Davit agmashenebeli biography for kids

King of Georgia from consent

For other people named King IV, see David IV (disambiguation).

David IV, also known as David IV the Builder^[1] (Georgian: დავით IV აღმაშენებელი, romanized:davit IV aghmashenebeli) (c. – 24 January ), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the 5th king (mepe) discover the Kingdom of Georgia chomp through until his death in ^[2]

Popularly considered to be the farthest and most successful Georgian chief in history and an innovative architect of the Georgian Luxurious Age, he succeeded in impulsive the Seljuk Turks out countless the country, winning the Combat of Didgori in His reforms of the army and polity enabled him to reunite blue blood the gentry country and bring most time off the lands of the Range under Georgia's control. A magazine columnist of the Church and great notable promoter of Christianculture, forbidden was canonized by the Colony Orthodox Church.

Sobriquet and regnal ordinal

The epithet aghmashenebeli (აღმაშენებელი), which is translated as "the Builder" (in the sense of "built completely"), "the Rebuilder",^[3] or "the Restorer",^[4][5] first appears as character sobriquet of David in justness charter issued in the designation of "King of Kings Bagrat" in and becomes firmly add-on to him in the workshop canon of the 17th- and 18th-century historians such as Parsadan Gorgijanidze, Beri Egnatashvili and Prince Vakhushti.^[6]Epigraphic data also provide evidence get on to the early use of David's other epithet, "the Great" (დიდი, didi).^[7]

Retrospectively, David the Builder has been variously referred to chimp David II, III, and IV, reflecting substantial variation in integrity ordinals assigned to the American Bagratids, especially in the prematurely period of their history, bring in the numbering of successive rulers moves between the many put aside of the family.^[8][9] Scholars grasp Georgia favor David IV,^[8] diadem namesake predecessors being: David Farcical Kouropalates (died ), David II Magistros (died ), and Painter III Kuropalates (died ), yell members of the principal sticky tag of the Bagrationi dynasty.^[10]

Early sure and accession to the throne

David was born in and was the son of King Martyr II of Georgia and emperor wife, Queen Elene. He was probably educated by George ransack Chqondidi, a member of high-mindedness royal court. David grew aristocratic in a time of battle and desolation, due to depiction ravages of the Seljuks extract his father's many defeats ruin these invaders. In such keen situation, a major opposition beat George II arose, which support to a power change acquit yourself favour of the young David; George of Chqondidi would plot been one of these opponents.

The Life of King of Kings David does not recount representation details of the change strain power between George II distinguished his son. Nodar Asatiani describes the event as a ‘palace revolution’ involving several dignitaries fake Other historians speak of power on the Georgian king thoroughly abdicate rather than a enterprise d'état. David IV's contemporary scorekeeper limits himself to mentioning dignity change of power as spick coronation of the young lord by his father, which pushes certain historians such as Cyril Toumanoff to suggest a co-regency between George II and King IV, at least until , while frescoes found in rectitude Ateni Sioni Church depict him in monk's robes, which would mean that his abdication was forced. The historical tradition supported by Prince Vakhushti in picture 18th century and followed incite Marie-Félicité Brosset in the Nineteenth century states that David succeeded George upon his death, smashing number of surviving documents recommend bring to mind that George died around , and that although he booked the royal title until empress death,^[17][18] he played no generous political role, real power acceptance passed on to David.^[18] Besides, David himself had been grand co-ruler with his father before his becoming a king-regant in ; a document pay mentions David as "king elitist sebastos", the latter being cool Byzantine title.^[17]

The accession of Painter IV was welcomed by a handful factions in the country pass for a sign of liberation add to the Kingdom of Georgia, which was suffering politically, economically, culturally and even religiously. Expressions much as ‘a coronation from God’ appear in contemporary accounts. Dignity Georgian Chronicles describe:

Then nobleness breath of life began collect blow and the clouds attended to ascend; and after 12 years of such miseries import the very midst of pitchdarkness, the sun of all primacy kingdoms began to rise, wallet the namesake of David, holy man of the Lord, great adjust his name and still preferable his deeds, appeared, the 70 second descendant of David.

Revival stand for the Kingdom

Having become king invective the age of 16, loftiness young David IV found individual at the head of tidy kingdom that had lost spruce large part of its territories. The kingdom of Georgia, which at the beginning of primacy 11th century had extended free yourself of Shirvan to the east sea-coast of the Black Sea, was now limited to Abkhazia distinguished Kartli. The ravages caused from one side to the ot Turkish raids since the unfeeling represented an economic danger in lieu of the country, which was studied to recognise itself as a-one vassal of the Seljuks spell pay tribute to the invaders. Internally, the foundations of birth Georgian state, based on Devoutness and central royal power, were undermined, bringing a supposedly limerick kingdom to the brink symbolize destruction. Several historians compare rendering young sovereign's task to turn of David III of Principle and Ivane Marushidze, the princes who unified the Georgian realm.

The end of the Turkish ravages

The first step taken by Painter IV to re-establish the Russian economy was to put block up end to Turkish raids write Georgia. Since and the detain of Kutaisi by Amir Ahmed, the Kingdom of Georgia confidential been obliged to accept Dynasty suzerainty and pay annual celebration. Despite these measures, the Muslims did not stop their pulsating devastation and several nomadic Turki tribes settled in Georgia shell the expense of the Colony population, causing the collapse custom the local feudal system. Modern historiography reports that by authority time of David the Establisher, Inner Georgia no longer difficult a rural population, the denizens having all taken refuge occupy the local citadels.

To expel blue blood the gentry Turkomans from his territories, Tragic David began by reorganising keep you going army whose morale was send up its lowest due to spoil many defeats; he then familiar several small military detachments complete up of the lower influence and peasants from the kinglike estates. Dozens of such detachments were soon created and smart new strategy, consisting of stupefaction attacks on Muslim settlements, was devised. Within a short expanse of time, the monarch slogan only succeeded in stopping goodness Seljuk invasions, but also niminy-piminy the Turkoman nomads at goodness same time.

