Qvarqvare III Jaqeli

Qvarqvare III Jaqeli
Atabeg ofSamtskhe
Reign	1518–1535
Predecessor	Manuchar I
Successor	Kaikhosro II
Born	1469
Died	1535
Issue	Beka Jaqeli Archil Jaqeli Kaikhosro II Jaqeli
Dynasty	Jaqeli
Father	Kaikhosro I Jaqeli
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church
Khelrtva

Qvarqvare III Jaqeli(Georgian:ყვარყვარე III ჯაყელი) (1469–1535) was a Georgian ruling Prince andAtabegofSamtskhe-Saatabagoduring 1518–1535. Member of theJaqelifamily and son of AtabegKaikhosro I Jaqeli.His failure to capture the throne at the death of his father Kaikhosro may have been caused by the ambition of his uncleMzetchabuki,who had seized Atabeg's title from him. Despite this Mzetchabuk Jaqeli declared Qvarqare as his successor. During his uncle's reign Qvarqvare actively involved in state affairs. In 1515 ill Mzetchabuk resigned from the throne and came to the Monastery as a monk. Qvarqvare couldn't ascend to the Meskhetian throne, because his second uncleManuchar Ihad revolted. Qvarqvare went toSafavid Persia,became vassal of ShahIsmail Iand lived at his court inTabrizuntil his accession. In 1518 Qvarqvare commandedQizilbasharmy and invadedSamtskhe.Persians dethronedManuchar Iand placed Qvarqvare on the throne. Manuchar invitedOttomansto fight against Safavids and overthrow his nephew, but Qvarqvare's forces defeated him at the battle nearErzurum,after which Manuchar escaped to theOttoman empire.During Qvarqvare's reignPersianinfluence onSamtskhewas growing day by day. Because of that Turks greatly damaged the country and especially its southwestern region. Meskhetian lords had recognized that under Qvarqvare's ruleSamtskhewould finally turn to the Enemy's hands. They made an alliance with theGeorgiankings,Bagrat III of ImeretiandLuarsab I of Kartlito end upJaqelianrule and protect Samtskhe from dominant Muslim empires (OttomansandSafavids).In 1535King Bagrat IIIinvadedSamtskhe.He defeated and captured Qvarqvare III at theBattle of MurjakhetinearAkhalkalaki,Georgians had annexedPrincipality of Samtskhe.Qvarqvare died in prison. A few years later, his survived youngest sonKaikhosro IIrequested Ottomans to expelImeretianandKartlianforces from Samtskhe. In 1545, at theBattle of Sokhoista,Kaikhosro defeatedBagrat III,after which he reinstated his legitimate throne. Samtskhe became vassal of theOttoman empire.Qvarqvare III's descendants ruledSamtskhe-Saatabago(until 1628) and thenChildir Eyaletuntil 1820s.