Kingdom of the Iberians

Kingdom of the Iberians
ქართველთა სამეფო
*kartvelta samepo*
Kingdom of the Iberians ქართველთა სამეფო; kartvelta samepo
888–1008
	Flag
	Boundaries of the Kingdom
Capital	Artanuji; Bana
Common languages	Georgian
Religion	Eastern Orthodox(Georgian Orthodox Church)
Government	Principality; (c. 813–888); Feudal Monarchy; (888–1008);
Prince
• 813–826	Ashot I of Iberia
• 826–876	Bagrat I
• 876–881	David I
• 881–888	Adarnase IV
King
• 888–923	Adarnase IV
• 923–937	David II
• 937–945	Bagrat I
• 958-994	Bagrat II
• 994–1008	Gurgen
Historical era	Early Middle Ages
• Established	888
• Disestablished	1008
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Principality of Iberia
Kingdom of Georgia
Byzantine Empire
Today part of	Georgia; Turkey

TheKingdom of the Iberians^[a](Georgian:ქართველთა სამეფო,romanized:kartvelta samepo) was a medievalGeorgian monarchyunder theBagrationi dynastywhich emerged circa 888AD,succeeding thePrincipality of Iberia,in historical region ofTao-Klarjeti,orupper Iberiain north-easternTurkeyas well parts of modern southwesternGeorgia,that stretched from theIberian gatesin the south and to theLesser Caucasusin the north.

Historically, the area comprised the following historical districts: West of theArsiani MountainswereTao,Klarjeti,Nigali,andShavsheti,to the east layMeskheti,Erusheti,Javakheti,Artaani,Abotsi,KolaandBasiani.The landscape is characterised by mountains and the river-systems of theÇoruhand theKura.The region played a crucial role in theunification of all Georgian landsand principalities into theKingdom of Georgiain 1008.

History[edit]

Establishment[edit]

In 813, the last Iberian princeAshot Iof theBagrationi dynastyestablished himself in his patrimonialDuchy of Klarjeti,where he restored the castle ofArtanuji,said to have been built by the kingVakhtang I of Iberiain the 5th century, and received theByzantineprotection. Being recognized as the presiding prince and curopalates of Iberia, Ashot fought the Arabs from there, gradually incorporating the surrounding lands from the Arab dominance.^[1]

Ashot I encouraged resettlement of Georgians in these lands, and patronized monastic life initiated by the prominent Georgian ecclesiastic figureGregory of Khandzta(c.759–861). For a long time the region became aculturalsafe-house and one of the most importantreligiouscenters of Georgia. As a result, the political and religious center of Iberia was effectively transferred from central Iberia to the south-west, inTao-Klarjeti.^[2]^[3]The geographical position of the princedom, between the great Empires of the East and the West, and the fact that one branch of theSilk Roadran through its territory, meant that it was subject to a constant stream of diverging influences.^{[citation needed]}

With local Arab emirs in theCaucasusgrowing ever more independent, theCaliphrecognized Ashot as the prince of Iberia in order to counter the rebelliousemir of TbilisiIsma’il ibn Shu’aib c. 818. The emir of Tbilisi had enlisted support of Ashot's foe, the princeGrigol of Kakhetiand the Georgian highland tribes ofTsanars.Ashot allied himself with kingTheodosius II of Abkhaziaand met the emir on theKsani,winning a victory and pushing the Kakhetians from central Iberia.^[3]But when the governor ofArminiya,Khalid ibn Yazid al-Shaybanireasserted control over eastern Georgia, Ashot was pushed back to Tao-Klarjeti.^{[citation needed]}

Division[edit]

On Ashot the Great's death he divided his principality between his three sons:

The eldest sonAdarnase II(826–869), a grand duke (Eristavt-Eristavi), ruled the capital, Artanuji, and the centre of his father's territory, Shavsheti, and western Klarjeti.^{[citation needed]}
The middle sonBagratI (826–876) ruled the district of Kola and most of Tao, which reached deep into Anatolia and, eventually, proved to be the strategic core of Ashot's domain.^{[citation needed]}
The youngest sonGuaram(826–882) ruled the north: Samtskhe, Javakheti and Trialeti (western Kartli), and had the non-regal titleMampalimeaning 'ruler'.^{[citation needed]}

Upon Ashot's death, Arabs seized Kartli (central Iberia) and demanded taxes from the remaining domains. Bagrat I allied himself with Caliph against Emirate of Tbilisi and Principality of Kakheti. In 853, now supportingBugha al-Kabir,Bagrat regained central Iberia, but only for a brief time as the resurgent Abkhazians forced him out of this region.^{[citation needed]}

