Demetrius I of Georgia

Demetrius I
დემეტრე I
Demetrius I; დემეტრე I
King of Kings of Georgia
	Demetrius I byMichael Maglakeli,fromMatskhvarishi,1140. He is wearing front-openingqabawith Arabictirazbands inscribed in Kufic script.
King of Georgia (more...)
1st Reign	1125–1154
Predecessor	David IV
Successor	David V
2nd Reign	1155-1156
Predecessor	David V
Successor	George III
Born	c.1093
Died	1156 (aged 62–63); Mtskheta
Burial	Gelati Monastery
Issue; Among others	David V of Georgia; George III of Georgia
Dynasty	Bagrationi
Father	David IV of Georgia
Mother	Rusudan of Armenia
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church

Demetrius I(Georgian:დემეტრე I,romanized:demet're I) (c.1093 – 1156), from theBagrationi dynasty,wasKing(mepe) ofGeorgiafrom 1125 to 1156. He is also known as apoet.He was King ofGeorgian kingdomtwo times, first in 1125 to 1154 and second in 1155 before his death in 1156.

Demetrius I struggled tirelessly to protect the inheritance he had received from his father he guarded Georgia’s borders and fought to enlarge its frontiers. Many regions, includingHereti,Somkhiti,Tashiri,Javakheti,ArtaaniandTaowere repopulated during King Demetrius' reign.

He is regarded as asaintin theOrthodox Churchand hisfeast dayis celebrated onMay 23on theEastern Orthodox liturgical calendar.^[2]

Early life

Demetrius was the eldest son of KingDavid the Builderby his first wifeRusudan.He was brought up inKutaisi.

David IV proclaimed his son co-ruler ofGeorgiaand crowned him with his own hands. He declared that his son Demetrius, through his wisdom, chastity, bravery, and handsome appearance, would rule Georgia better than he himself had.^[3]

In 1117 David sent him toShirvanto fight, and the young commander astonished the people with his deftness in battle. Demetrius seized Kaladzori Castle (later Alberd, nowAgdash^[4]) and returned home with many captives and much wealth.^[5]^[6]

Reign

Coronation of Demetrius I, a fresco fromMatskhvarishi,1140

Already in 1125, he had to expel theSeljuksfrom the fortress ofDmanisi,which controlled one of the accesses toTbilisifrom the south.^[3]

In 1125Manuchihr,who was Demetrius' brother-in-law, regained control of westernShirvan.And in 1126, theMuslimpopulation of Shirvan rebelled with the support of theSeljuks.In 1129-30, Demetrius reached a compromise with the support of hissister,Shirvan was again divided into two parts, theChristianpart was incorporated into Georgia and the border being the Tetritsqali, while Manuchihr was appointed as theemirof eastern Shirvan and recognized Georgia's vassalage.^[7]

In 1130, the ruler of theShah-Armenslaunched an attempt to oust Georgians from northern and central Armenia. Demetrius had to come to terms and give up Ani to theShaddadidson terms ofvassalage.They agreed that theCathedral of Anishould have remained a Christian site and Georgia could intervene to protect the Christians. However, a stand-off continued for two decades.^[8]

In 1130, his half-brotherVakhtangrebelled against the king. He was supported by great feudal lordIvane Abuletisdze,tried to overthrow Demetrius from the throne but the king captured and punished the conspirators and Vakhtang was captured, blinded and cast in prison where he apparently died shortly afterwards.^[9]^[10]

In 1139, Demetrius raided the city ofGanjainArran.He brought theiron gateof the defeated city to Georgia and donated it toGelati MonasteryatKutaisi.Despite this brilliant victory, Demetrius could hold Ganja only for a few years.^[11]^[12]In reply to this, the sultan of theEldiguzidsattacked Ganja several times, and in 1143 the town again fell to the sultan. According toMkhitar Gosh,Demetrius ultimately gained possession of Ganja, but, when he gave his daughter in marriage to the sultan, he presented the latter with the town as dowry, and the sultan appointed his own emir to rule it.^[13]

