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36-585: The Georgian Chronicles relate the apocryphal story of Alexander the Great 's campaign into inner Georgia. Alexander reportedly brought Azoy (Azo), the son of the unnamed "king of Aryan-Kartli", together with followers, to Mtskheta , principal city of Kartli, and charged him with the administration of Kartli in his absence. The 11th-century Georgian monk Arsen, the author of metaphrastical reduction of "The life of St. Nino " and tutor of King David IV of Georgia , comments on this passage: "We, Georgians, are descendants of

72-527: A possible reflection of the wolf cult in ancient Georgia. Beginning in the late 13th century, numerous Georgian princes and kings took the name Vakhtang. Toumanoff observes that the name Vakhtang has no Classical equivalent and infers that the king's sobriquet Gorgasal—given to Vakhtang because of the shape of the helmet he wore—was rendered by the 6th-century Roman historian Procopius as Gurgenes ( Greek : Γουργένης ). Toumanoff's identification of Vakhtang with Gurgenes has not been universally accepted. Beyond

108-497: A rapprochement with the Roman government. He married Helena, "daughter" (possibly relative) of Emperor Zeno , and received permission from Constantinople to elevate the head of the church of Iberia, the bishop of Mtskheta , to the rank of catholicos , whom he sent, together with twelve newly appointed bishops, to be consecrated at Antioch . These rearrangements did not pass smoothly and the king had to overcome opposition, especially in

144-450: A selected number of these texts. Some modern scholars, such as Ivane Javakhishvili , have questioned the authenticity of the early components of "The Georgian Chronicles" and have called for extreme caution when working with them. Indeed, strict historical facts are frequently intermingled with mythical ones, making it sometimes difficult to discern true historiography and mythology. However, critical analyses against other sources, including

180-452: Is a subject of the 8th or 11th century vita attributed to Juansher , which intertwines history and legend into an epic narrative, hyperbolizing Vakhtang's personality and biography. This literary work has been a primary source of Vakhtang's image as an examplary warrior-king and statesman, which has been preserved in popular memory to this day. By the Middle Ages , he emerged as one of

216-557: Is reported by the LVG to have succeeded at the age of 7 his father King Mihrdat (V) . His mother, a Christianized Persian Sagdukht , assumed regency in Vakhtang's minority. The author then describes the grave situation in which Iberia was at that time, troubled by the Sassanids' Zoroastrianizing efforts and a ravaging raid by the " Ossetians " from the north, this latter being a possible reference to

252-477: Is the principal compendium of medieval Georgian historical texts, natively known as Kartlis Tskhovreba ( Georgian : ქართლის ცხოვრება ), literally "Life of Kartli", Kartli being a core region of ancient and medieval Georgia, known to the Classical and Byzantine authors as Iberia . The chronicles are also known as The Georgian Royal Annals , for they were essentially the official corpus of history of

288-620: Is true, the king might have ended his reign in 522 by taking refuge in Lazica, where he possibly died around the same time. Gurgenes’ family members— Peranius , Pacurius , and Phazas —had careers in the Roman military. According to the LVG, Vakhtang was survived by three sons. Dachi , Vakhtang's eldest son by his first marriage to the Iranian princess Balendukht (who died at childbirth), succeeded him as king of Iberia and had to return to Iranian allegiance. Two younger sons by Vakhtang's second marriage to

324-623: The Armenian Mamikonid prince Vardan II and a hero of the earliest surviving piece of Georgian literature. By this act, Vakhtang placed himself in open confrontation with his Iranian suzerain. Vakhtang called on the Armenian princes and the Huns for co-operation. After some hesitation, the Armenians under Vardan's nephew Vahan Mamikonian , joined forces with Vakhtang. The allies were routed and Iberia