Ashot's eldest son, Grand DukeAdarnase II,was the first brother to die. His possessions were equally divided among his sons:Gurgen Iobtained Tao, whileSumbat Ireceived Klarjeti.^{[citation needed]}

Ashot's youngest son, Guaram pursued an aggressive policy of expansion. In 880 he seized the Bagratids' traditional foe, the Arab emir of Tbilisi, named Gabulots, and sent him in chains to Constantinople, a triumph which won him Trialeti and Javakheti. Prior to 876, Guaram handed over some of his possessions to his brothers and retired himself at the Opiza convent where he was buried after his death in 882.^{[citation needed]}

Dynastic strife[edit]

Liparit, of theLiparitids,took over Trialeti, where he built the strongholdKlde-Karniand placed himself under suzerainty of Guaram's nephewDavid I(son of Bagrat I) soon after 876. These rearrangements left Guaram's sonNasraessentially with no inheritance and probably induced him in 881 to murder his cousin David I in a plot. After the murder, Nasra fled to theByzantineterritory from where he was retrieved by his brother-in-lawBagrat I of Abkhazia,the latter managed to secure the Byzantine military aid and invaded the Bagratid possessions on Nasra's behalf. Anxious to counterbalance the Byzantine influence in the Caucasus,Ashot I of Armeniainterfered in support of David I's sonAdnarnase.Thus, a Bagratid dynastic feud evolved into a regional conflict. Nasra succeeded in taking the forts ofOdzrkhe,Juaristsikhe and Lomsianta, but was finally defeated, captured and put to death atAspindza.^[4]^[5]^[6]

As Adarnase was still a minor, the Byzantine emperor – pursuant to the policy of division – appointed as curopalates, not Adarnase, but his cousinGurgen I of Tao.Allied with the resurgent Armenians, Adarnase then launched, from his base inLower Tao,a policy of expansion. Not being a curopalates and having Armenia's example before him, Adarnase assumed the title of king. The relations between Adarnase and Gurgen grew tense and degenerated into an open warfare. Gurgen was fatally wounded and captured at Mglinavi near Artaani by Adarnase and his allyBagrat I of Klarjeti(son ofSumbat I) in 891. The Byzantine government adapted itself to the circumstances and, upon Gurgen death in 891, recognized Adarnase as curopalates.^[7]

Gurgen I of Tao left two sons behind –AdarnaseandAshot the Immature– thus being a founder of the Bagratid "first house of Tao" which would become extinct with his grandsonGurgen II(r. 918–941).^{[citation needed]}

Restoration of the Kingdom[edit]

Adarnase rewardedAshot I of Armenia's assistance with steadfast loyalty which continued into the reign of Ashot's successorSmbat Iwhom Adarnase aided to win the crown in dynastic struggles in 890 and later joined him against Ahmed ibn-'Isâ ofDiyarbakır,theCaliph’s former governor ofArmīniya.In turn, Smbat recognized Adarnase's royal status and personally crowned him in 899. The two men collaborated in defeating, in 904, the Abkhazian kingConstantine III,their common relative, who competed with Adarnase for hegemony in Inner Iberia and with Smbat inGogarene.Adarnase captured Constantine and turned him over to Smbat. But the latter, inclined to balance Adarnase's growing power and extend Armenian influence to west Georgia, freed his captive. This move turned Adarnase against Smbat and the ensuing break and enmity weakened both monarchs: Adarnase was dispossessed by Constantine III in 904, while Smbat was defeated and tortured to death byYusuf,aSajidruler ofAzerbaijanin 914.^[8]As a result of these events, Adarnase was relegated to his portion of the Bagratid hereditary lands in Tao.^[7]This was the beginning of almost sixty years of Abkhazian dominance over Iberia.^{[citation needed]}

Upon Adarnase's death, his possessions were divided between his sons:

The eldest sonDavid II's (r. 923–937) control was limited to Javakheti and Artaani as the core lands of Inner Iberia were under the Abkhazian control.^{[citation needed]}
The second sonAshot II's (r. 937–954) original holding was Lower Tao. He also receivedPhasianefrom the Byzantine emperor in c. 952.^[9]
The third sonBagrat I(r. 937–945) obtained Upper Tao following the death of his relativeGurgen II of Tao(r. 918–941).^{[citation needed]}
The youngest sonSumbat I(r. 954–958) obtained lands and titles following the death of his brother Ashot II.^{[citation needed]}

