Collapse of the Georgian realm
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The collapse of the Georgian realm (
The fragmentation of the unified realm started in the 13th century during the
Nevertheless, the reunification came up to be ephemeral as the fragmentation would escalate through dynastic triarchy. Championed under the reign of King
The conflict took place during the major geopolitical changes in the
Historical context
At the dawn of the second half of the 15th century, the
In 1453, the
Fragmentation of monarchy
In order to protect the power of the central government over the provinces of the kingdom, King Alexander I designated in 1433 his three sons,
However, this arrangement did not last long. In 1442, Alexander I abdicated and retired to a monastery, leaving the main crown to his eldest son, Vakhtang IV. He reigned for four years, a period marked by the domination of the most powerful nobles. He died without an heir in 1446, leaving the throne to his two younger brothers, who had to share a divided kingdom.[4] Demetrius III, legitimate successor of Vakhtang IV, receives the duchy of Samokalako,[5] while George VIII becomes the king of Kakheti and Kartli, before controlling the entire kingdom after the death of Demetrius in 1453.[6]
The
Revolt in the western realm
Modern historiography partially ignores the origins of the rebellion in western Georgia which marked the start of the Civil War. According to historians Nodar Asatiani,
Despite the failure of this alliance, relations between Tbilisi and Samtskhe are not reestablished. The
Bagrat, reinforced by the support of Samtskhe, allied with the powerful Liparit I of Mingrelia and Mamia II of Guria, as well as the rulers of Abkhazia and Svaneti. Thanks to this military aid, Bagrat would succeed in conquering the royal fortresses of George VIII across western Georgia and in receiving the allegiance of many petty nobles, including in Kartli, the region around the royal capital of Tbilisi. In 1462 (or 1463[10]), George VIII and his royal forces crossed the mountains of the Likhi range and invaded Imerethi to restore the royal authority in the kingdom. Qvarqvare II would lead a military legion in Imereti but would remain strategically out of the conflict.[11] George VIII and his army would clash with rebel forces commanded by Bagrat, near the village of Chhikhori, east of Kutaisi. Bagrat would win a decisive battle, forcing George VIII to return to Kartli.[12]
While Kutaisi, the regional capital, remains temporarily under the control of George VIII, Bagrat would eventually take the city and at the
Domination of Samtskhe
Following his defeat, Qvarvare II takes refuge with Bagrat, the new king of Western Georgia, controlling Imereti. The latter authorizes the fallen prince to use his troops and an army of Imereti and gets Samtskhe back from the hands of George VIII the same year. Back in power in Akhaltsikhe, Qvarqvare decides to take revenge on his vassals who sided with the central royal government during the invasion and, with the blessing of Bagrat, forms an alliance with Prince
In 1465, George VIII decided to engage in a new invasion of Samtskhe to restore unity. Having the military advantage over the prince, he offers Qvarqvare II a peace negotiation, guaranteeing the survival of the Jaqeli family in exchange for the return of rebel territories within the kingdom. Following the prince's refusal, George VIII inflicts a new defeat on Qvarvqvare during a battle at
New royal power
Bagrat decides to attack Kartli.[17] In 1466, without notable opposition, Bagrat captured Tbilisi and took hostage the patriarch of the Georgian Church, David IV. The latter agrees to recognize the domination of the Imeretian sovereign. Bagrat is then crowned as Bagrat VI, king of all Georgia.[18] Samtskhe was not very happy with this new unity and, the same year, Qvarqvare II frees the former king George VIII from his prison, in order to sow chaos in the kingdom. George VIII received the leadership of a militia which crossed central Georgia and established itself in the eastern province of Kakheti. In 1467, George received the submission of the local nobles and proclaimed the independence of the Kingdom of Kakheti, dividing Georgia into two independent kingdoms.[19]
Coup d'État
The chaotic situation in Georgian politics is greatly aggravated by a ceasefire offer between Bagrat VI and Prince Constantine, who proclaims himself King of Georgia. The cease-fire, allows Constantine to become the official heir of Bagrat VI in Kartli, while western Georgia is promised to Prince Alexander, son of Bagrat.[20] This agreement only slightly eased the conflict and military clashes resumed between the two kings in the 1470s. At the end of this decade, Bagrat VI managed to decisively defeat Constantine with the help of reinforcements from Mingrelia and Guria.[21]
In 1478[22] Bagrat VI dies, inaugurating a last series of conflicts between the Georgian rulers. Alexander, son of Bagrat then tries to be crowned in Kutaisi as ruler of Western Georgia, but his coronation is boycotted by his vassals, who would refuse to recognize him as heir. Constantine, who reigns in Kartli as Constantine II, then invades Imereti, inflicting serious defeat on Alexander, who loses his crown and is forced to accept simple governance of the mountain regions of Racha and Lechkhumi.[23]
During this time, George VIII confronts Constantine II in Kartli, before being defeated thanks to the military support of Samtskhe.
Fragmentation of the church
The collapse of the unified royal institution impacted the administration of the
In Western Georgia, King Bagrat mildly supported the separation as well. The spiritual jurisdiction of the new Catholicos of western Georgia would extend beyond the Kingdom of Imereti to the principalities of Guria, Mingrelia, Svaneti and Abkhazia until its annexation by the Russian Empire.
1490 royal council
In 1490, King Constantine II faced one of the biggest decisions in Georgian history.
Following the decision of royal darbazi, Constantine II negotiated peace treaties in 1491 with
See also
References
- ^ Rayfield, p. 160
- ^ Rayfield, p. 153
- ^ Toumanoff (1951), pp. 181-183.
- ^ Asatiani & Janelidze, p. 120
- ^ Toumanoff (1990), p. 139
- ^ Toumanoff (1990), p. 186
- ^ Rayfield, p. 158
- ^ Asatiani & Janelidze, p. 121
- ^ Brosset, pp. 249-250
- ^ Salia, p. 266
- ^ Brosset, p. 208
- ^ Asatiani et al. p. 120
- ^ Asatiani & Janelidze, p. 119
- ^ Rayfield, p. 161
- ^ Brosset, pp. 208-209
- ^ Brosset, p. 210
- ^ Brosset, p. 687
- ^ Rayfield, p. 159
- ^ Asatiani & Janelidze, p. 122
- ^ Rayfield, p. 160
- ^ Brosset, p. 251
- ^ Asatiani et al. p. 130
- ^ Rayfield, p. 163
- ^ Brosset, p. 12
- ^ Salia, p. 268
- ^ Asatiani & Janelidze, p. 125
- ^ Rayfield, p. 146
- ^ Rayfield, p. 162
- ^ Rayfield, p. 259
Bibliography
- Rayfield, D. (2012) Edge of Empires, a History of Georgia, London, Reaktion Books, ISBN 9781780230702
- Saint-Petersburg, Académie impériale des Sciences
- Salia, K. (1980) Histoire de la nation géorgienne, Paris
- Toumanoff, C. (1990) Les dynasties de la Caucasie chrétienne de l'Antiquité jusqu'au xixe siècle: Tables généalogiques et chronologiques, Rome
- Toumanoff, C. (1951) The Fifteenth-Century Bagratids and the Institution of Collegial Sovereignty in Georgia, Traditio, Cambridge University Press, Vol. 7
- Asatiani N. & Janelidze, O. (2009) History of Georgia, Tbilisi, Publishing House Petite,. ISBN 978-9941-9063-6-7
- Asatiani N., Otkhmezuri, G. et al. (2012) Histoire de la Géorgie du XIIIe au XIXe siècles, vol. 3, Tbilisi, Palitra, 2012, ISBN 978-9941-19-407-8