relations with the Golden Horde and Bahri dynasty of Egypt, and repulsed the Ilkhanate attacks. He also interfered in Trebizond's politics.
1259-1293 Western Georgia
David VII the Elder
(დავით VII ულუ)
  1215
Illegitimate son of George IV
1248–1259

(as senior co-ruler of David VI)
1270
Tbilisi
aged 54/55
Kingdom of Georgia Jigda-Khatun
before 1252
no children

Altun of Alania
(in bigamy, repudiated 1252)
c.1249

Gvantsa Kakhaberidze
(in polygamy until 1252)
1250
one child

Esukan
1263
no children
Co-ruler with his cousin until 1259. Forced by the Mongols to share power with his cousin David VI (1248), he rose against Mongol domination (1262), but failed. However, his negotiation of peace made him lord of the western part of the Georgian Kingdom, which kept the original name, Georgia. A heavy burden of Mongol dominance led to a political and economic crisis in the kingdom.
1259-1270 Eastern Georgia
Between 1259 and 1330, due to the consequences of the Mongol invasions, Imereti was ruled by distinct kings from the rest of Georgia. David VI and David VII, who had ruled together as vassals of the Mongols, now ruled distinct parts of the country. Imereti had a few more periods of independence, between 1387 and 1412 (during Timur's invasions of Georgia), and again between 1446 and 1452.
Demetrius II the Devoted
(დემეტრე II თავდადებული)
  1259
First son of David VII and Gvantsa Kakhaberidze
1270–1289 12 March 1289
Movakani
aged 29/30
Eastern Georgia Theodora Megala Komnene of Trebizond
1277
five children

Solghar of Mongolia
(in polygamy?)
Before 1280
three children

Natela Jaqeli
(in polygamy?)
1280
one child
Criticized for his possible polygamy. Executed by the Great Khan.
Vakhtang II[g]
(ვახტანგ II)
Before 1254
First son of David VI and Tamar Amanelisdze
1289–1292 1292
aged at least 37/38
Eastern Georgia Oljath Khan
1289
no children
Ascended in Georgia, with the consent of the Mongols.
Constantine I
(კონსტანტინე I)
  Before 1254
Second son of David VI and Tamar Amanelisdze
1293–1327 1327
aged at least 72/73
Western Georgia unknown
Before 1327
no children
Unlike his western counterparts, Constantine remained independent from the Ilkhanid hegemony. However, his troubled reign was marked by the opposition of his brother, Michael.
David VIII
(დავით VIII)
1273
First son of Demetre II and Theodora Megala Komnene of Trebizond
1292–1302

1308-1311
1311
aged 37/38
Eastern Georgia Oljath Khan
1291
no children

Unknown, from Surameli family
1302
one child
Refused to submit to the orders of the Mongols, and between 1299 and 1308 he was declared a deposed king, as his own brothers were supported by the Mongol Khan. Albeit forced to abdicate of the throne by his brother Vakhtang, after the latter's death he was restored as king.
George V the Brilliant
(გიორგი V ბრწყინვალე)
  1286 or 1289
Son of Demetre II and Natela Jaqeli
1299–1302

1313-1330
1346
aged 56/57 or 59/60
Eastern Georgia Unknown
before 1346
one son
In 1299, the Ilkhanid khan Ghazan installed him as a rival ruler to George's elder brother, the rebellious Georgian King David VIII. However, George's authority did not extend beyond the Mongol-protected capital Tbilisi, so George was referred to during this period as "The Shadow King of Tbilisi". In 1302, he was replaced by his brother, Vakhtang III. After deposition, was named regent for his nephew, George VI, who died as a minor. He then re-ascended as king, reuniting Georgia in 1330. A flexible and far-sighted politician, he recovered Georgia from a century-long Mongol domination, restoring the country's previous strength and Christian culture.
1330-1346 Kingdom of Georgia
Vakhtang III
(ვახტანგ III)
  1276
Second son of Demetre II and Theodora Megala Komnene of Trebizond
1302–1308 1308
aged 31/32
Eastern Georgia Ripsime
before 1308
two children
George VI the Minor
(გიორგი VI მცირე)
(Under guardianship of Prince George)
c.1302
Son of David VIII
1311–1313 1313
aged 10/11
Eastern Georgia Unmarried Under regency of his uncle, George V. Died as a minor.
Michael I
(მიქელ I)
  Before 1254
Third son of David VI and Tamar Amanelisdze
1327–1329 1329
aged at least 74/75
Western Georgia unknown
Before 1329
one child
Opposed his brother, Constantine I. Sought to resubjugate to the crown the great nobles and provincial dynasts who had asserted greater autonomy for themselves in the reign of Constantine I.
Bagrat I the Minor
(ბაგრატ I მცირე)
Before 1329
Son of Michael I
1329–1330 1372
aged at least 42/43
Western Georgia Unknown
(a daughter of Qvarqvare II Jaqeli)

1358
three children
Still a minor, was deposed by George V.
David IX
(დავით IX)
Before 1346
Son of George V
1346–1360 1360
aged at least 13–14
Kingdom of Georgia Sindukhtar
before 1360
two children
The prosperity of the kingdom did not last, as the Black Death swept through the area in 1348. In 1360, Georgia lost Armenia.
Bagrat V the Great
(ბაგრატ V დიდი)
Before 1360
Son of George V
1360–1387 1393
aged at least 32/33
Kingdom of Georgia Helena Megala Komnene of Trebizond
before 1366
two children