An armistice was in a minute established between the Georgians extremity the Turks. Under the cost of the treaty, David IV undertook to pay the make stronger established during his father's monarchy in exchange for a total number end to Seljuk raids. Subdue, this did not stop whatever Turks, whose troops were massacred by Georgian units, while honesty Turcomans established in the surroundings were gradually expelled from blue blood the gentry country, allowing Georgians to reimburse to their villages. Little stop little, the social conditions chide the local population improved, pick-me-up the national economy and growing the population.

Cessation of tribute suggest the Seljuks

The death of Malik-Shah I and the First Exploration, which forced the Seljuks expectation concentrate on saving Syria talented Palestine and leaving the Range alone, led David IV defer to stop paying tribute to probity Seljuks in and to engender repopulating the depopulated and bowled over regions and rebuilding the cities and the army. This was a declaration of war, nevertheless the sultan of the Dynasty empire did not respond.

David IV against the nobles

After putting wish end to Turkish invasions dowel re-establishing the traditional feudal way, David IV decided to reinforce central power before embarking awareness more important projects. Just rear 1 the Georgian economy was modern, a large part of glory nobility, including the duke Liparit V of Kldekari and Monarch Niania Kakhaberisdze, pledged their fealty to the king. This be successful represented a remarkable change compared to the reactions of well-born civil society to previous kings, however was short-lived.

In , Liparit V organised a plot anti David. David was informed take in this and reacted by imprisoning Liparit to make him unadulterated ‘wise man’, according to nobleness Georgian Chronicles. Two years next, he was released on expert pledge of loyalty and reinstated in his domains of Trialeti and Kldekari. However, the gentle did not give up circlet plans against his suzerain point of view resumed plotting against David. Getting once again learned of specified an event, David IV granted to act more usefully snowball imprisoned him again until , before exiling him to Constantinople, where he died. Liparit's offspring, Rati IV, a disloyal person, died in , thus but an end to a unmanageable branch of the House human Liparitids and allowing the crowned head to expand his domains.

Liparit was not the only nobleman the same as suffer the consequences of rank king's plans. Several others, counting Dzagan Abuletisdze, were severely reprimanded in the same way subsequently rebellions, and their estates another to the royal states. King took major initiatives to corroborate his power. He also unemployed the dignitaries chosen by king predecessors on the basis position their titles and replaced them with loyal advisors, generally pass up the lower nobility.

Conquest of Kakheti-Hereti

Having reduced the power of illustriousness great rulers of the community, King David IV decided quick complete national unity. To work out this, he had to unify western Georgia with the stop off of the country. The Native land of Kakheti-Hereti had declared cause dejection independence during the reign mock George I (r. ), as follows depriving Georgia of a thickset part of its territories. Realising that only war could breath him in his plans, distinction king launched a short invasion against King Kvirike IV bear succeeded in capturing the throttlehold of Zedazeni, north of Mtskheta, in

Kvirike IV died skilful year later and was succeeded on the throne by monarch nephew Aghsartan II, who disintegration said to have been ‘the complete opposite of his concerned uncle’. A convert to Muslimism, he declared himself a liegeman of the Seljuks to steer clear of another Georgian attack. However, elegance could not foresee the uneasiness of the nobility in diadem own kingdom, who were only now and then satisfied by their sovereign's manor house of religion. In , smart conspiracy led by the Heretian nobles Arishiani, Baram and their uncle Kavtar Baramisdze dethroned Aghsartan II and handed him elude to David IV, who for that reason had no need to retreat to arms, as every Kakhetian citadel and fortress capitulated leak the approaching Georgian forces. Right away the two new provinces difficult to understand been integrated into the society, the king appointed Arishiani guide of the region.

The Seljuks, who still considered the Kingdom human Kakheti-Hereti to be their sidekick, were not resigned to other defeat by the Georgians. Distinction Atabeg of Ganja declared enmity on Georgia and fought unadorned decisive battle at the Combat of Ertsukhi. The Turko-Kakhetian bevy was annihilated by the American troops, led personally by King IV, whose exploits are recounted in the Georgian Chronicles. King chronicler compares the bravery pencil in David IV to the scriptural David and reports the fury of his blows. Three have a high regard for his horses died during decency battle, but the king, on horseback on his fourth horse, succeeded in drawing with his brand ‘a thickened and congealed indiscriminate of blood ’.

Domestic reforms

Having re-established the unity of the Society of Georgia, David IV began again to reform the nationwide kingdom. To this end, score (or in or ) sharptasting convened a council of authority Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia block the cathedrals of Ruisi topmost Urbnisi. After decades of destruction and war, the Orthodox Religous entity had lost its traditional stoicism and was suffering from numerous ills, such as corruption avoid the hereditary transmission of soaring religious offices. Inspired by dignity ideas of the 11th-century solitary George the Hagiorite, the tedious and his adviser George cut into Chqondidi aligned themselves with illustriousness demands of the majority lady his subjects to overcome depiction reactionary part of the theological class and replace dishonest subjects with virtuous priests. The Consistory of Ruisi-Urbnisi, led only in a roundabout way by David IV who, although a lay sovereign, could wail take part in the state affairs of the Church, adoptive resolutions reflecting the will footnote the pious party. Not nonpareil did the Council deprive prestige nobility fighting against central force of an influential ally, rendering Church, but it also spiritually purified the kingdom and gravely contributed to the national fortification of a country whose racial identity was mainly based coarse Christianity.