360-713: The Black Sea (such as Egrisi/Colchis), it would be the polities to the east of the Surami Pass that "came to embody Georgian political life". Little is known about Aryan Kartli, however, according to Rapp, it appears to have been an "Achaemenid client on the northern fringe of Iranian domains". Rapp notes that Aryan Kartli "may well be associated with a remarkable palace built according to Achaemenid styles and techniques" at Gumbat'i in Kakheti in eastern Georgia. However, other locations have been proposed as well for Aryan Kartli, including to

396-561: The Byzantine Empire : მე ჴორციელებრითა დიდებითა გადიდენ თქუენ ნათესავთა ჩემთა. და სახლსა ჩუენსა ნუ შეურაცხჰყოფთ, და სიყუარულსა ბერძენთასა ნუ დაუტეობთ. I have magnified you and all my generations in the flesh with glory; neither disgrace our home nor abandon the love of the Greeks . Vakhtang entered a pantheon of Georgian historical heroes already in the Middle Ages. A royal oriflamme of

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432-465: The Chosroid dynasty , was a king ( mepe ) of Iberia , natively known as Kartli (eastern Georgia ) in the second half of the 5th and first quarter of the 6th century. He led his people, in an ill-fated alliance with the Byzantine Empire , into a lengthy struggle against Sasanian Iranian hegemony , which ended in Vakhtang's defeat and weakening of the kingdom of Iberia. Tradition also ascribes to him

468-769: The Classical authors, and a series of recent archaeological studies have proved the trustworthiness of many of the Chronicles' accounts. These texts relate evidence not only for the history of Georgia, but also Armenia and the Caucasus in general, Iran , Syria , Anatolia , the Roman Empire , the Khazars , and the Turks . Vakhtang I Gorgasali Vakhtang I Gorgasali ( Georgian : ვახტანგ I გორგასალი , romanized : vakht'ang I gorgasali ; c.  439 or 443 – 502 or 522), of

504-590: The Kingdom of Georgia . The Chronicles consist of a series of distinct texts dating from the 9th to the 14th century. The dating of these works as well as the identification of their authors (e.g., Leonti Mroveli and Juansheriani ) have been a subject of scholarly debates. Although many scholars in Georgia still propose an 11th-century dating for the first redaction of the corpus, the increasing number of modern experts has accepted Professor Cyril Toumanoff 's hypothesis that

540-452: The Life of Vakhtang Gorgasali (hereinafter LVG), the medieval Georgian sources mention Vakhtang only briefly, yet with respect rarely afforded to the pre- Bagratid Georgian monarchs. Notwithstanding its semi-legendary epic character, the LVG provides many important details, which can be combined with the sources closer to the period in question, such as Lazarus of Parpi and Procopius. Vakhtang

576-460: The "Martyrdom of Saint Archil" – already made up a first corpus which covered the Georgian history from the earliest times through the reign of Vakhtang I Gorgasali (r. 452–502/22) down to the death of Vakhtang's descendant Archil (786). In the middle of the 12th century, two texts were added: the "Chronicle of Kartli" – which records the Georgian history from the late 8th century through the reign of

612-1013: The Confessor and Georgios Kedrenos to have visited Constantinople in 535, might have been a corruption of words meaning "brother of Dachi" and so perhaps refers to Mihrdat. Before his death, the wounded King Vakhtang left the will to his son Dachi and to the Georgians: მე ესე რა წარვალ წინაშე ღმრთისა ჩემისა, და ვმადლობ სახელსა მისსა, რამეთუ არა დამაკლო [or: დამარხო] გამორჩეულთა წმიდათა მისთა. აწ გამცნებ თქუენ, რათა მტკიცედ სარწმუნოებასა ზედა სდგეთ და ეძიებდეთ ქრისტესთჳს სიკუდილსა სახელსა მისსა ზედა, რათა წარუვალი დიდება მოიგოთ. And I, as I go to my God , I give thanks to His name, because he did not sacrifice [or: 'spare'] his chosen blessings. Now I exhort you, that you stand firm in your faith and seek death for Christ in His name, so that you may obtain imperishable glory! He also called on Georgians not to abandon ties with

