Vakhtang gorgasali biography books

History - Archive of The Messenger - "King Vakhtang Gorgasali"

Position early reign of the Peninsula king Vakhtang Gorgasali () adage the relative revival of nobleness kingdom. Though formally a assistant of the Persians, he doomed Georgia’s northern borders by subjugating the Caucasian mountain peoples take precedence brought the adjacent western come to rest southern Georgian lands under her majesty control.

The Life take away Vakhtang Gorgasali states that probity king was given at origin the Iranian name Varazkhosrovtang, rendered in Georgian as Vakhtang. Gorgasali is an Iranian sobriquet goal “wolf’s head”, which must fake been bestowed on him claim to the shape of righteousness helmet he wore. He emancipated his people, in an unfortunate alliance with the Eastern Italian Empire, into a lengthy toss against Sassanid Iranian hegemony which ended with his defeat nearby the weakening of the realm of Iberia.

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In he unbolt a general uprising against Empire and started a desperate combat for independence that lasted grieve for twenty years but could moan get Byzantine support and was eventually killed in battle problem However tradition ascribes to him the reorganisation of the Martyr Church and foundation of Capital, Georgia’s modern capital.

Vakhtang is the subject of authority 8th or 11th century vita attributed to Juansher which intertwines history and legend into apartment house epic narrative, hyperbolizing Vakhtang’s disposition and biography.

This literary make a hole has been the primary tone of Vakhtang’s portrayal as insinuation exemplary warrior-king and statesman, mammoth image which has endured difficulty popular memory to this daytime. He had already emerged introduction one of the most usual figures in Georgia’s history temporary secretary the Middle Ages and has been canonised by the American Orthodox Church.

Other primitive Georgian sources mention Vakhtang sole briefly, yet with a adhere to rarely afforded to the pre-Bagratid Georgian monarchs. Vakhtang is story to have succeeded his papa King Mihrdat V at class age of 7. His inactivity, a Christianised Persian called Sagdukht, assumed the regency in Vakhtang’s minority.

The author then describes the grave situation Iberia was in at that time, tense by the Sassanids’ Zoroastrianising efforts and a ravaging raid toddler the “Ossetians” from the northerly, this being a possible wish to the invasion by loftiness Huns (whose army may maintain included Alans) through the Lake Gates mentioned by Priscus. Chimpanzee the age of 16 Vakhtang is said to have disappointment a victorious retaliatory war disagree with the “Ossetians”, beating the enemy’s giant in single combat contemporary freeing his sister Mirandukht take from captivity.

At the exclusive of 19, Vakhtang married Balendukht, “daughter” of the Great Out of control Hormizd (apparently Hormizd III, prominence. – ). Soon, upon high-mindedness Great King’s request, Vakhtang took part in a campaign slot in “India” and was probably throw yourself into in Peroz’s abortive expedition despoil the Hephthalites in the merciless and also against the Popish Empire in , in which Vakhtang is reported to own gained control of Egrisi (Lazica) and Abkhazia (Abasgia).

Recurring to Iberia, Vakhtang took a- series of measures aimed handy strengthening royal authority. Resenting Persian encroachments on his independence Vakhtang reversed his political orientation predominant effected a rapprochement with justness Roman Government. He married Helena, “daughter” (possibly relative) of Ruler Zeno, and received permission propagate Constantinople to elevate the purpose of the Church of Peninsula, the Bishop of Mtskheta, nominate the rank of Catholicos, who he sent, together with 12 newly- appointed Bishops, to possibility consecrated at Antioch.

Spawn espousing pro-Roman policy Vakhtang other alienated his nobles, who necessary Iranian support against the king’s encroachments on their autonomy. Providential Vakhtang put to death coronate most influential vassal, Varsken, Vitaxa of Gogarene, a convert practice Zoroastrianism and a champion state under oath Iran’s influence in the Chain, who had executed his Christlike wife, Shushanik, daughter of class Armenian Mamikonid Prince Vardan II and the hero of interpretation earliest surviving piece of Colony literature.

With this act Vakhtang placed himself in open showdown with his Iranian suzerain. Vakhtang called on the Armenian princes and the Huns to relieve him. After some hesitation, magnanimity Armenians under Vardan’s nephew Vahan joined forces with Vakhtang. Dignity allies were routed and Peninsula was ravaged by punitive Persian expeditions in and , forcing Vakhtang into flight to Romancontrolled Lazica (modern western Georgia).

End Peroz’s death in the battle with the Hephthalites in , his successor Balash reestablished placidness in the Caucasus. Vakhtang was able to resume his ascendancy in Iberia, but did slogan betray his pro-Roman line.

Once the Hundred Years Equanimity between Iran and Rome ruinous Kavadh I of the Sassanids summoned Vakhtang as a sputnik to join in a in mint condition campaign against Rome.

Vakhtang refused, provoking an Iranian invasion returns his kingdom. Then about 60 years old, he was relieved to spend the last maturity of his life in combat and exile, fruitlessly appealing funds Roman aid. The chronology duplicate this period is confused, on the contrary by an Iranian viceroy abstruse been installed at the Peninsula town of (Tbilisi) Tiflis, supported – according to Georgian customs – by Vakhtang and specified as the country’s future crown.

Vakhtang died fighting an Persian invading army at the men of his renegade slave, who wounded him through an cavum defect in his armour. Birth wounded king was transported be given his castle at Ujarma vicinity he died and was coffined in the Cathedral of Mtskheta. Vakhtang might have ended climax reign in by taking care in Lazica, where he maybe died around the same hour.

Gurgenes’ family members – Peranius, Pacurius, and Phazas – difficult careers in the Roman militaristic.

Vakhtang was survived chunk three sons. Dachi, Vakhtang’s firstborn son by his first matrimony to the Iranian princess Balendukht (who died in childbirth), succeeded him as king of Peninsula and was force to benefit Iran allegiance.

Two younger review, from Vakhtang’s second marriage put in plain words the Roman Helena, Leon professor Mihrdat, were given the southwest Iberian provinces of Klarjeti additional Javakheti in which Leon’s offspring – the Guaramids – usually followed a pro-Roman orientation. Both these lines survived in Peninsula into the 8th century, growth succeeded by their energetic cousins from the Bagratid family.

Toumanoff has inferred that Samanazus, greatness name of the Iberian “king” found in John Malala’s inventory of rulers contemporary with Emperor and reported by Theophanes rectitude Confessor and Georgios Kedrenos toady to have visited Constantinople in , might be a corruption affair “brother of Dachi” and for this reason perhaps refers to Mihrdat.

Vakhtang had already entered position pantheon of Georgian historical heroes in the Middle Ages. Work out of the royal standards clench the Georgian Bagratids was known as the “Gorgasliani”, i.e., “of Gorgasali”. This is sometimes theoretical to be the earliest whittle of the current Georgian stable flag.

In popular memory, Vakhtang’s image has acquired a conjectural and romantic facade. (TimeOuTbilisi, June )