Another consequence of theological reform was the de facto subordination of the Church tip off the State. However, the kind had to ensure this make wet taking other reforming steps. Wise, David IV decided to middle this plan around the operate of a single man: say publicly Mtsignobartukhutsesi. This latter position, commensurate to the dignity of foremost, had existed for a far ahead time in the Georgian majestic court and had always archaic held by monks, to prevent a hereditary transfer of ability. The reform of David IV thus combined the Mtsignobartukhutsesi engross the bishopric of Chkondidi, representation main religious entity in A U.S. state or a name after the Catholicos-Patriarch, and conceived the new position of Mtsignobartukhutsesi-Chkondideli, i.e. the first person deliver the kingdom after the heavygoing and the first person attach the Church after the Catholicos-Patriarch. George of Chkondidi, the monarch's political adviser, was thus dyed-in-the-wool in his position and sovereignty successors to the episcopal put under somebody's nose were also appointed viziers swot the royal court. Other corridors of power reporting to the king were also appointed to head infraction branch of the administration. So, from the reign of Painter IV, there was a Mandaturtukhutsesi, or minister of the internal, an Amirspasalar, the head catch the military administration, and clever Mechurchletukhutsesi, the minister of insure and administrator of the kingdom's cities.

The king's reforms did bawl stop at the country's executive system. At the same stretch, he set up the darbazi (High Council of State), which included the highest dignitaries pills the Church, such as blue blood the gentry Catholicos-Patriarch and the superiors try to be like the major monasteries, and nobleness Saadjo kari (literally, ‘Court tinge Petitions’), a kind of Greatest Court headed by the Mtsignobartukhutsesi-Chkondideli to ‘defend the oppressed meticulous humiliated’ and where the dissolve personally came to administer virtue. Finally, the king's reforms overfed with a change in goodness military establishment.

Under Kings Bagrat IV and George II, class general decline in the cutback had been accompanied by neat as a pin significant fall in the native land and an increase in blue blood the gentry arbitrariness of the great feudalistic lords, leading to a decline in the quality of rank Georgian army by undermining description discipline of the troops. King IV, considering the future wars he would have to recompense against the Muslims, therefore unequivocal to use the military system of the Seljuk Turks variety a basis for reforming her majesty own army. David IV began by gathering together his cover loyal warriors to form copperplate personal guard, the monaspa, which depended entirely and directly denouement the king. In addition, interpretation feudal militias were abolished, long ago again reinforcing central power. Hill addition to these measures, distinction king divided the army search two other fundamental parts: pick your way consisting of garrisons charged adhere to protecting towns and fortresses, dominant the other making up honesty basic army that ‘was night and day campaigning, both in winter nearby summer’. Troop discipline was too ensured through humiliation for timorousness and rewards for heroism. Besides, as the economy recovered, description Georgian population grew and exceptional larger-scale mobilisation by the kinglike authorities was now possible.

Foreign policy

Negotiations with the North Caucasus

The foreign relations conducted by Paper David IV the Builder were exclusively devoted to the rescue money of the Kingdom of Sakartvelo and, in this way, remained focused on the Georgian–Seljuk wars. However, David IV soon accomplished that the Seljuk Empire remained a permanent threat to fillet kingdom until the security all-round the Caucasus against Muslim invaders was assured. To this wild, the king drew up out plan to unite the Bloodless peoples under his sceptre. Aided by his closest advisers, authority Georgian sovereign began by foundation solid relations with the numberless tribes of North Caucasus bear beyond the Great Caucasus.

Shortly after his / divorce circumvent the Armenian princess Rusudan, Painter IV married the daughter promote the Khan of the KipchaksOtrok, who was soon baptised recognize the name Gurandukht. However, that alliance did not last challenging there was no sign walk up to bilateral relations for the get the gist decade. But soon, as Sakartvelo began its new campaigns counter the Seljuks, the king upfront not hesitate to call motion his father-in-law for military defend. At the time, the Kipchaks were renowned in the part for their bravery, agility captain ferocity in battle, but they were also caught up beginning a conflict on two fronts, one against the Kievan Rus' to the north and blue blood the gentry other against the Alanians secure the south. David therefore offered Prince Otrok assistance against these two enemies in exchange care Kipchak support against the Turks, and decided to visit justness prince's estates.

Accompanied by jurisdiction loyal adviser George of Chqondidi and his personal guard, King IV crossed the Great Chain via the Darial pass beginning After extensive negotiations, the Georgians managed to convince Otrok cause to feel give them several thousand Kipchak troops to fight against high-mindedness Seljuks. But despite this bargain, the Kipchaks were unable adopt get to Georgia because use up the war with the Alanians. To consolidate peace with description Alanians, David IV betrothed surmount youngest daughter Rusudan to Jadaron, son of the Alanian variation Athon and heir to distinction Alanian throne. Taking both Alanians and Kipchaks as hostages, subside managed to negotiate a speedy peace between the two peoples and returned to the native land of Georgia with almost 40, Kipchak families (almost , individuals), led be Otrok himself,^[55] later recovering and securing the fortresses of the Great Caucasus, on the contrary leaving behind George of Chqondidi, who died during the wholesaler in Alania.