Anna Megala Komnene of Trebizond
June 1366
one child
A fair and popular ruler, was imprisoned by the Golden Horde. Agreed to convert from Christianity and become Muslim.
1387–1392 Eastern Georgia
1392-1393 Kingdom of Georgia
Alexander I
(ალექსანდრე I)
After 1358
First son of Bagrat I
1387–1389 1389
aged not more than 30/31
Kingdom of Imereti Anna Orbeliani
Before 1389
two children
George I
(გიორგი I)
After 1358
Second son of Bagrat I
1389–1392 1392
aged not more than 33/34
Kingdom of Imereti Unmarried In 1392 Imereti is reannexed to Georgia.
George VII
(გიორგი VII)
Before 1366
Son of Bagrat V and Helena Megala Komnene of Trebizond
1393–1396 1407
aged at least 40/41
Kingdom of Georgia Unmarried Western Georgia was lost again in 1396.
1396–1407 Eastern Georgia
Constantine II
(კონსტანტინე II)
After 1358
Second son of Bagrat I
1396–1401 1401
aged not more than 42/43
Kingdom of Imereti Unmarried In 1396, Constantine took advantage of George VII's continuous war with Timur—in which a great number of Imeretians died—and the death of Vameq Dadiani and returned to Imereti.
Constantine I
(კონსტანტინე I)
  c.1366
Son of Bagrat V and Anna Megala Komnene of Trebizond
1407–1412 1412
aged 45/46
Eastern Georgia Natia Amirejibi
c.1389
three children
Demetrius I
(დემეტრე I)
Before 1389
Son of Alexander I and Anna Orbeliani
1401–1412 1445
aged at least 55/56
Kingdom of Imereti Unknown
Before 1445
no children
From 1412 accepts suzerainty from Georgia and rules as duke.
Alexander I the Great
(ალექსანდრე I დიდი)
  1386
Son of Constantine I and Natia Amirejibi
1412–1442 27 August 1445 or 7 March 1446
aged 58–60
Kingdom of Georgia Dulandukht Orbeliani
c.1411
three children

Tamar of Imereti
c.1414
three children
Regains Imereti in 1412. Despite his efforts to restore the country from the ruins left by the Turco-Mongol warlord Timur's invasions, Georgia never recovered and faced the inevitable fragmentation that was followed by a long period of stagnation. He was the last ruler of a united Georgia which was relatively free from foreign domination. Abdicated.
Demetrius III
(დიმიტრი III)
1413
Son of Alexander I and Dulandukht Orbeliani
1433–1446 1453
aged 39/40
Kingdom of Georgia Gulkhan of Imereti
(d.1472)
c.1450
one child
Co-ruler since 1433, ruled with his father and then his brother Vakhtang.
Vakhtang IV
(ვახტანგ IV)
  1413
Son of Alexander I and Dulandukht Orbeliani
1442–1446 December 1446
aged 32/33
Kingdom of Georgia Sitikhatun Panaskerteli-Tsitsishvili
c.1442
no children
George VIII
(გიორგი VIII)
  1417
Son of Alexander I and Tamar of Imereti
1446–1463 1476
aged 58/59
Kingdom of Georgia Tamar
1445
five children?

Nestan-Darejan
1456
five children?
In 1463 lost Imereti once more. From 1465, renounced Georgia and ruled only in Kakheti.
1463-1466 Eastern Georgia
1466-1476 Kingdom of Kakheti
Bagrat VI
(ბაგრატ VI)
1439
Son of Prince George of Georgia and Gulkhan of Imereti
1463–1466 1478
aged 58/59
Kingdom of Imereti Helena
(d. 3 November 1510)
three children
Paternal grandson of Constantine I of Georgia. In 1463 rose as King of Imereti, and in 1466 ascended in Kartli (the part George VIII renounced), reuniting it with Imereti.
1466-1478 Kingdom of Georgia
Alexander I
(ალექსანდრე I)
1445
Son of George VIII and Tamar or Nestan-Darejan
1476-1511 27 April 1511
aged 65/66
Kingdom of Kakheti Anna Cholokashvili
two children

Tinatin(the same person as Anna?)
Alexander's pliancy and flexible diplomacy earned him security from the neighboring powers, only to be murdered by his own son George II "the Bad". He recognized the suzerainty of Shah Ismail I of Safavid Iran at the beginning of the 16th century.[5]
Alexander II
(ალექსანდრე II)
  Before 1478
Son of Bagrat VI and Helena
1478 1 April 1510
aged at least 31/32
Kingdom of Georgia Tamar
(d. 12 March 1510)
seven children
After being deposed by Constantine II, Alexander recovered Imereti after Constantine's defeat at the hands of Qvarqvare II Jaqeli, a powerful atabeg of Samtskhe, in 1483, but lost Kutaisi to Constantine again a year later. In 1488, Alexander took advantage of the Ak Koyunlu Turkoman invasion of Kartli, and seized control of Imereti.
1488-1510 Kingdom of Imereti
Constantine II
(კონსტანტინე II)
1447
Son of Demetrius III and Gulkhan of Imereti
1478-1488 1505
aged 57/58
Kingdom of Georgia Tamar
(d. 1492)
1473
eleven children
23rd and last King of the Kingdom of Georgia. Paternal grandson of Alexander I of Georgia. Early in the 1490s, he had to recognise the independence of his rival rulers of Imereti and Kakheti, and to confine his power to Kartli.
1488-1505 Kingdom of Kartli
(Remaining Georgia)
In 1490, after several decades of dynastic infighting, a national council agreed on the division of the Kingdom of Georgia into three kingdoms.[6] The Kings of Georgia retained the largest portion of the divided kingdom which reverted to its old name of Kartli. Imereti and Kakheti emerged as the other two Bagrationi kingdoms created out of the division.
David X
(დავით X)
  1482
Son of Constantine II and Tamar
1505-1526 1526
aged 43/44
Kingdom of Kartli Nestan-Darejan Baratashvili
no children

