David V of Georgia
Encyclopedia
David V (died 1155), of the Bagrationi Dynasty
, was a king of Georgia
c. 1154/5.
He was an elder son of King Demetre I
. Fearing that Demetre would make his younger son Giorgi
an heir to the throne, David attempted a revolt in 1130. Ultimately, he forced his father to abdicate and David became a king in 1154 or 1155.
The Georgian and Armenia
n chronicles are confused about the length and nature of David V’s reign and disagree over the circumstances of his mysterious death. According to the Armenian chronicler Vardan Areveltsi
, he ruled for a month and was murdered by his nobles, Sumbat and Ivane Orbeli, who had made a secret agreement with George, David’s younger brother. The Armenian Stepanos Orbelian
, a descendant of the Orbeli clan, writing shortly after Vardan, claims David reigned for two years and denies any family involvement in the murder of the king and says that George had sworn to his reigning brother that he would rule only until David’s son, Demna, reached his majority, but then reneged on his vow. He claims that the Orbelis had been the witnesses of this vow and that they led the 1177 revolt to restore Demna, who was now adult, to his rightful position. Georgian chronicles say David’s reign lasted for six months, but carefully avoid any mention of the circumstances of his death.
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 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...
c. 1154/5.
He was an elder son of King Demetre I
Demetre I
Demetrius I , from the Bagrationi dynasty, was King of Georgia from 1125 to 1156. He is also known as a poet.-Life:Demetrius was the eldest son of King David the Builder by his first wife Rusudan...
. Fearing that Demetre would make his younger son Giorgi
George III of Georgia
Giorgi III , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia from 1156 to 1184. His reign, and that of Tamar, are seen as the 'golden age' of Georgian history, the era of empire, diplomatic success, military triumphs, great learning, cultural, spiritual, and artistic flowering.-Life:He succeeded on...
an heir to the throne, David attempted a revolt in 1130. Ultimately, he forced his father to abdicate and David became a king in 1154 or 1155.
The Georgian and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n chronicles are confused about the length and nature of David V’s reign and disagree over the circumstances of his mysterious death. According to the Armenian chronicler Vardan Areveltsi
Vardan Areveltsi
Vardan Areveltsi was a thirteenth century Armenian historian, geographer, philosopher and translator. In addition to establishing numerous schools and monasteries, he also left behind a rich contribution to Armenian literature...
, he ruled for a month and was murdered by his nobles, Sumbat and Ivane Orbeli, who had made a secret agreement with George, David’s younger brother. The Armenian Stepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian was a thirteenth century Armenian historian and the Metropolitan of the province of Syunik. He is known for writing his well-researched Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan, or History of the Province of Syunik.-Biography:...
, a descendant of the Orbeli clan, writing shortly after Vardan, claims David reigned for two years and denies any family involvement in the murder of the king and says that George had sworn to his reigning brother that he would rule only until David’s son, Demna, reached his majority, but then reneged on his vow. He claims that the Orbelis had been the witnesses of this vow and that they led the 1177 revolt to restore Demna, who was now adult, to his rightful position. Georgian chronicles say David’s reign lasted for six months, but carefully avoid any mention of the circumstances of his death.