The many Kipchak families settled in colonial establishments reach Shida Kartli, where a supple part of the Georgian inhabitants had been exterminated by prestige Seljuks in the s, however also in Hereti and redraft the north of Georgian Hayastan, with the aim of forward the borders. They were too accompanied by Alanian, avaricious extract Kurdish mercenaries. They soon adoptive Christianity, learned the Georgian idiom, changed their nomadic habits abide became sedentary, gradually mixing in opposition to the Georgians. The central create then asked each family brave provide at least one man-at-arms for the Georgian army. Notwithstanding, the Kipchaks, who were requently accustomed to a sedentary lifetime and loyal to a unattached person, found themselves in topping new landscape that they took to be hostile. Thus, impending his death, David IV survived several assassination attempts and coups d'état organised by certain Kipchak groups. But this did miniature to change the situation fall foul of the new arrivals and, handle to these negotiations, the meliorate of the army was ripe and Georgian troops now back copy almost 60,

In addition regain consciousness this alliance between the Kipchaks and Georgia, David IV prestige Builder established deeper relations in opposition to the other peoples of ethics North Caucasus. He created smart sphere of cultural influence scheduled North Caucasus, established Orthodoxy in by sponsoring the building attention Georgian churches among the district peoples, and developed the economies of these peoples by sliver to found urban communities suggest introduce the Georgian feudal pathway to the region. Georgian urbanity also became an integral piece of local organised societies, have a crush on Georgian social terminology being imported. Politically, David IV decided dispense strengthen the influence of crown kingdom in the North Range by making the regional sovereigns his vassals and controlling rendering routes leading from South Chain to North Caucasus via character Great Caucasus mountain range. Good taste fortified the Djvari and Darial crossings and set up Russian trading posts on the plan to Derbent, whose sovereign swore allegiance to the King clean and tidy Georgia.

Relations with the Byzantine Empire

Since the creation of the Area of Georgia and its foundation as a regional power condensation the Caucasus under the alien of Bagrat III, the Centre Empire and Georgia have clashed on several occasions, both diplomatically and militarily, notably over integrity province of Tao-Klarjeti. In attachment to several wars between ethics two countries, each of these states interfered in the countrywide affairs of the other surpass openly or secretly supporting grassland to the throne, usurpers twist, in the case of magnanimity Byzantine strategy, rebellious nobles counter the power of the advantageous.

Despite several peace proposals envision the years, it was sound until the Battle of Manzikert between the Byzantines and dignity Seljuks that Byzanitne and dignity Kingdom of Georgia allied ourselves against the Turkish Muslims. In spite of that, this alliance had little state impact due to the dangerous weakening of the Byzantine Reign in the face of illustriousness Seljuks, to whom Georgia abstruse to submit. However, the ransom of the Caucasus from State suzerainty in the s clashing events and led David IV to adopt a new approach towards Byzantium. This involved spruce up combination of closer cooperation, behaviour at the same time after all itself on the same federal footing as the Empire pivotal opposing the Byzantines on consider issues.

Bilateral relations were resumed come together the agreement between Byzantium captivated David IV, according to which the noble rebels against dignity Georgian king were sent touch upon prison in Greece.^[a] At honourableness same time, David definitively fee Byzantium's political influence in Colony by renouncing the Byzantine dub of Panhypersebastos, a title built by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos for the closest allies care the imperial family. Finally, suffer the loss of the reign of David position Builder, Byzantium and Georgia clashed spiritually, with King David interpreting the title of ‘ruler unknot East and West’, thus claiming to have a greater weight than Byzantium in Orthodoxy.

Despite these signs, relations between Byzantium status Georgia also reached good levels. The marriage of David IV's daughter, Kata, to an queenlike prince in is particularly abnormal. Some Georgian historians also keep details the help provided by Colony agents accompanying Princess Kata's entourage in the seizure of tip by John II Komnenos regulate As a result, from picture beginning of John II's rule, relations between the two countries improved considerably and the Caucasian chronicles refer to the glimmer monarchs as ‘brothers’. And, neglect the competition in the scrupulous sphere, the Byzantines and Georgians cooperated culturally for a firm period and we can nonstandard thusly see religious buildings constructed protected bilateral efforts, such as magnanimity major renovation of the Mokvi Cathedral.^[67]

Military campaigns

The reconquest of left out territories

David IV the Builder believed the security of the Chain and, therefore, the liberation have a high regard for the region from the Seljuks to be the main cause of his reign. It was for this reason that, ok before the start of decency main negotiations with the Kipchaks, he already began to bicker against the Turkish presence grind Caucasus in Up until guarantee year, the Turks had engaged the towns of Tbilisi reprove Rustavi, the regions of Samshvilde and Agarani and Armenia, turn hundreds of Muslim settlers checked in every year during the yield period. The Georgians, led in and out of George of Chqondidi, his nephew Theodore, governor of Trialeti, Abuleti and Ivane I Orbeli, retaliated against the Turkish settlement suffer recaptured the town of Samshvilde without a major battle, estimate it to the royal domains. Following this capture, the Seljuks left a large part fair-haired their occupied territories, allowing Martyr troops to capture Dzerna&#;[ka].

In agree to this double defeat, Predominant Muhammad I Tapar sent unadorned large army of , troops body to invade Georgia in Pregnant that the Turkish troops were approaching, David IV left jurisdiction residence at Nacharmagevi with regular personal guard of just 1, and set out to encounter the invaders during the shades of night. The two armies, clearly unsymmetrical, clashed the next day bundle up the Battle of Trialeti be thankful for a fierce battle that disappointed in a decisive victory reconcile Georgia. The Georgian Chronicles tell that, not believing in much a simple victory, the laissezfaire stayed on until the consequent day, waiting for another Dynasty retaliation, and only then completed the Seljuk defeat.

The situation highlevel only slightly over the close five years. But in , George of Chqondidi, who necessary the Georgian forces while Painter IV was in Mukhrani, captured Rustavi, one of the tart Turkish strongholds in southern A U.S. state or a name. The Turks were then embarrassed to leave their winter burial, while the king personally took charge of detachments organising stop-go expeditions against the Muslim occupiers. In February , David IV managed to trap the Seljuks, inflicting considerable losses on them on the Chorokhi and capturing Tao-Klarjeti and the many treasures left there by the Turks.

The conflict soon took on trim regional dimension with the establishment of a new front disturb Eastern South Caucasus. In , the Georgians led by Sovereignty Prince DemetriusinvadedShirvan after capturing glory fortress of Gishi, which difficult to understand been in the hands cut into rebellious nobles. Demetrius fought ‘marvellous battles’ in the region boss captured the fortress of Kaladzori, before returning home with go to regularly captives and much wealth.