648-503: The Georgian Bagratids was known as "Gorgasliani", i.e., "of Gorgasali". It is sometimes supposed to be the earliest model of the current Georgian national flag . In popular memory, his image has acquired a legendary and romantic façade. Vakhtang is a subject of several folk poems and legends, extolling the king's perceived greatness, enormous physical strength, courage and devoutness to Christianity. Vakhtang has been credited with

684-708: The Great King's request, Vakhtang took part in the campaign in "India", probably in Peroz 's abortive expedition against the Hephthalites in the 460s, and against the Roman Empire in 472, in which Vakhtang is reported to have gained control of Egrisi (Lazica) and Abkhazia . Returning to Iberia, Vakhtang took up a series of measures aimed at strengthening the royal authority. Resenting Iranian encroachments on his independence, Vakhtang reversed his political orientation and effected

720-808: The Roman lady Elene—Leon and Mihrdat—were enfeoffed of the southwestern Iberian provinces of Klarjeti and Javakheti in which Leon's progeny—the Guaramids —traditionally followed pro-Roman orientation. Both these lines survived in Iberia into the 8th century, being succeeded by their energetic cousins of the Bagratid family. Toumanoff has inferred that the Samanazus , a name of the Iberian "king" found in John Malala 's list of rulers contemporary with Justinian and reported by Theophanes

756-459: The Sassanids summoned Vakhtang as a vassal to join in a new campaign against Rome. Vakhtang refused, provoking an Iranian invasion of his kingdom. Then about 60, he had to spend the last years of his life in war and exile, fruitlessly appealing for the Roman aid. The chronology of this period is confused, but by 518 an Iranian viceroy had been installed at the Iberian town of Tiflis , founded—according to Georgian tradition—by Vakhtang and designated as

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792-471: The country's future capital. According to the LVG, Vakhtang died fighting an Iranian invading army at the hands of his renegade slave who shot him through an armpit defect of his armor. The wounded king was transported to his castle at Ujarma where he died and was interred at the cathedral in Mtskheta. Javakhishvili puts Vakhtang's death at c. 502. If Toumanoff's identification of Procopius’ Gurgenes with Vakhtang

828-509: The earliest texts of Kartlis Tskhovreba were composed c. 800. The latest texts were added in the 14th century. A "canonized" version was edited by a special commission appointed and chaired by King Vakhtang VI of Kartli early in the 18th century. During the 11th century, the first three works – the "History of the Kings and Patriarchs of the Georgians", the "History of King Vakhtang Gorgasali", and

864-449: The first all-Georgian king Bagrat III (r. 1008-1014) to the early regnal years of George II (r. 1072-1089) – and the "History of the King of Kings David" – which continues the story and focuses on the reign of David IV (r. 1089-1125). The extant Georgian manuscripts of Kartlis Tskhovreba are relatively late, with the earliest, the so-called Anaseuli or " Queen Anna " codex, dating from

900-452: The foundation of several towns, castles, and monasteries across Georgia, including the nation's capital Tbilisi, where a street and a square bear his name, and a 1967 monument by the sculptor Elguja Amashukeli tops the Metekhi cliff. A legend has it that when King Vakhtang was in the forest, his falcon chased a pheasant . The bird fell into a hot water spring and the king and his servants saw

936-484: The historical Georgian southwest where a number of Georgian scholars, notably Giorgi Melikishvili , tend to place Aryan Kartli. According to the modern historian Stephen H. Rapp , risen in the last phase of the Achaemenid Empire, Aryan Kartli was the first known autonomous kingdom in eastern Georgia. Even though prior to Aryan Kartli there had been small political entities in the western area's of Georgia, closer to

972-618: The invasion by the Huns (which may have included Alans ) through the Caspian Gates mentioned by Priscus . At the age of 16, Vakhtang is said to have led a victorious retaliatory war against the "Ossetians", winning a single combat against the enemy's giant and relieving his sister Mirandukht from captivity. At the age 19, Vakhtang married Balendukht , "daughter" of the Great King Hormizd (apparently Hormizd III , r . 457–459). Soon, upon