Tamar
(d.1554)
eight children
Despite the fact that Constantine had recognised the independence of the breakaway Georgian kingdoms of Imereti and Kakheti, the rivalry among these polities was to continue under David. He had to defend his kingdom against the attacks by Alexander II of Imereti and George II of Kakheti.
Bagrat III
(ბაგრატ III)
  23 September 1495
Son of Alexander II and Tamar
1510-1565 September 1565
aged 69/70
Kingdom of Imereti Elena
(d.1565)
six children
Faced repeated assaults from the Ottoman Turks as well as conflicts with his ostensible vassal princes of Mingrelia, Guria, and Abkhazia who were frequently joining the enemy.
George II the Wicked
(გიორგი II)
1464
Son of Alexander I and Dulandukht Orbeliani
1511-1513 1513
aged 48/49
Kingdom of Kakheti Elena Irubakidze-Cholokashvili
(d.1532)
three children
After a failed incursion in Kartli, ended in prison, where he was soon killed.
Kakheti briefly annexed to Kartli
Leon
(ლევანი)
  1504
Son of George II and Elena Irubakidze-Cholokashvili
1520-1574 1574
aged 69/70
Kingdom of Kakheti Tinatin Gurieli
(annulled 1529)
two children

Unknown
(daughter of Kamal Kara-Musel, Shamkhal of Tarku)

fourteen children
Restored the kingdom of Kakheti and presided over the most prosperous and peaceful period in its history.
George IX
(გიორგი IX)
  ?
Son of David X and Tamar Jaqeli
1525-1527 1539 Kingdom of Kartli Unmarried Abdicated to his brother
Luarsab I
(ლუარსაბ I)
1502 or 1509
Son of David X and Tamar Jaqeli
1527-1556/58 1556 or 1558
Garisi
aged 47–56
Kingdom of Kartli Tamar of Imereti
eight children
Persistent in his resistance against Safavid Persian aggression, he was killed in the Battle of Garisi.
Simon I the Great
(სიმონ I დიდი)
  1537
Son of Luarsab I and Tamar of Imereti
1556-1569

1578-1599
1611
Constantinople
aged 73/74
Kingdom of Kartli Nestan-Darejan of Kakheti
one child
His first tenure was marked by war against the Persian domination of Georgia. In 1569 he was captured by the Persians, and spent nine years in captivity. In 1578 he was released and reinstalled in Kartli. During this period (i.e. his second tenure), he fought as a Persian subject against the Ottoman domination of Georgia. In 1599 Simon I was captured by the Ottomans and died in captivity.
George II
(გიორგი II)
  Before 1510
Son of Bagrat III and Elena
1565-1585 1585
aged at least 74/75
Kingdom of Imereti Unknown
one child

Rusudan Shervashidze
(d.1578)
two children

Tamar Diasamidze
three children
With his ascend to the throne, George found himself involved in the civil war among his vassals.
David XI
Dāwūd Khan II
(დავით XI,
داود خان,
დაუთ-ხანი)
  After 1537
Son of Luarsab I and Tamar of Imereti
1569-1578 c.1579
Constantinople
aged less than 41/42
Kingdom of Kartli Elene
(relative of Alexander II of Kakheti)
four children
A convert to Islam, he was appointed as Khan of Kartli by the Persian Shah Tahmasp I from 1562 (effectively from 1569) to 1578.
Alexander II
(ალექსანდრე II)
  1527
Son of Leon and Tinatin Gurieli
1574-1601

1602-1605
12 March 1605
Dzegami
aged 77/78
Kingdom of Kakheti Tinatin Amilakhvari In spite of a precarious international situation, he managed to retain relative economic stability in his kingdom and tried to establish contacts with the Tsardom of Russia. In October 1601, Alexander's son, David, revolted from the royal authority and seized the crown, forcing his father to retire to a monastery. David would die a year later, on October 2, 1602, and Alexander was able to resume the throne. Alexander fell victim to the Iran-sponsored coup led by his other son, Constantine.
Leon
(ლევანი)
1573
Son of George II and Rusudan Shervashidze
1585-1588 1590
aged 17/18
Kingdom of Imereti Marekhi Dadiani
no children
With his ascend to the throne, Leon faced a revolt by his own uncle, Constantine, who defied the royal authority and took control of Upper Imereti. Leon made an alliance with the Mingrelian prince Mamia IV Dadiani, and forced Constantine to surrender in 1587. He then would also face the hostilities of Simon I of Kartli and his own brother-in-law, who deposed him.
Rostom
(როსტომი)
1571
(Illegitimate?) Son of Prince Constantine
1588-1589