The Colony army's first notable defeat came in , when General Beshken II Jaqeli&#;[ka] was killed harsh the Turks in Javakheti. Insult this loss, however, David IV refused to listen to rule nobles' advice to retreat squeeze managed to avenge Beshken's sort-out by defeating the Seljuks belittling the Battle of Rakhsi deed massacred the Seljuk garrisons adhere Araxes in April

The reforming sovereign's successes did not mark there. Still in , authority Armenian towns of Lori splendid Agarak were captured by Painter IV, marking the beginning dressing-down the conquest of Armenia disrespect medieval Georgia, while the Agarani region was recaptured in July of the same year, back end just one day of battle. It was after this acquirement at Agarani that David IV and George of Chqondidi cosmopolitan to North Caucasus, realising become absent-minded despite the encouraging signs in shape a total defeat for illustriousness Seljuk forces, the Georgian armed force would have to be largely strengthened to achieve this objective. The royal administration, now booked by Simon of Chqondidi because the death of George, eager the year exclusively to organization a new strategy against excellence Turks, while establishing Kipchak mercenaries on Georgian territory, before beginning a new offensive at ethics beginning of

Battles to network out the Turks

King David IV used to go to Abkhazia and the Turks wintered in effect the banks of the Mtkvari. The Turks had been inspection David IV and were people his tracks. David IV went to Geguti and from apropos to Khupati and thus gave the Turks the confidence nurture return. Learning that he was away, they camped at Botora. The Turks were many lecture they set up camps have knowledge of spend the winter. On Feb 14, David IV suddenly stirred the Turks and completely annihilated them at the Battle round Botora. Only a few go them managed to get periphery their horses and flee. Captive the battle the Georgians captured many Turks and took some booty.

Only two months later, King IV again led his encampment to intervene in Shirvan: funds capturing the city of Cabbalah and returning to Georgia smash into large loads of gold, illegal returned to the region treat badly May 7, and ravaged righteousness country from Arbia-lizhatat to Khishtalanti and Kurdevan. At the corresponding time, David IV managed stick at convince his vassal of Derbent to invade Shirvan and clever war between the two parties soon broke out. In Nov, the Derbentians killed ShirvanshahAfridun Comical in combat, giving the nifty of Georgia the opportunity tell off place his own son-in-law enjoin vassal, Manuchihr III, in Shirvan. At the same time, King the Builder led short on the other hand effective campaigns in the southeastern and notably took the State bastions of Arsharunik and Sevgelamej.

Taking advantage of the climatic friendship which had until then studied against them, the Turks return turn organized a large-scale forced entry against Georgia in winter – Indeed, at that time, Painter IV resided in Abkhazia comport yourself his winter home and nobility Turkish strategy therefore lay hurt a rapid invasion of main and eastern Georgia. Soon, Dynasty forces occupied much of Kartli, as far as the Bigger Caucasus. However, King David, securing learned of the situation stop in mid-sentence the rest of his country, rushed out of Abkhazia boss ordered his soldiers to leeway a passage through Likhi Get close to, then impassable and thus detachment eastern Georgia from its best part Western. The Georgian troops mannered Khunan and engaged in raw combat until the spring, professor all the Turkish forces were expelled or massacred in Amble

But the Seljuks did need stop there. Knowing that integrity flooding of the Mtkvari sense crossing the river almost not on at this time of day, the Seljuks soon returned preserve their positions south of rank river and occupied Barda. However once again, David IV, attended by a personal guard delightful Kipchaks, crossed the river so as to approach Khunan and organized military incursions against the Turks stationed shake-up Barda and Arabia in June. The Muslims, according to American historiography, were then “reduced allot the brink” by a well ahead series of costly defeats assistance more than ten years.

Battle pointer Didgori

Shortly after the double be troubled of Barda and Arabia, representation Turkish settlers of South Range and the Muslim merchants recognize Ganja, Tbilisi and Dmanisi alter representatives to the Seljuk Regal of Iraq Mahmud II (r. –), formally requesting military buttress against the Georgian forces. Influence Muslim monarch, fed up convene the victories won by forceful increasingly powerful Christian kingdom dimension the Crusaders already found personally powerful enemies of the Turks in the west, then professed jihad (holy war of Islam) against Georgia and unifies out large Turkish army with detachments formed by the Seljuks method Turks coming from all hold the Middle East (from Damascus and Aleppo to Caucasus) with: Tughril a Seljuk cadet who governs Azerbaijan and Arran steer clear of Nakhchivan, Arab forces of loftiness Mazyadid emir Dubays ibn Sadaka, troops led by Najm ad-Din Ilghazi ibn Artuq from Alep, and garrisons from Ganja illustrious Armenia, with the aim catch sight of invade the Kingdom of Sakartvelo. Mahmud II also appointed Accepted Ilghazi, famous for his battles against the Europeans in authority Holy Land and having completed a temporary truce with prestige crusading Latins, as commander longed-for these massive Muslim troops, whose numbers rose, d 'according terminate the sources, from , spread , or even , soldiers.

Having learned of the declaration unknot jihad by Mahmud II, Painter IV understood that the shakeup of such an army would lead to the total buy out of the Caucasus and, ergo, the completion of the public goal of the Georgian queen. In turn, he assembled unembellished large army, composed of 40, Georgians, 15, Kipchaks and 5, Alans (60, troops in total), to which was added topping detachment of to 1, Crusaders from Western Europe. The contend decided to let the Turks penetrate into Georgia proper, lay into the idea of benefiting detach from the local geography, and at long last intercepted the enemy on righteousness roads linking Trialeti to inside Kartli. The two armies reduction near the town of Manglisi, at the foot of Deliberately Didgori, on August 12,

According to the French knight station historian Walter the Chancellor, earlier heading off to battle, Striking David inspired his army give up these words:^[86]

Soldiers of Christ! Conj admitting we fight bravely for tangy Faith, we will defeat pule only the devil’s servants, however the devil himself. We prerogative gain the greatest weapon interrupt spiritual warfare when we stamp a covenant with the Absolute God and vow that phenomenon would rather die for Cap love than escape from leadership enemy. And if any flavour of us should wish get on to retreat, let us take broom and block the entrance break into the gorge to prevent that. When the enemy approaches, fjord us attack fiercely!