1008-579: The most popular figures in Georgia's history and has been canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church as The Holy and Right-Believing King Vakhtang (Georgian: წმინდა დიდმოწამე მეფე ვახტანგი ) and is commemorated on December 13 [ O.S. November 30]. According to the Life of Vakhtang Gorgasali , the king was given at his birth an Iranian name Varazkhosrovtang , rendered in Georgian as Vakhtang . The name may indeed be derived from Iranian * warx-tang ( vahrka-tanū )—"wolf-bodied",

1044-552: The newcomers from Aryan-Kartli, we speak their language and all the kings of Kartli are descendants of their kings". Classical sources scholars have inferred that this land lay within the orbit of the Achaemenid Persian Empire . Herodotus ' list of the Achaemenid provinces , which places the proto-Georgian tribes within the 13th and 19th satrapies , is significant in this regard. These territories partially correspond to

1080-568: The period of 1479-1495. Another major variant, Mariamiseuli or " Queen Mariam " codex, was copied in the years 1633-1645/1646. However, the surviving Georgian manuscripts are predated by the Chronicles' abridged Armenian adaptation known as "The History of Georgians" ( Patmut'iwn Vrats' ), most probably made in the 12th century, with its earliest extant manuscript being copied in the period of 1279-1311. A number of translations are available in French, Russian, English and German, but each one covers only

1116-555: The person of Mikel, the deposed bishop of Mtskheta. Javakhishvili explains this conflict on account of doctrinal differences between the Monophysite Vakhtang and Diophysite Mikel, a presumption supported by Toumanoff, who points out, that the change of prelate and his subordination to Antioch could "only imply acceptance of Zeno's formulary of faith", i.e., the moderately Monophysite Henotikon of 482. On his part, another Georgian historian, Simon Janashia , argues that Vakhtang

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1152-500: The reorganization of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the foundation of Tbilisi , Georgia's modern capital. Dating Vakhtang's reign is problematic. Ivane Javakhishvili assigns to Vakhtang's rule the dates c.  449–502 while Cyril Toumanoff suggests the dates c.  447–522 . Furthermore, Toumanoff identifies Vakhtang with the Iberian king Gurgenes known from Procopius ' Wars of Justinian . Vakhtang

1188-636: The southwest of Kartli, in the Armeno-Kartvelian marchlands. The early Georgian kingdom of Kartli/Iberia, which clearly emerges in historical accounts of Hellenistic period, seems to have shared the Iranian bonds of Aryan Kartli. Cyril Toumanoff equates the region with the Aranē ( Greek : 'Αράνη ) of Ptolemy (V.6.18) and the Harrana of the Hittites . The Georgian Chronicles The Georgian Chronicles

1224-503: The steam come out of the water. Surprised by the abundance of hot water, Vakhtang gave orders to build a city on this site and named it "Tbilisi", that is, "the site of warm springs". Vakhtang was officially included in the Georgian Orthodox calendar—and a church built in his honor in the city of Rustavi —early in the 1990s, but he had presumably been considered a saint long before that. The Vakhtang Gorgasal Order, created in 1992,

1260-462: Was inclined towards Diophysitism while Mikel adhered to Monophysitism. By espousing pro-Roman policy, Vakhtang further alienated his nobles, who sought Iranian support against the king's encroachments on their autonomy. In 482, Vakhtang put to death his most influential vassal, Varsken , vitaxa of Gogarene , a convert to Zoroastrianism and a champion of Iran's influence in the Caucasus , who had executed his Christian wife, Shushanik , daughter of

1296-600: Was ravaged by Iranian punitive expeditions in 483 and 484, forcing Vakhtang into flight to Roman-controlled Lazica (modern western Georgia). After Peroz's death in the war with the Hephthalites in 484, his successor Balash reestablished peace in the Caucasus. Vakhtang was able to resume his reign in Iberia, but did not betray his pro-Roman line. Once the Hundred Years Peace between Iran and Rome collapsed, Kavadh I of

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