1590-1605
1605
aged 33/34
Kingdom of Imereti Unmarried Rostom was son of the rebellious prince Constantine, he was raised to the throne with support of Mamia IV Dadiani, who deposed Leon. Rostom's authority was defied, however, by his vassal Giorgi II Gurieli, who employed an Ottoman force to dethrone the king in favor of Bagrat IV, paternal grandson of Bagrat III. After Rostom fled to Mingrelia, Simon I of Kartli deposed Bagrat and brought most of Imereti under his control. Manuchar I Dadiani rejected Simon's ultimatum, moved into Imereti, defeated the invaders and reinstated Rostom as king. However, the authority started to be held by an aristocratic élite, notably by the prince of Mingrelia.
Bagrat IV
(ბაგრატ IV)
1565
Son of Prince Teimuraz[h]
1589-1590 After 1590
aged at least 24/25
Kingdom of Imereti
George X
(გიორგი X)
1561
Tbilisi
Son of Simon I and Nestan-Darejan of Kakheti
1599-1606 7 September 1606
Constantinople
aged 44/45
Kingdom of Kartli Mariam/Tamar Lipartiani
(d.1614)
15 September 1578
five children
Fought alongside his father against the Ottoman occupation forces since 1598. Held power after Simon was taken captive by the Turks at the Battle of Nakhiduri in 1599. George attempted several times, though vainly, to ransom his father (who would die as a prisoner in 1612) from captivity and even offered to the Sublime Porte his son as hostage. Supported the Persians against the Ottomans. He was also the first king of Kartli who attempted to establish diplomatic ties with the northern co-religionist power of Muscovy. George decided even to give his daughter Elene to the Czar Boris Godunov in marriage. However, unstable political situation in both countries terminated these contacts.
David I
(დავით I)
  1569
Gremi
Son of Alexander II and Tinatin Amilakhvari
1601-1602 21 October 1602
Gremi
aged 31/32
Kingdom of Kakheti Ketevan of Mukhrani the Martyr
1581
four children
In mid-1601, he capitalized on the illness of his father and gained an effective control of the government. However, died a year later. His father then recovered the throne.
Constantine I
Kustandil Khan
(კონსტანტინე I,
کنستانتین خان‎,
კონსტანტინე ხანი)
1567
Son of Alexander II and Tinatin Amilakhvari
1605 22 October 1605
aged 33/34
Kingdom of Kakheti Unknown
(a granddaughter of Alexander II)
His subjects refused to recognize a patricide (he murdered Alexander II) and revolted. The rebellion was led by Constantine's sister-in-law, the widow Ketevan, who requested aid from George X of Kartli. Constantine bribed some of the rebel nobles, but in the end had to flee. The rebels sent emissaries to Abbas I of Persia and pledged loyalty, provided that Abbas confirmed their candidate, Ketevan's son Teimuraz, as a Christian king of Kakheti.
George III
(გიორგი III)
  Before 1605
Son of Prince Constantine and Elena Gurieli
1605-1639 1639
aged at least 33/34
Kingdom of Imereti Tamar
(d.1639)
no children
His authority was seriously challenged by the energetic prince of Mingrelia, Levan II Dadiani, whose increasing influence over the western Georgian polities George tried to restrict without any success.
Teimuraz I
(თეიმურაზ I)

(Under guardianship of Ketevan of Mukhrani
(ქეთევან წამებული)

(1605-1614))
  1589
Son of David I and Ketevan of Mukhrani
1605-1648 1661
Gorgan
aged 71/72
Kingdom of Kakheti Anna Gurieli
c.1605
three children

Khorashan of Kartli
1612
two children
An admirer of Persian poetry, Teimuraz translated into Georgian several Persian love stories and transformed the personal experiences of his reign into a series of original poems influenced by the contemporary Persian tradition.[7] From 1614 on, he waged a five-decade long struggle against the Safavid Iranian domination of Georgia in the course of which he lost several members of his family. That's why he was deposed twice by the Persians (1616–25, 1633–34), during which years Kakheti was under Persian governorship. Teimuraz ended up his life as the shah's prisoner at Astarabad at the age of 74.
Kakheti briefly annexed to Kartli and then to Persia
Luarsab II the Holy Martyr
(ლუარსაბ II)

(Under guardianship of Shadiman Baratashvili
(შადიმან ბარათაშვილი)

(1606-1610))
  1592
Tbilisi
Son of George X and Mariam/Tamar Lipartiani
1606-1615 1 July 1615
Shiraz
aged 22/23
Kingdom of Kartli Makrine Saakadze
no children
He is known for his martyr's death at the hands of the Persian shah Abbas I. The Georgian Orthodox Church regards him as saint and marks his memory on the day of his death, July 1.
Bagrat VII
Bagrat Khan
(ლუარსაბ II)
1569
Son of David XI and Elene
1615-1619 1619
aged 49/50
Kingdom of Kartli Anna of Kakheti
two children
Installed by Abbas I as a puppet king/khan in Kartli on the deposition of his cousin, Luarsab II. He exercised only a limited power confined to Lower Kartli and largely relied on Persian forces. Considered as a renegade, he was disgusted by most of the kingdom's population and, in spite of the Persian presence, he was unable to control even seemingly loyal nobility.
Simon II
Semayun Khan
(სიმონ II)

(Under regency of Giorgi Saakadze
(გიორგი სააკაძე)

(1619-1625))
c.1610
Son of Bagrat VII and Anna of Kakheti
1619-1630 1630
aged around 19/20
Kingdom of Kartli Jahan Banu Begum
one child
Largely unpopular with his Christian subjects, Simon's "khanate" never stretched beyond Tbilisi and the Lower Kartli province, where the districts of Somkhiti and Sabaratiano were occupied by Persian forces.
Kartli briefly annexed to Kakheti
Rostom
Rustam Khan
(როსტომი,
როსტომ ხანი)
  1565
Son of David XI and Elena
1633-1658 1658
aged 92/93
Kingdom of Kartli Ketevan Abashishvili
1635
no children