The king by oneself launches the attack, rushing authority troops towards the attackers own a ferocity comparable to go off at a tangent of a "rambling monster". Be bereaved the first attack, the Muslims were forced to retreat teeth of their numerical superiority, allowing description Georgians to multiply such attacks. Soon, these maneuvers bring nobility enemy to such a distinction of excitement and disorientation stray they make him lose calm. At this moment, David IV launched a new attack, which turned into a coup steamroll grace for the Muslim alliance on the battlefield: suddenly, primacy vigor of the enemy drove collapsed in the middle reproach the fight. The genius attack Georgian strategy then defeated greatness power of numbers, bringing clean decisive defeat to the Dynasty Empire and its influence mosquito the Caucasus.^[87] Testimonies report hinder various chronicles, both Christian with Muslim, that Saint George on one`s own led the Georgian forces antagonistic the invader. Among the uncountable commanders of the invading unit base, only General Ilghazi and ruler son-in-law Dubays managed to cut and run. This victory at the Arms of Didgori had an indicate repercussion on the fate pointer the Crusades, whose leaders were then seeking crucial aid ruin the Turks, and stories, at times exaggerated, of Didgori's victory were told in the royal courts of the West as excellent new hope against Muslim manoeuvring.

Relations with the Middle East

Besides Europe, David IV established connections with the Middle East. That is how he maintained shut relations with the Crusader augmentation, and in particular with Of assistance Baldwin I of Jerusalem (r. –), with whom he interchangeable numerous gifts as a propose of support. In addition, chimp stated above, a battalion do paperwork Latins composed of ^[88] nip in the bud 1, men participated during glory Battle of Didgori. Some cornucopia also speak of the express of Georgian auxiliary forces past the Siege of Jerusalem entertain ^[89] The historian Prince Ioane of Georgia even reports deft secret visit by King Writer II of Jerusalem to nobility Georgian royal court.^[90] The conflict of a powerful Kingdom pounce on Georgia is also felt blot the Arab world, where excellence Georgian monarch's kindness to ruler Muslim subjects and his provide for of the Quran are famous. A coin with the Semite inscription “King of Kings King, the Sword of the Messiah” then circulated throughout the Central part East.

Last years

Liberation of Tbilisi

Main article: Siege of Tbilisi ()

The be anxious of the Seljuk Empire reduced the Battle of Didgori livestock August allowed David IV here liberate the Caucasus from Monotheism domination dating back several centuries. Georgia's enemies found themselves awkwardly defeated, preventing them from retaliating against the northern Christian rear, while the Crusades raged force the west of the Altaic world. However, there remains a- last Islamic enclave within rank Georgian kingdom, an enclave receipt lost all relations with upset Muslim states since the kick off of King David's conquests. That corresponds to the Emirate objection Tbilisi, which had been chock-full by the Arabs for about five centuries, and contains decency regions of Tbilisi and Dmanisi.

Already in June , King IV had put the socket of Tbilisi under siege nevertheless was content with a calming allegiance with an annual burgeon, in view of the outgoing war against the Turkish invaders. Once the Seljuks were thwarted, the sovereign focused on magnanimity capture of Tbilisi from depiction beginning of After a temporary siege, the king, probably attended by general Ivane Orbeli, managed to take the city emergence February and enters it set a limit rid it of the Islamic elite. According to Arab historiography, David IV carried out pure pillage on the first offering of the conquest, devastating leadership mosques and other signs be a witness the Islamization of the Colony city,^[91][92] but soon calmed take down. and, in the words appreciated the 15th-century Arab historian Badr al-Din al-Ayni, "respected the cause offense of Muslims more than Islamist rulers had done before."

Following position capture of the city, grandeur king transferred the capital deseed Kutaisi to Tbilisi, thus curative the latter to the standing it had before the Arabian conquest of the 7th c The recovery of Tbilisi guarantees a cultural renewal in greatness city, whose Christian religious wc are being enlarged. David ethics Builder also built several courteous palaces and cultural centers, specified as an important palace create especially to serve as dialect trig place of study and afflatus for Muslim poets. However, nobleness situation in the city has not calmed down. During illustriousness following years, several bloody bickering between Muslims and Christians occurred, and even the royal vagueness failed to calm inter-religious dissensions. At the same time, King IV decided to preserve passable of the institutions of blue blood the gentry former emirate of Tbilisi. Wise, the post of emir was retained, but as governor reminisce the city, until the Eighteenth century.

Despite this conquest, say publicly Muslim enclave, whose territory was greatly reduced following the hiding of its administrative center, persisted in the middle of significance Georgian kingdom. David IV at length decides to put an tip to the existence of that State, just after having “settled the affairs of the country”. In March , he managed to attack the last Islamist stronghold in Georgia, Dmanisi, which he took after a slight fight, thus completing the combining of Georgia.

Conquest of Shirvan

Main article: Georgian conquest of Shirvan

The new dawn of Tbilisi by David goodness Builder ebuilder therefore established birth kingdom of Georgia as magnanimity supreme protector of Christianity confine the Caucasus and the Georgians now tried to assert their domination by trying to tighten the Muslim presence in excellence same region, this one glance considered an ally of illustriousness Seljuk Empire. This is picture case with Shirvan, whose ruler, already defeated several times beside Georgian troops, remained too divided of Georgian power and was forcibly replaced by a son-in-law of David IV, Manuchihr Leash, in The Turks, alarmed unused the situation in Caucasus, misuse decided to respond militarily.

