Demetrius I of Georgia

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox royalty Template:Infobox saintDemetrius I (Template:Lang-ka) (Template:Circa 1093 – 1156), from the Bagrationi dynasty, was the King (mepe) of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1125 to 1154 and again from 1155 until his death in 1156. He is also known as a poet. He is regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church, and his feast day is celebrated on May 23 in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar.<ref>Template:In lang Ὁ Ὅσιος Δαμιανὸς ἐκ Γεωργίας. 23 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref>

Early lifeEdit

Demetrius was born in 1093, the eldest son of King David IV of Georgia by his first wife, Rusudan,Template:Sfn an Armenian woman.Template:Sfn Around 1107, David IV divorced Queen Rusudan in order to cement his alliance with the Kipchaks. He then married Gurandukht, the daughter of the Kipchak chieftain Otrok.Template:Sfn

In 1117, King David sent Demetrius on a punitive expedition to Shirvan,Template:Sfn where the young commander quickly earned a reputation for his remarkable military prowess. His forces captured Kaladzori Castle (later known as Alberd, now Agdash<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>) and returned home with captives and significant wealth, cementing Demetrius's growing fame.Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The following year, Gurandukht gave birth to a son, Vakhtang, which threatened Demetrius' position as the heir to the throne.

On August 12, 1121, during the Battle of Didgori against the Seljuk Empire, King David IV divided the Georgian army into two, with his son Demetrius leading a hidden reserve. The Georgians feigned defection, causing confusion in the enemy camp. As their leadership faltered, Demetrius launched a flanking attack, breaking the Seljuk forces. This, combined with the main assault, led to their disarray and retreat. Demetrius pursued the enemy for three days, securing a decisive victory that expanded Georgia's influence in the region.Template:Sfn

In 1125,Template:Sfn According to the Life of King Demetre, David IV proclaimed his son co-ruler of Georgia and crowned him with his own hands. He declared that his son Demetrius, through his wisdom, chastity, bravery, and handsome appearance, would rule Georgia successfully.Template:Sfn

ReignEdit

Already in 1125, he had to expel the Seljuks from the fortress of Dmanisi, which controlled one of the accesses to Tbilisi from the south.Template:Sfn

In 1125 Manuchihr, who was Demetrius' brother-in-law, regained control of western Shirvan. And in 1126, the Muslim population of Shirvan rebelled with the support of the Seljuks. In 1129-30, Demetrius reached a compromise with the support of his sister, Shirvan was again divided into two parts, the Christian part was incorporated into Georgia and the border being the Tetritsqali, while Manuchihr was appointed as the emir of eastern Shirvan and recognized Georgia's vassalage.Template:Sfn

In 1130, the ruler of the Shah-Armens launched an attempt to oust Georgians from northern and central Armenia. Demetrius had to come to terms and give up Ani to the Shaddadids on terms of vassalage. They agreed that the Cathedral of Ani should have remained a Christian site and Georgia could intervene to protect the Christians. However, a stand-off continued for two decades.Template:Sfn

In 1130, his half-brother Vakhtang rebelled against the king. He was supported by great feudal lord Ivane Abuletisdze, tried to overthrow Demetrius from the throne but the king captured and punished the conspirators and Vakhtang was captured, blinded and cast in prison where he apparently died shortly afterwards.<ref>Lordkipanidze, Mariam (1987), Georgia in the XI-XII Centuries, p. 129. Tbilisi: Ganatleba</ref><ref>Template:In lang Melikishvili, Giorgi & Anchabadze, Zurab (ed., 1979), საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, ტ. 3: საქართველო XI–XV საუკუნეებში (Studies in the History of Georgia, vol. 3: Georgia in the 11th–15th centuries). Tbilisi: Sabchota Sakartvelo</ref>

In 1139, Demetrius raided the city of Ganja in Arran. He brought the iron gate of the defeated city to Georgia and donated it to Gelati Monastery at Kutaisi. Despite this brilliant victory, Demetrius could hold Ganja only for a few years.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In reply to this, the sultan of the Eldiguzids attacked Ganja several times, and in 1143 the town again fell to the sultan. According to Mkhitar Gosh, Demetrius ultimately gained possession of Ganja, but, when he gave his daughter in marriage to the sultan, he presented the latter with the town as dowry, and the sultan appointed his own emir to rule it.Template:Sfn

Fadl's successor, Fakr al-Din Shaddad, a Shaddadid emir of Ani asked for Saltuk's daughter's hand, however Saltuk refused him. This caused a deep hatred in Shaddad towards Saltuk. In 1154 he planned a plot and formed a secret alliance with Demetrius. While a Georgian army waited in ambush, he offered tribute to Saltukids, ruler of Erzerum and asked the latter to accept him as a vassal. In 1153–1154, Emir Saltuk II marched on Ani, but Shaddad informed Demetrius of this. Demetrius marched to Ani, defeated and captured the emir. At the request of neighbouring Muslim rulers and released him for a ransom of 100,000 dinars, paid by Saltuk's sons in law and Saltuk swore not to fight against the Georgians.<ref name="YS">Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim: Türkiye tarihi Cilt I, AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991, p. 149–150.</ref>

In 1154, Demetrius gave his last daughter, whose name is unknown, in marriage to Iziaslav II of Kiev. Iziaslav died shortly afterwards and no political alliance emerged between the Kingdom of Georgia and Kievan Rus'.Template:Sfn

In the 1140s, Georgian nobles sensed an opportunity when it became apparent that Demetrius had disinherited his eldest son David in favour of the younger, George. Those who had supported Demetrius' younger brother, Prince Vakhtang, now opposed Demetrius' unprecedented disinheritance of Prince David.Template:Sfn A first coup attempt failed in 1150, but in 1154 David's coup against his father succeeded, Demetrius was banished to a monastery and became a monk, receiving the monastic name Damian (Damianus), while his rebellious son ascended the throne as David V.Template:Sfn

However, Davit V died suddenly six months after becoming king.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to Vardan Areveltsi, David was poisoned by Sumbat I and Ivane II Orbeli, who Orbelis with Prince George, or Demetrius, or both had made an agreement that would appoint them as Amirspasalars.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn According to precedence and law, after David V's death, his young son, Prince Demna should have inherited the throne. But Demetrius was restored to the throne, and he crowned his younger son, George, as co-ruler and retired to David Gareja monastery. Others allege that Demetrius had also died, and that George then seized the throne illicitly.Template:Sfn He died in 1156 and was buried at Gelati Monastery.

Marriage and childrenEdit

Demetrius's wife is unknown, but he had several children:

David V (1113 — 1155), King of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1154 until his death in 1155.
George III of Georgia (died 27 March 1184), King of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1156 until his death in 1184.
Rusudan, married firstly with Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud in 1143 and secondly with Sultan Ahmad Sanjar, married thirdly with Sultan Suleiman.
An unnamed daughter who married Emir Abu al-Muzaffar of Derbent in Template:Circa 1130.<ref name="Rayfield">Template:Cite book</ref>
An unnamed daughter, who married Prince Iziaslav II of Kiev in 1154;<ref name="Rayfield"/>

PoemsEdit

King Demetrius I was an author of several poems, mainly on religious themes. Shen Khar Venakhi (Template:Lang-ka, Template:Langx), a hymn to the Virgin Mary, is the most famous of them.