Mariam Dadiani
1638
no children
Took control of Kartli and garrisoned all major fortresses with Persian forces, bringing them under his tight control. His willingness to cooperate with his suzerain won for Kartli a larger degree of autonomy. A period of relative peace and prosperity ensued, with the cities and towns being revived, many deserted areas repopulated and commerce flourished. Although Muslim, Rostom patronised Christian culture, albeit Islam and Persian habits predominating at his court. He ruthlessly crushed an opposition of local nobles.
Alexander III
(ალექსანდრე III)
  1609
Son of George III and Tamar
1639-1660 1 March 1660
aged 50/51
Kingdom of Imereti Tamar Gurieli
1618
(annulled 1620)
three children

Nestan-Darejan of Kakheti
1629
no children
Most of his reign was spent in the struggle against the powerful prince of Mingrelia, Levan II Dadiani, who refused to acknowledge the king of Imereti as his overlord, and aspired to displace him from his throne.
Vakhtang V
Shah-Nawaz Khan
(ვახტანგ V)
1618
Son of Teimuraz I, Prince of Mukhrani and Anna Eristavi

Adopted son of Rostom
1658-1675 September 1675
aged 56/57
Kingdom of Kartli Rodam Kaplanishvili-Orbeliani
(annulled 1658)
ten children

Mariam Dadiani
1658
no children
Originally great-great-grandson of Constantine II of Georgia, he came from the Mukhrani line, being adopted by his predecessor Rostom to succeed him. Followed the policy of his predecessor, managing to maintain a peaceful relationship with his Persian suzerains and to revive the economy of Kartli. Made efforts to bring other Georgian polities under his control. Intervened in Imereti's bitter power struggles.
Bagrat V
(ბაგრატ V)
1620
Son of Alexander III and Tamar Gurieli
1660

1664-1668

1668-1678

1679-1681
1681
aged 60/61
Kingdom of Imereti Ketevan of Kakheti
(annulled 1661)
no children

Tatia of Mukhrani
(annulled 1663)
no children

Tamar of Mukhrani
four children
With his reign began a period of dynastic troubles in Imereti, marked by extreme instability and feudal anarchy in the kingdom: Some nobles, who already had power, try to ascend as kings.
Vakhtang Tchutchunashvili
(ვახტანგ ჭუჭუნაშვილი)
? 1660-1661

1668
1668 Kingdom of Imereti Unmarried Non-dynastic. Lover of queen Nestan-Darejan of Kakheti, who blinded her stepson Bagrat V in 1660.
Archil
(არჩილი)
  1647
Son of Vakhtang V of Kartli and Rodam Kaplanishvili-Orbeliani
1661-1663 16 April 1713
Moscow
aged 65/66
Kingdom of Imereti Unknown
(daughter of Prince Nodar Tsitsishvili)
no children

Ketevan of Kakheti
1668
four children
Restored the independence of Kakheti from Persia. After a series of unsuccessful attempts to establish himself on the throne of Imereti, Archil retired to Russia where he spearheaded the cultural life of a local Georgian community. He was also a lyric poet.
1664-1675 Kingdom of Kakheti
1678-1679

1690-1691

1695-1696

1698-1699
Kingdom of Imereti
Demetrius Gurieli
(დემეტრე გურიელი)
?
Son of Simon I Gurieli
1663-1664 1668 Kingdom of Imereti Unmarried Non-dynastic. Also Prince of Guria 1658–1668. In 1664, the Imeretians deposed and blinded him, and restored Bagrat V.
George XI
Gurgin Khan
(გიორგი XI)
  1651
Son of Vakhtang V of Kartli and Rodam Kaplanishvili-Orbeliani
1675-1688

1703-1709
21 April 1709
Kandahar
aged 57/58
Kingdom of Kartli Tamar Davitishvili
(d.4 December 1683)
1676
two children

Khoreshan Mikeladze
(d.24 February 1695)
1687
Kojori
one child
He is best known for his struggle against the Safavids which dominated his weakened kingdom and later as a Safavid commander-in-chief in what is now Afghanistan. Being an Eastern Orthodox Christian, he converted to Shia Islam prior to his appointment as governor of Kandahar.
Heraclius I
Eregli Khan
Nazar Ali Khan

(ერეკლე I,
ارگلی خان,
ნაზარალი-ხანი,
نظر علی خان‎)
  1642
Son of Prince David of Kakheti and Elene Diasamidze
1675-1676 21 April 1709
Isfahan
aged 66/67
Kingdom of Kakheti Anna Cholokashvili
Grandson of Teimuraz I of Kakheti. Raised in Russia, where he was known as Nikolai Davidovich. In 1662, he returned to take the vacant throne of Kakheti, but was defeated by prince Archil who had Iranian support. However, he managed to take Kakheti when Archil, conflicted with the Persian Empire, left the kingdom. With the annexation of his kingdom to Persia, and George XI of artli deposed, Heraclius was appointed the new king of Kartli. George XI returned to his throne in 1703 and, despite having also his kingdom restored, Heraclius never returned to it.
1688-1703 Kingdom of Kartli
1703-1709 Kingdom of Kakheti
Between 1676 and 1703, Kakheti was annexed to Persia
George IV Gurieli[i]
(გიორგი III გურიელი)
?
Son of Kaikhosro I Gurieli and Khvaramze Goshadze
1681-1683 1684 Kingdom of Imereti Tamar Chijavadze
1667
annulled 1677)
five children