Fadl's successor,Fakr al-Din Shaddad,aShaddadidemir of Ani asked forSaltuk's daughter's hand, however Saltuk refused him. This caused a deep hatred in Shaddad towards Saltuk. In 1154 he planned a plot and formed a secret alliance with Demetrius. While a Georgian army waited in ambush, he offered tribute toSaltukids,ruler ofErzerumand asked the latter to accept him as a vassal. In 1153–1154, EmirSaltuk IImarched on Ani, but Shaddad informed Demetrius of this. Demetrius marched to Ani, defeated and captured the emir. At the request of neighbouring Muslim rulers and released him for a ransom of 100,000dinars,paid by Saltuk's sons in law and Saltuk swore not to fight against the Georgians.^[14]

In 1154, Demetrius gave his lastdaughter,whose name is unknown, in marriage toIziaslav II of Kiev.Iziaslav died shortly afterwards and no political alliance emerged between theKingdom of GeorgiaandKievan Rus'.^[13]

In the 1140s, Georgian nobles sensed an opportunity when it became apparent that Demetrius had disinherited his eldest son David in favour of the younger,George.Those who had supported Demetrius' younger brother, PrinceVakhtang,now opposed Demetrius' unprecedented disinheritance of Prince David.^[13]A first coup attempt failed in 1150, but in 1155 David's coup against his father succeeded, Demetrius was banished to a monastery and became amonk,receiving the monastic nameDamian(Damianus), while his rebellious son ascended the throne asDavid V.^[3]

However, Davit V died suddenly six months after becoming king.^[15]According toVardan Areveltsi,David was poisoned bySumbat IandIvane II Orbeli,whoOrbeliswith PrinceGeorge,or Demetrius, or both had made an agreement that would appoint them asAmirspasalars.^[16]^[17]According to precedence and law, after David V's death, his young son, PrinceDemnashould have inherited the throne. But Demetrius was restored to the throne, and he crowned his younger son, George, as co-ruler and retired toDavid Gareja monastery.Others allege that Demetrius had also died, and that George then seized the throne illicitly.^[16]He died in 1156 and was buried atGelati Monastery.

Marriage and children

The name of Demetrius's wife is unknown, but he had several children:

David V(1113 — 1155),King of Georgia(1154–1155);
George III of Georgia(died 27 March 1184),King of Georgia(1156–1184);
Rusudan,married firstly with SultanGhiyath ad-Din Mas'udin 1143 and secondly with SultanAhmad Sanjar,married thirdly with SultanSuleiman-Shah;
An unnamed daughter who married Emir Abu al-Muzaffar ofDerbentinc.1130;^[18]
An unnamed daughter,who married PrinceIziaslav II of Kievin 1154;^[18]

Poems

King Demetrius I was an author of several poems, mainly on religious themes.Shen Khar Venakhi(Georgian:შენ ხარ ვენახი,English:Thou Art a Vineyard), a hymn to theVirgin Mary,is the most famous of them.

References

^Flood, Finbarr Barry (2017).A Turk in the Dukhang? Comparative Perspectives on Elite Dress in Medieval Ladakh and the Caucasus.Austrian Academy of Science. p. 252, Fig. 18.
^(in Greek)Ὁ Ὅσιος Δαμιανὸς ἐκ Γεωργίας.23 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^^a ^b ^cBaumer 2023,p. 18.
^Hewsen, Robert H. (1992).The Geography of Ananias of Širak: Ašxarhac'oyc', the Long and the Short Recensions.Wiesbaden: Reichert. p. 249.ISBN 3-88226-485-3.
^History of Georgia 2012,p. 386.
^Hewsen, Robert H. (1992).The Geography of Ananias of Širak: Ašxarhac'oyc', the Long and the Short Recensions.Wiesbaden: Reichert. p. 249.ISBN 3-88226-485-3.
^Rayfield 2012,p. 98.
^Rayfield 2012,p. 99.
^Lordkipanidze, Mariam (1987),Georgia in the XI-XII Centuries,p. 129. Tbilisi: Ganatleba
^(in Georgian)Melikishvili, Giorgi& Anchabadze, Zurab (ed., 1979),საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები,ტ. 3: საქართველო XI–XV საუკუნეებში(Studies in the History of Georgia,vol. 3:Georgia in the 11th–15th centuries). Tbilisi: Sabchota Sakartvelo
^Rayfield, Donald (2013).Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia.Reaktion Books. p. 100.ISBN 978-1780230702.
^Mikaberidze, Alexander (2015).Historical Dictionary of Georgia(2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 259.ISBN 978-1442241466.
^^a ^b ^cRayfield 2012,p. 100.
^Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim:Türkiye tarihi Cilt I,AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991, p. 149–150.
^Mikaberidze, Alexander (6 February 2015).Historical Dictionary of Georgia.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 260.ISBN 978-1-4422-4146-6.
^^a ^bRayfield 2012,p. 101.
^Eastmond 1998,p. 107.
^^a ^bRayfield, D. (2013).Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia.Reaktion Books. pp. 98, 100.ISBN 978-1-78023-070-2.

