George VII of Imereti
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George VII (Georgian: გიორგი VII; alternatively known as George VI) (died February 22, 1720), of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was King of Imereti (western Georgia) in the periods of 1707-11, 1712-13, 1713-16, and 1719–1720.
An illegitimate son of Alexander IV of Imereti, he was declared, with the approval of the Ottoman government, a rightful king of Imereti by the loyal party of nobles in 1702, though it was not until 1707 that he was able to wrest the crown from the usurper Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze (George VI). In October 1711, a noble revolt deposed him in favor of Mamia III Gurieli who forced George to retire to Kartli, eastern Georgia. Later, with the support of the Turkish pasha of Akhaltsikhe, he defeated Mamia at the Battle of Chkhara in June 1712. Deposed again in November 1713, George resumed the throne upon Mamia’s death in January 1714, only to be forced, in 1716, by the rebellious nobles led by Prince Bejan Dadiani into exile to Istanbul. George succeeded in garnering the Ottoman support, and regained the crown in 1719. Yet, his reign proved to be short-lived; in February 1720, he was assassinated by the plotters led by Prince Simon Abashidze.
[edit] References
- (Russian) Вахушти Багратиони (Vakhushti Bagrationi) (1745). История Царства Грузинского: Жизнь Имерети.
- David Marshall Lang, The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy, 1658-1832. New York: Columbia University Press, 1957.
| Preceded by George VI |
King of Imereti 1707-11 |
Succeeded by Mamia |
| Preceded by Mamia |
King of Imereti 1712-13 |
Succeeded by Mamia |
| Preceded by Mamia |
King of Imereti 1713-16 |
Succeeded by George VIII |
| Preceded by George VIII |
King of Imereti 1719–1720 |
Succeeded by George VIII |