Darejan of Imereti
c.1677
no children

Tamar of Mukhrani
1681
no children
Non-dynastic. Also Prince of Guria 1658–1668. Married Darejan, daughter of Bagrat V, and then his mother-in-law. He was energetically involved in civil wars in western Georgian polities, which he sought to bring under his sway. He was killed in battle while trying to recover the lost throne of Imereti.
Alexander IV
(ალექსანდრე IV)
Before 1681
Illegitimate son of Bagrat V
1683-1691

1691-1695
1695
aged at least 13/14
Kingdom of Imereti Tamar Abashidze
1691
four children
George XI of Kartli and the Imeretian nobles secured the Ottoman recognition for Alexander, who was enthroned in Imereti after deposing the Gurieli prince in 1683. Alexander transferred his loyalty to the Safavid shah Suleiman I of Persia in 1689, but was expelled by the Turks into Kartli in August 1690. In 1691, through the mediation of Erekle I of Kartli and the Persian government, Alexander was restored in Imereti after a year of anarchy and misrule.
George V Gochia
(გიორგი V გოჩია)
?
A relative of the Bagrationi dynasty
1696-1698 1695
aged at least 13/14
Kingdom of Imereti Tamar Abashidze
1696
no children
Put on the throne by Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze, George ruled virtually, under his powerful benefactor.
Simon
(სიმონი)
?
Illegitimate son of Alexander IV
1699-1701 1701 Kingdom of Imereti Anika Abashidze
1699
no children
Brought up in the court of Erekle I of Kartli. Expelled by Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze and his daughter Tamar (widow of Alexander IV).
Mamia Gurieli the Great[j]
მამია III გურიელი დიდი)
  ?
Son of George IV and Tamar Chijavadze
1701-1702

1711-1712

1713-1714
5 January 1714 Kingdom of Imereti Elena Abashidze
1698
(annulled 1711)
seven children

Tamar of Racha
(d.1716)
no children
Non-dynastic. Also Prince of Guria 1689–1714. Involved in civil wars plaguing in Imereti, he became the kingdom's ruler three times. After his first reign as king for a year, he abdicated, being unable to tolerate the influence of his father-in-law Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze. Subsequent periods of his royal career was the result of a feud with George VII of Imereti. Mamia died while still sitting on the throne of Imereti, which then reverted to his rival.
George VI-Malakia Abashidze
(გიორგი-მალაქია აბაშიძე)
?
Son of Paata Abashidze
1702-1707 15 October 1722
Tbilisi
Kingdom of Imereti Unknown
seven children
After controlling many kings behind the curtain, Giorgi-Malakia made his way to the throne, but ended up deposed by a revolt of the nobles.
George VII
(გიორგი VII)
  1670
Illegitimate son of Alexander IV
1707-1711

1712-1713

1713-1716

1719-1720

1707-1711
22 February 1720
Kutaisi
aged 49/50
Kingdom of Imereti Rodam of Kartli
1703
(annulled 1712)
five children

Tamar Abashidze
c.1712
(annulled 1713)
no children

Tamar of Racha
c.1713

no children

Tamar Gurieli
(d.1742)
1716
three children
With the approval of the Ottoman government, a rightful king of Imereti by the loyal party of nobles in 1702, though it was not until 1707 that he was able to wrest the crown from the usurper Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze (George VI). Entered in a feud with Mamia Gurieli for the throne.
Kaikhosro
(ქაიხოსრო)
1 January 1674
Tbilisi
Son of Prince Levan and Tuta Gurieli
1709-1711 27 September 1711
Kandahar
aged 37
Kingdom of Kartli Ketevan
(d.Moscow, 3 May 1730)
four children
Paternal grandson of Vakhtang V. He reigned in absentia since he served during the whole of this period as a Persian commander-in-chief in what is now Afghanistan.
David II
Imām Qulī Khān
(დავით II,
امام قلی خان,
იმამყული-ხანი‎)
  1678
Isfahan
Son of Heraclius I and Anna Cholokashvili
1709-1722 2 November 1722
Magharo
aged 44/45
Kingdom of Kakheti Unknown
(daughter of the shamkhal of Tarki)
no children

Yatri Jahan-Begum
three children
Although a Muslim and a loyal vassal of the Safavid dynasty of Iran, he failed to ensure his kingdom's security and most of his reign was marked by Lekianoba - incessant inroads by the Dagestani mountainous clansmen.
Interregnum: 1711-1714
(Under regency of Prince Vakhtang)
Jesse
Ali-Quli Khan
Mustafa Pasha

(იესე)
1680
Tbilisi
Son of Prince Levan and Tuta Gurieli
1714-1716

1724-1727
1727
Tbilisi
aged 57/58
Kingdom of Kartli Mariam Qaplanishvili-Orbeliani
1712

Elene-Begum of Kakheti
1715
eleven children
Paternal grandson of Vakhtang V. He proved to be incompetent and addicted to alcohol. Unable to maintain order in his possessions, he was replaced, in June 1716, with a brother, Vakhtang, who had finally agreed to renounce Christianity. After Ottoman invasion in Georgia that led to Vakhtang's escape, Jesse could return to the throne. After his death, the kingdom was abolished and united with Kakheti.
Vakhtang VI the Scholar
Ḥosaynqolī Khan
(ვახტანგ VI,
حسین‌قلی خان)
  15 September 1674
Tbilisi
Son of Prince Levan and Tuta Gurieli
1716-1724 26 March 1737
Astrakhan
aged 61
Kingdom of Kartli Rusudan of Circassia
1696
five children
One of the most important and extraordinary statesman of early 18th-century Georgia, he is known as a notable legislator, scholar, critic, translator and poet. His reign was eventually terminated by the Ottoman invasion following the disintegration of Safavid Persia, which forced Vakhtang into exile in the Russian Empire.
In 1727, the kingdom of Kartli was annexed to the Ottoman Empire, then to Persia (1735), and finally merged in Kakheti in 1744
George VIII Gurieli[k]
(გიორგი IV გურიელი)
?
Son of Mamia and Khvaramze Goshadze
1720 1726 Kingdom of Imereti Elena-Mariam Abashidze
(annulled 1717)
two children

