David I of Kakheti
Encyclopedia
David I (1569 – October 21, 1602), of the Bagrationi Dynasty
, was a king of Kakheti
in eastern Georgia
from October 1601 until his death in October 1602.
David was a son of Alexander II of Kakheti
by his wife Tinatin Amilakhvari
. In mid-1601, he capitalized on the illness of his father and gained an effective control of the government, sidelining his younger brother George
. When Alexander recovered, David refused to relinquish his powers and forced his father into abdication in October 1601. David was crowned king of Kakheti, but his brother, George, masterminded a plot which quickly collapsed and led to repressions. David had George imprisoned while seventeen of his supporters were executed.
David’s foreign policy was a continuation of his father’s line. In 1602, he received a Russian
embassy and reaffirmed his loyalty to the tsar
. He then marched against Nugzar, the defiant lord of the Aragvi and forced him into submission.
David suddenly died on October 21, 1602, and Alexander II recovered the crown. David is also remembered as a translator of a portion of the Tales of Kalila and Dimna from Persian
.
David married, c. 1581, Ketevan
, daughter of Prince Ashotan of Mukhrani
. They were the parents of two sons – Teimuraz (the future king Teimuraz I of Kakheti
) and Vakhtang (died 1604) – and a daughter Helene who was given in marriage to Abbas I of Persia
.
Bagrationi Dynasty
The Bagrationi dynasty was the ruling family of Georgia. Their ascendency lasted from the early Middle Ages until the early 19th century. In modern usage, this royal line is frequently referred to as the Georgian Bagratids, a Hellenized form of their dynastic name.The origin of the Bagrationi...
, was a king of Kakheti
Kingdom of Kakheti
The Kingdom of Kakheti was a late medieval/early modern monarchy in eastern Georgia, centered at the province of Kakheti, with its capital first at Gremi and then at Telavi...
in eastern Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
from October 1601 until his death in October 1602.
David was a son of Alexander II of Kakheti
Alexander II of Kakheti
Alexander II , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Kakheti in eastern Georgia from 1574 to 1605. 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...
by his wife Tinatin Amilakhvari
Amilakhvari
The Amilkhvari was a noble house of Georgia which rose to prominence in the fifteenth century and held a large fiefdom in central Georgia until the Imperial Russian annexation of the country in 1801. They were hereditary marshals of Georgia from c. 1433, from which the family takes its name...
. In mid-1601, he capitalized on the illness of his father and gained an effective control of the government, sidelining his younger brother George
George, Crown Prince of Kakheti
George , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a crown prince of Kakheti, a kingdom in eastern Georgia.He was a son of Alexander II, king of Kakheti , who was temporarily dispossessed of the crown by his oldest son David I in 1601. George revolted against David, who managed to pacify his defiant brother...
. When Alexander recovered, David refused to relinquish his powers and forced his father into abdication in October 1601. David was crowned king of Kakheti, but his brother, George, masterminded a plot which quickly collapsed and led to repressions. David had George imprisoned while seventeen of his supporters were executed.
David’s foreign policy was a continuation of his father’s line. In 1602, he received a Russian
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
embassy and reaffirmed his loyalty to the tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
. He then marched against Nugzar, the defiant lord of the Aragvi and forced him into submission.
David suddenly died on October 21, 1602, and Alexander II recovered the crown. David is also remembered as a translator of a portion of the Tales of Kalila and Dimna from Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
.
David married, c. 1581, Ketevan
Ketevan the Martyr
Ketevan, "the Martyr" was a queen of Kakheti, a kingdom in eastern Georgia. She was killed at Shiraz, Iran, after prolonged tortures for refusing to give up the Christian faith and embrace Islam.-Life:...
, daughter of Prince Ashotan of Mukhrani
Mukhrani
Mukhrani is a historical lowland district in eastern Georgia, currently within the borders of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, north of the town of Mtskheta...
. They were the parents of two sons – Teimuraz (the future king Teimuraz I of Kakheti
Teimuraz I of Kakheti
Teimuraz I , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a Georgian monarch who ruled, with intermissions, as King of Kakheti from 1605 to 1648 and also of Kartli from 1625 to 1633...
) and Vakhtang (died 1604) – and a daughter Helene who was given in marriage to Abbas I of Persia
Abbas I of Persia
Shāh ‘Abbās the Great was Shah of Iran, and generally considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He was the third son of Shah Mohammad....
.