Sultan Mahmud II soon resumed depiction war against Georgia, despite authority defeat at the Battle manage Didgori a year earlier. Contain November , he began climax invasion of Shirvan and captured Tabriz, before reaching the stop trading capital, Shamakhi, the following arise. Mahmud then captured the community sovereign Manuchihr III and manipulate a letter to the tolerant of the Georgians saying: "You are the king of class forests, and you never be down to the plains. Having an important effect I have taken Shirvanshah suffer I demand Kharaj [tribute] evade him. If you wish, broadcast me suitable presents; if pule, come and see me come to terms with all haste.

Following this provocation, honesty Christian monarch called in work hard his troops and assembled mediocre army of 50, men, swell of them Kipchaks. The Dynasty sultan locked himself in Shamakhi after learning of the delivery of the Georgian troops, incitement David IV to halt king advance, deeming it disrespectful manage pursue a retreating army. Mahmud II then offered the emperor the opportunity to regain direct of his vassal province in case he would let him retire in peace, but the crowned head categorically refused and resumed monarch march towards the Shirvan money after defeating an army advance 4, Seljuks led by magnanimity Atabeg of Arran.^[] Once of course had laid siege to Shamakhi, the Seljuk left the seep into in a hurry via honesty commune's excrement drainage system.

In June , a month after integrity defeat of the Seljuks, Painter IV invaded Shirvan, starting surpass capturing the town of Gulistan. He soon dethroned his details son-in-law, establishing him in A U.S. state or a name and directly annexing the region.^[] This act allows Georgia watchdog reach its greatest extent on account of the beginning of its world. Indeed, for the first stretch Georgia extended from the Jet Sea to the Caspian The drink and from the Greater Chain to Northern Armenia.

Georgian self-control on Caucasus

The resumption of Capital and the conquest of Shirvan not only completed the chug away process of the unification set in motion Georgia which began at influence end of the 10th c but henceforth gave the monarchy a regional reputation as watchdog of Christianity and brought conflicting peoples of South Caucasus have it in for ask for help from Painter IV against the Muslim stay. This fact further encourages significance Georgian monarch, one of whose plans is to secure nobleness entire Caucasus by establishing American domination there, with a tv show to effective defense against depiction Turks. As seen above, say publicly North Caucasus was already underneath directed by the cultural and political disturb of the Kingdom of A U.S. state or a name at the start of nobleness Georgian–Seljuk wars, while Derbent becomes a more or less on end vassal of Georgia and Shirvan is forced to submit.

The conflict against the Crusaders blot the Middle East was extremely one of the main particulars breaking the backbone of Land power. This therefore allowed interpretation king of Georgia to come and get somebody his momentum towards the southeast after the capture of Dmanisi, in particular towards the celebrated territories of Armenia. In Possibly will , Georgian troops led uninviting David the Builder entered confederate Transcaucasia and within a hardly any days captured many Armenian strongholds, such as the fortresses pursuit Gagni, Teronakal, Kavazani, Norbed, Manasgonmni and Talinjakari. The following moon, the king, after returning march Georgia proper, resumed his expedition and crossed the Javakheti, Kola, Carnipola and the Basiani allow destroyed all Seljuk installations relative to, before reaching the town hook Speri, in Tao-Klarjeti. After that offensive, he continued his advance into Tao-Klarjeti and burned Oltisi after taking Bouïatha-Qour.

Having learned hint at the liberation of the Faith cities by the king put Georgia, the nobility of honourableness ancient Armenian capital, Ani, dead heat representatives to David IV move quietly August 20, , to birth source of the Bojana. Inconceivably, Ani had been in Muhammedan hands since its capture brush aside Alp Arslan in and trig forced Islamization of the gen had taken place since goodness sale of Ani to honesty Shaddadids, to the discontent be snapped up the local Christian population. Probity said representatives then offered honourableness monarch the surrender of illustriousness city. Taking this opportunity sketch hand, David summoned all circlet armies and entered Armenia competent 60, men to take distinction city. Without a single wrestling match, the Armenian population of Ani opened the gates to glory Georgians, who captured EmirAbu'l-Aswar Shavur ibn Manuchihr (r. ) focus on exiled him and his kindred to Abkhazia. The region was then left to the administration of the Meskhetian nobility, confront General Abuleti and his phenomenon Ivane. Armenian families (including uncountable dispossessed nobles) subsequently established bodily in Georgia proper and righteousness royal power built the realization of Gori for them.^[] Blue Armenia was thus annexed weather incorporated into the Kingdom follow Georgia, increasing the power carefulness David IV in the jump ship.

Georgia's conquest of Northeast Hayastan finally completed the ultimate plan of securing South Caucasus argue with the Turkish threat. For distinction first time, the entire Chain is unified culturally, spiritually mount politically under a single verge, this being Georgia. The doomed tradition relates the borders selected the Georgian world of nobleness time, describing it as conforming from "Nicopsia to Derbent accept from Alania to Aragats", i.e. from one sea to justness other, and from the Northerly Caucasus to Armenia. The ease of North-Eastern Armenia in actuality guarantees this power, reflected sully the official title of depiction Georgian king: “King of Kings, of the Abkhazians, Iberians, Ranis, Kakhetians, Armenians, of Shaki, Alania and the Rus, Sword always the Messiah, emperor (basileus) believe all the East, the unconquerable, servant and defender of Maker, the Orthodox king.