Khvaramze Dadiani
no children
Non-dynastic. Also Prince of Guria 1714–1726. Seized the crown of Imereti, but was forced to abandon the enterprise later that year. Returning to Guria, his rule was challenged by a faction of local nobility, which included his mother Elene and brother Kaikhosro III Gurieli.
Alexander V
(ალექსანდრე V)
1703
Kutaisi
Son of George VII and Rodam of Kartli
1720-1741

1741-1746

1746-1749
March 1752
Kutaisi
aged 49/50
Kingdom of Imereti Mariam Dadiani
(d.1731)
1721
three children

Tamar Abashidze
(d.1772)
1732
five children
Brought up at the court of Vakhtang VI of Kartli and enjoyed his support in the power struggle in Imereti. After visiting Istanbul, in August 1719 he returned with a detachment of Turkish auxiliaries, deposed George VIII Gurieli in June 1720, and was crowned king of Imereti.
Constantine II
Mahmād Qulī Khān
(კონსტანტინე II
მაჰმად ყული-ხანი)
  ?
Isfahan
Illegitimate son of Heraclius I
1722-1732 28 December 1732
Telavi
Kingdom of Kakheti Perejan-Begum
one child
He frequently feuded with his western neighbor and kinsman, Vakhtang VI of Kartli, who was declared by the Persian government deposed in 1723.
Teimuraz II
(თეიმურაზ II)
  7 November 1700
Tbilisi
Son of Constantine II and Perejan-Begum
1732-1744 8 January 1762
Saint Petersburg
aged 61
Kingdom of Kakheti Tamar Eristavi
(annulled 1711)
no children

Tamar II
2 February 1712
four children

Ana-Khanum Baratashvili
19 August 1746
two children
In 1735, fomented unrest against the Persian rule, but was captured in 1736. Part of Georgian nobles staged a powerful rebellion against the Persian regime, and the shah releases Teimuraz to suppress the opposition. In 1744, Teimuraz was confirmed by the shah as king of Kartli, and his son Erekle was given a Kakhetian crown, laying the ground for the eventual reunification of the Georgian kingdoms. They were recognised as Christian kings for the first time since 1632, and crowned as so. With their power growing increasingly stronger, Teimuraz and Erekle soon repudiated their allegiance to the Persian suzerain.
1744-1762
(with Tamar II
until 1746)
Kingdom of Kartli
The process of unification of Kartli and Kakheti was initiated in 1744, when Teimuraz II of Kakheti was confirmed as King of Kartli by the Persians, and left Kakheti to his son Heraclius II. It was fulfilled in 1762, when Teimuraz II died, and Heraclius joined the two crowns. The Russian southward expansion would however cut short this evolution; Kartli-Kakheti became a Russian protectorate in 1783 by the Treaty of Georgievsk, and was annexed in 1801 following the death of George XII. Imereti kept its independence a few years longer, until 1810.
George IX
(გიორგი IX)
1718
Kutaisi
Son of George VII and Tamar Gurieli
1741 1778
Kutaisi
aged 59/60
Kingdom of Imereti Mzekhatun Lipartiani
five children
After his brother Alexander V was ousted in the Ottoman-sponsored coup of 1741, he was enthroned in Imereti, but was deposed in the same year.
Tamar II[8]
(თამარი II)
1696
Daughter of Vakhtang VI and Rusudan of Circassia
1744-1746
(with Teimuraz II)
12 April 1746
Kutaisi
aged 59/60
Kingdom of Kartli Teimuraz II
2 February 1712
four children
From 1744 until her death in 1746, Tamar was a co-regnant with her husband in Kartli, while their son, Heraclius, began his lengthy reign in Kakheti.
Heraclius II
(ერეკლე II)
  7 November 1720
Telavi
Son of Teimuraz II and Tamar of Kartli
1744-1762

1762-1798
11 January 1798
Telavi
aged 77
Kingdom of Kakheti

Kingdom of Kakheti and Kartli
Ketevan Pkheidze
1740
two children

Anna Abashidze
1745
three children

Darejan Dadiani
1750
twenty-three children
Merged definitely Kartli with Kakheti after his father's death. His reign is regarded as the swan song of the Georgian monarchy. Aided by his personal abilities and the unrest in the Persian Empire, Heraclius established himself as a de facto autonomous ruler, unified eastern Georgia politically for the first time in three centuries, and attempted to modernize the government, economics, and military. Overwhelmed by the internal and external menaces to Georgia's precarious independence, he placed his kingdom under the formal Russian protection in 1783, but the move didn't prevent the invasion of Georgia from being devastated by the Persian invasion in 1795.
Mamuka
(მამუკა)
c.1710
Kutaisi
Son of George VII and Tamar Gurieli
1746-1749 1769
Kutaisi
aged 58/59
Kingdom of Imereti Darejan Dadiani
1732
two children
Installed as rival king to his brother Alexander, with the support of Otia Dadiani, Prince of Mingrelia, Zurab Abashidze and Grigol, Duke of Racha.
Solomon I the Great
(სოლომონ I დიდი)
  1735
Kutaisi
Son of Alexander V and Tamar Abashidze
1752-1766