Bibliography

Lortkipanidze, Mariam; Japaridze, Otar; Muskhelishvili, David; Metreveli, Roin (2012).History of Georgia in four volumes, vol. II - History of Georgia from the 4th century to the 13th century.Tbilisi: National Academy of Sciences of Georgia.ISBN 978-9941-19-585-3.
Rayfield, Donald (2012).Edge of Empires, a History of Georgia.London: Reaktion Books.ISBN 978-1-78023-070-2.
Eastmond, Antony (1998).Royal Imagery in Medieval Georgia.University Park: Pennsylvania State Press.ISBN 0-271-01628-0.
Baumer, Christoph (5 October 2023).History of the Caucasus: Volume 2: In the Shadow of Great Powers.Bloomsbury Publishing.ISBN 978-0-7556-3630-3.

External links

Preceded by David IV	King of Georgia 1125–1154	Succeeded by David V
Preceded by David V	King of Georgia 1154–1156	Succeeded by George III

[1] Flood, Finbarr Barry (2017).A Turk in the Dukhang? Comparative Perspectives on Elite Dress in Medieval Ladakh and the Caucasus.Austrian Academy of Science. p. 252, Fig. 18.

[2] (in Greek)Ὁ Ὅσιος Δαμιανὸς ἐκ Γεωργίας.23 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[FOOTNOTEBaumer202318-3] Baumer 2023,p. 18.

[4] Hewsen, Robert H. (1992).The Geography of Ananias of Širak: Ašxarhac'oyc', the Long and the Short Recensions.Wiesbaden: Reichert. p. 249.ISBN 3-88226-485-3.

[FOOTNOTEHistory_of_Georgia2012386-5] History of Georgia 2012,p. 386.

[6] Hewsen, Robert H. (1992).The Geography of Ananias of Širak: Ašxarhac'oyc', the Long and the Short Recensions.Wiesbaden: Reichert. p. 249.ISBN 3-88226-485-3.

[FOOTNOTERayfield201298-7] Rayfield 2012,p. 98.

[FOOTNOTERayfield201299-8] Rayfield 2012,p. 99.

[9] Lordkipanidze, Mariam (1987),Georgia in the XI-XII Centuries,p. 129. Tbilisi: Ganatleba

[10] (in Georgian)Melikishvili, Giorgi& Anchabadze, Zurab (ed., 1979),საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები,ტ. 3: საქართველო XI–XV საუკუნეებში(Studies in the History of Georgia,vol. 3:Georgia in the 11th–15th centuries). Tbilisi: Sabchota Sakartvelo

[11] Rayfield, Donald (2013).Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia.Reaktion Books. p. 100.ISBN 978-1780230702.

[12] Mikaberidze, Alexander (2015).Historical Dictionary of Georgia(2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 259.ISBN 978-1442241466.

[FOOTNOTERayfield2012100-13] Rayfield 2012,p. 100.

[YS-14] Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim:Türkiye tarihi Cilt I,AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991, p. 149–150.

[15] Mikaberidze, Alexander (6 February 2015).Historical Dictionary of Georgia.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 260.ISBN 978-1-4422-4146-6.

[FOOTNOTERayfield2012101-16] Rayfield 2012,p. 101.

[FOOTNOTEEastmond1998107-17] Eastmond 1998,p. 107.

[Rayfield-18] Rayfield, D. (2013).Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia.Reaktion Books. pp. 98, 100.ISBN 978-1-78023-070-2.

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