In spite of his royal title and unlike his father, David II did not bear the traditional high Byzantine title ofcuropalateswhich was bestowed by the emperor upon David's younger brotherAshot II.David only had the title ofmagistroswhich he shared with his relativeGurgen II of Tao.As a result, David's influence and prestige were overshadowed by those of his younger brother. Both Gurgen II of Tao and David resolutely opposed the Byzantine takeover of the Bagratid town ofArtanuji,a fief of Gurgen's father-in-law,Ashot of Klarjeti.^{[citation needed]}

Abkhazian dominance[edit]

George II of Abkhazia(r. 923–957) continued the expansionist policy of his predecessor aimed primarily at retaining the control of Iberia. To secure the allegiance of local nobility, in 917 he appointed his sonConstantineas a viceroy of Iberia, but the latter staged a coup against his father three years later. George entered into Iberia and placed the city ofUplistsikheunder siege. He lured Constantine by treachery and had him blinded and castrated. George installed his another son, Leon (the future kingLeon III) to secure his supremacy over Iberia, George allied himself with the Bagratids, and gave his daughter,GurandukhttoGurgen Bagrationi(the son ofBagrat II) in marriage.^{[citation needed]}

Independence[edit]

In 958,Sumbat I's sonBagrat IItook over his father's titles (except for Couropalates) and only ruled Lower Tao. Bagrat frequently appeared as a collaborator of his relativeDavid III of Tao,the most influential person among the Bagratids of that time, aiding him against theRawadidsofAzerbaijan.^{[citation needed]}

Principality of Tao[edit]

A just ruler and a friend of the church, David allied with the Byzantine EmperorBasil IItodefeatthe rebel Byzantine nobleBardas Skleros(c.976–979) and was rewarded with extensive lands, known to the contemporary Georgian sources as the "Upper Lands of Greece", that made him the most powerful ruler in thesouth Caucasus:his state included several formerKaysitelands consisting chiefly of lands up to theLake Van.^[10]The only setback was the 987–989 unsuccessful conflict with theByzantine Empirethat forced David to agree to cede his dominion to Emperor Basil II on his death, whose domains later would be organized into thetheme of Iberia.^{[citation needed]}

With the strong intention to unite all Georgian lands, David adopted Prince Bagrat (the future KingBagrat III),^[11]a grandchild of Bagrat II, also being an Abkhazian heir apparent. In 975, David installed him as a residing prince in Kartli (central Iberia) and later as king ofAbkhazia(978), and helped Bagrat's natural fatherGurgento be crowned as King of Iberia on the death of Bagrat II in 994, thus making Bagrat a ruler of the two andheir apparentof another two Georgian states. Upon David of Tao's death in 1001, Gurgen, and Bagrat met with Basil but, unable to prevent the annexation of David's realm to the Byzantine Empire, were forced to recognize the new borders.^{[citation needed]}

Unification[edit]

Despite this reverse, Bagrat III was able to become the first ruler of theunified Georgian kingdom(officially called: "the Kingdom of the Abkhazians and the Iberians" ) on his father's death in 1008. Bagrat's reign, a period of uttermost importance in the history of Georgia, brought about the final victory of the Georgian Bagratids in the centuries-long power struggles. Anxious to create more stable and centralized monarchy, Bagrat eliminated or at least diminished the autonomy of the dynastic princes. In his eyes, the most possible internal danger came from the Klarjeti line of the Bagrationi, represented by the king's cousins,Sumbat and Gurgen.Although seem to have acknowledged Bagrat's authority, they continued to be styled as Kings, and Sovereigns of Klarjeti. To secure the succession to his son,George,Bagrat lured his cousins, on pretext of a reconciliatory meeting, to the Panaskerti Castle, and threw them in prison in 1010. Their children managed to escape toConstantinople,but Sumbat and Gurgen died in custody by 1012.^{[citation needed]}

Notes[edit]

^
Also known as theKingdom of Iberia,although the monarchy was restored officially as theKingdom of the Iberiansunder KingAdarnase IV.The kingdom was concentrated on the historical lands ofTaoandKlarjeti."Iberians" refers specifically to Kartvelians/Georgians.^[12]

References[edit]