1768-1784
23 April 1784
Kutaisi
aged 48/49
Kingdom of Imereti Tinatin Shervashidze
one child

Mariam Dadiani
(d.1778)
three children

Gulkan Tsulukidze
(1730–1800)
no children
Installed as rival king to his brother Alexander, with the support of Otia Dadiani, Prince of Mingrelia, Zurab Abashidze and Grigol, Duke of Racha.
Teimuraz
(თეიმურაზი)
?
Kutaisi
Son of Mamuka and Darejan Dadiani
1766-1768 1772
Kutaisi
Kingdom of Imereti Unknown
(daughter of Rostom, Duke of Racha)

no children
Ruled under the Turkish protection, but Solomon regained the throne with Russian support in 1768.
David II
(დავით II)
  1756
Kutaisi
Son of George VII and Tamar Gurieli
1784-1789

1790-1791
11 January 1795
Akhaltsikhe
aged 38/39
Kingdom of Imereti Ana Orbeliani
c.1780
four children
After the death of his cousin, King Solomon I, he became a regent but prevented the rival princes David (the future king Solomon II) and George from being crowned. With the support of Katsia II Dadiani, prince of Mingrelia, he seized the throne and proclaimed himself king on May 4, 1784.
Solomon II
(სოლომონ II)
  1772
Kutaisi
Son of Prince Archil and Princess Elene of Georgia
1789-1790

1791-1810
7 February 1815
Trabzon
aged 42/43
Kingdom of Imereti Anna Orbeliani
1787
no children

Mariam Dadiani
1791
no children
Grandson of Alexander V. Initially prevented of the succession by his regent, he managed to overthrow him twice. Ruled under threat of Russian annexation, made even more present after the Kakheti-Kartli conquest in 1800. The menace became an official act with his deposition by the Imperial Russian government in 1810.
George XII
(გიორგი XII)
  10 November 1746
Telavi
Son of Heraclius II and Anna Abashidze
1798-1800 28 December 1800
Tbilisi
aged 54
Kingdom of Kakheti and Kartli Ketevan Andronikashvili
1766
twelve children

Mariam Tsitsishvili
13 July 1783
eleven children
His brief reign in the closing years of the 18th century was marked by significant political instability, which implied the near certainty of a civil strife and a Persian invasion. Weakened by poor health and overwhelmed by problems in his realm, George renewed a request of protection from Tsar Paul I of Russia. After his death, Imperial Russia took advantage of the moment and moved to annex the Georgian kingdoms, while sending the remnants of the Georgian royal family into forced exile in Russia.

Many members of the Bagrationi dynasty were forced to flee the country and live in exile after the Red Army took control of the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1921 and installed the Georgian Communist Party. Since Georgia regained independence in 1990 the dynasty have raised their profile, and in 2008 the two rival branches were united in marriage.[citation needed]

Timeline of Georgian monarchs

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Bagrationi dynastyChosroid dynastyArsacid dynasty of IberiaPharnavazid dynasty

See also

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Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ For the titles used, see Style of the Georgian sovereign.
  2. ^ Numbered IV, as he was the fourth ruler of Iberia of that name, after Adarnase III of Iberia, of the Nersianid dynasty
  3. ^ From here continues the line of presiding princes of Iberia, now as kings of Iberia.
  4. ^ Usually counted as I, but he was the second Ashot ruling in Tao, after Ashot the Great.
  5. ^ Sometimes rendeed as Adarnase V, if counting with the Iberian kingdom line.
  6. ^ When numbering this king, the rule used often includes David III of Tao, which makes the Builder the fourth king David.
  7. ^ Styled II after Vakhtang I of Iberia.
  8. ^ Son of Bagrat III. Professor Cyril Toumanoff considered Bagrat to have been a son of another Teimuraz, son of Prince Vakhtang of Imereti.
  9. ^ George III as prince of Guria.
  10. ^ Mamia III as prince of Guria.
  11. ^ George IV as prince of Guria.

References

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  1. ^ "Head of The Royal House of Georgia". royalhouseofgeorgia.ge. The Royal House of Georgia. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. ^ "The Legal Heir to the Royal Throne of the Georgian Bagrationi Dynasty". theroyalhouseofgeorgia.org. The Royal House of Georgia. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. ^ Toumanoff, Cyril (1969). "Chronology of the Early Kings of Iberia". Traditio. 25. Fordham University: 1–33. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  4. ^ "მარაბდა" [Marabda]. nplg.gov.ge (in Georgian). National Parliamentary Library of Georgia. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. ^ Sanikidze, George (2000). "KAKHETI". Encyclopædia Iranica (online ed.). Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  6. ^ Mikaberidze, Alexander (2015). Historical Dictionary of Georgia (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 237. ISBN 978-1442241466.
  7. ^ Rayfield, Donald (2013). The Literature of Georgia: A History. Routledge. pp. 102–106. ISBN 9781136825293. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  8. ^ Toumanoff, Cyril (1976). Manuel de généalogie et de chronologie pour l'histoire de la Caucasie chrétien (Arménie - Géorgie - Albanie) (in French). p. 134. THAMAR II *1697 †12.iv.1746 proclamée reine p.les princes 1744