Zakarid-Mxargrzeli
Encyclopedia
The Zakarid also known by their Georgian language
moniker as Mkhargrdzeli , were a noble family prominent in medieval Armenia
and Georgia
. Their name in Georgian, Mkhargrdzeli, or in , (Yerkaynbazuk) meant long-armed. A family legend says that this name was a reference to their Achaemenid ancestor Artaxerxes II the "Longarmed" (404-358 BC).
The family was of Armenian origin. Some historians think they were of Kurdish origin.
the Restorer liberated these lands from the Seljuq grasp, the Zakarids came to be loyal vassals of the Georgian Bagratids, as they had served the Kingdom of Lori
. They subsequently gained more prominence as military commanders and sponsors of cultural activities in both Armenian and Georgian lands.
Zakare and Ivane were the most brilliant representatives of the family, who succeeded in liberating several Armenian districts with the Georgian army from the Muslim
overlords and were responsible for Georgian-Armenian military victories during the era of Tamar of Georgia
(1184-1212/3). Around the same time, Ivane converted to Georgian-Orthodox Christianity, while Zakare remained Armenian-Apostolic in faith. Both brothers left several bilingual inscriptions across the Armeno-Georgian border lands and built several churches and forts.
Georgian language
Georgian is the native language of the Georgians and the official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus.Georgian is the primary language of about 4 million people in Georgia itself, and of another 500,000 abroad...
moniker as Mkhargrdzeli , were a noble family prominent in medieval Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and 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...
. Their name in Georgian, Mkhargrdzeli, or in , (Yerkaynbazuk) meant long-armed. A family legend says that this name was a reference to their Achaemenid ancestor Artaxerxes II the "Longarmed" (404-358 BC).
The family was of Armenian origin. Some historians think they were of Kurdish origin.
Origin
When the Georgian King David IVDavid IV of Georgia
David IV "the Builder", also known as David II , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was a king of Georgia from 1089 until his death in 1125....
the Restorer liberated these lands from the Seljuq grasp, the Zakarids came to be loyal vassals of the Georgian Bagratids, as they had served the Kingdom of Lori
Kingdom of Lori
Kingdom of Lori alternatively known as the Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget or Kingdom of Albania, was an Armenian kingdom formed during the breakup of Bagratuni Armenia. The kingdom encompassed territories of modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia....
. They subsequently gained more prominence as military commanders and sponsors of cultural activities in both Armenian and Georgian lands.
Zakare and Ivane were the most brilliant representatives of the family, who succeeded in liberating several Armenian districts with the Georgian army from the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
overlords and were responsible for Georgian-Armenian military victories during the era of Tamar of Georgia
Tamar of Georgia
Tamar , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was Queen Regnant of Georgia from 1184 to 1213. Tamar presided over the "Golden age" of the medieval Georgian monarchy...
(1184-1212/3). Around the same time, Ivane converted to Georgian-Orthodox Christianity, while Zakare remained Armenian-Apostolic in faith. Both brothers left several bilingual inscriptions across the Armeno-Georgian border lands and built several churches and forts.