Sargis I Jaqeli
Encyclopedia
Sargis I Jaqeli (died 1285) was a Georgian
nobleman of the House of Jaqeli who became the first sovereign Prince of Samtskhe in 1268.
Sargis was the son of Bek’a Jaqeli, duke of Samtskhe in southwest Georgia, and served as eristavi
and amirspasalar
under King David VII of Georgia. When David revolted against the Mongol
emperors of Il-Khan in 1260, Sargis assumed the commandership of rebel forces and confronted the Mongol punitive expedition
led by Arghun Agha. He was eventually defeated, but succeeded in beating off Arghun’s attack on his estates in 1262. Later that year, Sargis accompanied David VII to the Il-Khan court. He is reported to have pleaded himself guilty of a revolt in order to save his royal suzerain from Hulagu Khan
’s rage. Around same time, he took part in the Il-Khan’s struggle against the rival Mongol ruler Berke
of the Golden Horde
, and reputedly saved Hulagu’s life during a battle. The khan decided to reward Sargis’s service by granting him the city of Karin
, an honor blocked by jealous Georgian rivals. Having felt betrayed, Sargis broke with the Georgian court, but remained a faithful vassal to the Il-Khans, and was granted injü status in 1266. Thus, Samtskhe became virtually independent of the Georgian crown and was placed under the Il-Khan protectorate. Sargis’s association with the Georgian court was not completely severed, however, as we hear of him being appointed a Lord High Treasurer by Demetrius II of Georgia (r. 1270–1289).
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...
nobleman of the House of Jaqeli who became the first sovereign Prince of Samtskhe in 1268.
Sargis was the son of Bek’a Jaqeli, duke of Samtskhe in southwest Georgia, and served as eristavi
Eristavi
Eristavi was a Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine strategos and normally translated into English as "duke". In the Georgian aristocratic hierarchy, it was the title of the third rank of prince and governor of a large province...
and amirspasalar
Amirspasalar
Amirspasalar was the commander in chief of the medieval Georgian army and one of the highest officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, commonly rendered as Lord High Constable in English...
under King David VII of Georgia. When David revolted against the Mongol
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
emperors of Il-Khan in 1260, Sargis assumed the commandership of rebel forces and confronted the Mongol punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
led by Arghun Agha. He was eventually defeated, but succeeded in beating off Arghun’s attack on his estates in 1262. Later that year, Sargis accompanied David VII to the Il-Khan court. He is reported to have pleaded himself guilty of a revolt in order to save his royal suzerain from Hulagu Khan
Hulagu Khan
Hulagu Khan, also known as Hülegü, Hulegu , was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Southwest Asia...
’s rage. Around same time, he took part in the Il-Khan’s struggle against the rival Mongol ruler Berke
Berke
Berke Khan was the ruler of the Golden Horde who effectively consolidated the power of the Blue Horde and White Hordes from 1257 to 1266. He succeeded his brother Batu Khan of the Blue Horde and was responsible for the first official establishment of Islam in a khanate of the Mongol Empire...
of the Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
, and reputedly saved Hulagu’s life during a battle. The khan decided to reward Sargis’s service by granting him the city of Karin
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
, an honor blocked by jealous Georgian rivals. Having felt betrayed, Sargis broke with the Georgian court, but remained a faithful vassal to the Il-Khans, and was granted injü status in 1266. Thus, Samtskhe became virtually independent of the Georgian crown and was placed under the Il-Khan protectorate. Sargis’s association with the Georgian court was not completely severed, however, as we hear of him being appointed a Lord High Treasurer by Demetrius II of Georgia (r. 1270–1289).