^Suny 1994,p. 29.
^Rapp, Stephen H. (2003),Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts,passim.Peeters Publishers,ISBN 90-429-1318-5
^^a ^bSuny 1994,pp. 29–30.
^Suny, Ronald Grigor(1994).The Making of the Georgian Nation.Indiana University Press. p. 30.ISBN 0-253-20915-3.
^Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,p. 490.Georgetown University Press.
^Rapp, Stephen H. (2003),Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts,pp. 388, 404. Peeters Publishers,ISBN 90-429-1318-5
^^a ^bToumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,pp. 490-493.Georgetown University Press.
^Suny 1994,pp. 30–31.
^Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,pp. 493-493.Georgetown University Press.
^Ter-Ghewondyan, p. 112
^Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,pp. 490-5.Georgetown University Press.
^Rapp, S. H. Jr. (2016) The Sasanian World Through Georgian Eyes, Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature, location:686Sam Houston State University, USA, Routledge,ISBN 9781472425522

Sources[edit]

Stephen of Taron:Histoire Universelle par Étienne Asolik de Taron, transl. F. Macler, 2e partie, livre III (888–1004), Paris 1917
Constantine Porphyrogenitus:De Administrando Imperio, ed. G. Moravcsik and R.J.H. Jenkins, Dumbarton Oaks 1967
Aristakes Lastivert: Récit des malheurs de la nation arménienne, transl. M. Canard and H. Berberian, Brussels 1973
Thurn, Hans, ed. (1973).Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum.Berlin-New York: De Gruyter.ISBN 9783110022858.
Elishe:History of Vardan and the Armenian War, transl. R.W. Thomson, Cambridge, Mass. 1982
The Life of Kartli: Das Leben Kartlis. Eine Chronik aus Georgien. 300–1200, ed. G. Pätsch, Leipzig 1985
Life of John and Euthymius: B. Martin-Hisard, “La Vie de Jean et Euthyme: le statut du monastère des Ibères sur l'Athos”, Revue des Études Byzantines 49 (1991), 67-142
Yahyā ibn Sa‘īd al-Antākī: “Histoire de Yahya-Ibn-Sa‘ïd d’Antioche”, ed. and transl. I. Kratchkovsky and A. Vasiliev, Patrologia Orientalis 18 (1924), 700-833
- “Histoire de Yahya-Ibn-Sa‘ïd d’Antioche”, ed. and transl. I. Kratchkovsky and A. Vasiliev, Patrologia Orientalis 23 (1932), 347-520
- “Histoire de Yahyā ibn Sa‘īd d’Antioche”, ed. I. Kratchkovsky, transl. F. Micheau and G. Troupeau, Patrologia Orientalis 47 (1997), 373-559
Giorgi Merchule: Georgi Mertschule. Das Leben des Grigol von Chandsta, transl. S. Sardshweladse and H. Fähnrich, Jena 2000
Yovhannes Drasxanakertci: Histoire d'Arménie, transl. P. Boisson-Chenorhokian, Leuven 2004
Bruno Baumgartner, Studien zur historischen Geographie von Tao-Klarjeti, PhD-Dissertation, 2 Volumes, Vienna 1996 ( "Studies on the historical Geography of Tao-Klarjeti", in German)

External links[edit]

[cnote_a] 
Also known as theKingdom of Iberia,although the monarchy was restored officially as theKingdom of the Iberiansunder KingAdarnase IV.The kingdom was concentrated on the historical lands ofTaoandKlarjeti."Iberians" refers specifically to Kartvelians/Georgians.^[12]

[FOOTNOTESuny199429-1] Suny 1994,p. 29.

[Rapp-2] Rapp, Stephen H. (2003),Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts,passim.Peeters Publishers,ISBN 90-429-1318-5

[FOOTNOTESuny199429–30-3] Suny 1994,pp. 29–30.

[Suny-4] Suny, Ronald Grigor(1994).The Making of the Georgian Nation.Indiana University Press. p. 30.ISBN 0-253-20915-3.

[Toumanoff-5] Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,p. 490.Georgetown University Press.

[Rapp2-6] Rapp, Stephen H. (2003),Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts,pp. 388, 404. Peeters Publishers,ISBN 90-429-1318-5

[Toumanoff3-7] Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,pp. 490-493.Georgetown University Press.

[FOOTNOTESuny199430–31-8] Suny 1994,pp. 30–31.

[Toumanoff2-9] Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,pp. 493-493.Georgetown University Press.

[10] Ter-Ghewondyan, p. 112

[Toumanoff6-11] Toumanoff, Cyril(1967).Studies in Christian Caucasian History,pp. 490-5.Georgetown University Press.

[12] Rapp, S. H. Jr. (2016) The Sasanian World Through Georgian Eyes, Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature, location:686Sam Houston State University, USA, Routledge,ISBN 9781472425522

[a]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Israel