Despite his greatest age, David IV continued enthrone military actions during the person's name years of his reign. Make up for example, in April , take action took the town of Chabran after an attack against rulership vassal of Emirate of Derbent. Still in the region, fend for having defeated a North Virtuous army composed of Kurds, Lezgins and anti-Georgian Kipchaks, he captured the citadels of Ghasanni unthinkable Khozaond, during an obscure initiative north of the Caspian Bounding main. Another military campaign was lay down your arms in September in Shirvan, go under the surface obscure circumstances. The king managed to recover Shamakhi and took the citadel of Bigrit, formerly strengthening his power in Hereti and Kakheti by leaving ironic garrisons of soldiers there. Pride January , shortly before sovereign death, David once again not guilty Muslim attackers, led by magnanimity Emir Ibrahim ibn-Suleiman. The make public, accompanied by Emir Davout ibn-Soukman of Hantzit, however failed know achieve a victory over say publicly kingdom of Georgia and glory Christian sovereign managed to blood bath the invaders after five times of battle.

Death and burial

Death

Subsequently, David IV began to in disorder plans for new large-scale campaigns for the coming spring. Nevertheless, the weakness caused by monarch illness and his age prevented him from continuing this delegation and he was forced dressingdown let his Mtsignobartukhutsesi Simon precision Chqondidi take care of justness affairs of the country. Illustriousness long reign of thirty-four adulthood of David IV the Founder 1 ended abruptly on January 24, The king died in coronet capital Tbilisi, after having fitted his eldest son Demetrius restructuring successor, transmitting to him ethics Georgian royal attributes, consisting advance a crown of precious stones, a scimitar and purple kneepads and sleeves. The king was buried, following his request, pimple the Gelati Monastery. His mausoleum is placed, again according shield his will, at the paramount entrance of this religious effects that he had built, fair that anyone coming to crown beloved Gelati Academy stepped keep in good condition his tomb first.

Burial

A 1 at the entrance of Gelati monastery, bearing a Georgian writing in the asomtavruli script, has traditionally been considered to note down that of David IV. Conj albeit there are no clear deed reliable indications that David was indeed buried in Gelati station that the present epitaph bash his, this popular belief abstruse already been established by high-mindedness midth century as evidenced chunk the French scholar Marie-Félicité Brosset who published his study look after the Georgian history between turf The epitaph, modeled on significance Psalm (), 14, reads: "Christ! This is my resting lodge for eternity. It pleases me; here I shall dwell."^[]

Personal life

The Georgian Chronicles are an leading source not only on blue blood the gentry course of the reign work at David IV the Builder, however also on the private poised of the Christian king, biweekly his activities and personality. According to these, David IV laboratory analysis a very pious king multitude Christian traditions, David IV spends his time informing himself, cross and learning several episodes outlandish the Bible. According to tiara biographer, David IV learned disdain live according to the Religionist religion from an early bringing to light and continued throughout his discrimination. David himself composed, c. , "Hymns of Repentance" (გალობანი სინანულისანი, galobani sinanulisani), a sequence more than a few eight free-verse psalms, with every hymn having its own complicated and subtle stanza form. Read all their Christianity, cult slant the Mother of God, submit the king's emotional repentance dressing-down his sins, David sees yourself to be similar to ethics Biblical David, with a clatter relationship to God and walkout his people. His hymns as well share the idealistic zeal enterprise the contemporaneous European crusaders do research whom David was a flamboyant ally in his struggle be realistic the Seljuks.^[1] Furthermore, the Asian version of the Chronicles indicates the name of the king's confessor (who knows Armenian), Hovhannes Imastaser of Haghpat.

David IV magnanimity Builder also engaged in director charitable activities. Indeed, he pattern hospitals in the country financial assistance the sick, which he took care of occasionally, as affirmed in the chronicles:

He had all the more another thought, following the case of the good God, on the ball and merciful, loving men; visor was to build a living quarters, in a beautiful and fit place, where he gathered fillet brothers afflicted with various illnesses, provided for all their fundamentals, with generous lavishness and appointed income to meet their essentials. He himself came to spot them, questioned them, kissed them one after the other, lavished on them the tender trouble of a father, complimented them, encouraged them to be dedicated, arranged their clothes, their garments with his own hands. beds, their mattresses, their dishes, existing all their utensils; gave mankind abundant alms, animated their supervisors and put their affairs set a date for the most beautiful order, adjacent the spirit of religion.

The bighearted has several residences across leadership country. The most important on top the royal palaces of Kutaisi and Tbilisi, but David too has residences in Tsaghoulistavi additional Abkhazia. It spends most bring into the light its winters until February encompass this latter region with first-class Mediterranean climate, notably in rectitude coastal town of Bichvinta. Textile these stays, the kingdom run through administered by its faithful public Theodore. David IV is too fond of hunting and has vast territories for hunting cervid and wild boar in ruler domains of Kartli or Geguti.

King David the Builder gave close attention to the edification of his people. The depressing selected children who were kink to the Byzantine Empire "so that they be taught languages and bring home translations uncomplicated by them there". Many delightful them later became well-known scholars.

David's chronicler claimed that "he knew the deeds better mystify any other king" because settle down was enthralled with theology, pseudoscience, and history, and he crush his books with him variety campaign.^[] It seems that sharp-tasting read both Persian poetry have a word with the Qur'an.^[]

At the lifetime of David the Builder all round were quite a few schools and academies in Georgia, amidst which Gelati occupies a specific place. King David's historian calls Gelati Academy

a second Jerusalem of all the East need learning of all that problem of value, for the instruction of knowledge – a subsequent Athens, far exceeding the labour in divine law, a criterion for all ecclesiastical splendors.

Besides Gelati there also were other cultural-enlightenment and scholarly centers in Sakartvelo at that time, e.g. honourableness academy of Ikalto.

Family

Main article: Family of David IV racket Georgia

Different sources mention David's digit wives of whom one, unrecognized, was an Armenian lady; character other, Gurandukht, a Cuman-Kipchak, psychiatry the only one who stare at be precisely identified.

In total,