Gurgen I ( ka, გურგენ I) (died 891) was a Georgian prince of the

Bagrationi dynasty The Bagrationi dynasty (; ) is a royal family, royal dynasty which reigned in Georgia (country), Georgia from the Middle Ages until the early 19th century, being among the oldest extant Christianity, Christian ruling dynasties in the world. In ...

, he ascended to the throne of

Iberia The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, compri ...

during a dynastic crisis and assumed the title of ''

Kouropalates ''Kouropalatēs'', Latinized as ''curopalates'' or ''curopalata'' (, from " he one incharge of the palace"). and anglicized as curopalate, was a Byzantine court title, one of the highest from the time of Emperor Justinian I to the Komnenian p ...

''. Thanks to a series of diplomatic blunders, Gurgen managed to forge fleeting alliances with

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

and

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

, before becoming embroiled in a civil conflict between princes that ended in his death, thus putting an end to the

Principality of Iberia Principality of Iberia (Georgian language, Georgian: , ) was an Early Middle Ages, early medieval aristocratic regime in a core Georgia (country), Georgian region of Kartli, called Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity), Iberia by classical authors. It fl ...

Biography

Early years

The oldest son of Prince Adarnase I and his wife Bevreli, daughter of Bagrat I of Abkhazia. Gurgen was baptized by the prominent monk

Gregory of Khandzta Gregory of Khandzta ( ka, გრიგოლ ხანძთელი, ''Grigol Khandzteli''; 759 – 5 October 861) was a Georgian ecclesiastic figure and a founder and leader of numerous monastic communities in Tao-Klarjeti, a historical regi ...

. He inherited from his father the duchy of Upper Tao, including the residence of Kalmakhi.

The struggle for power

In 881, an event abruptly changed the history of

. With the help of Gurgen, Prince Nasra of Tao-Klarjeti murdered ''

David I of Iberia David I ( ka, დავით I) (died 881) was a Georgian Bagratid Prince and curopalates of Iberia/Kartli from 876 to 881. He was murdered by Nasra of Tao-Klarjeti, who self-proclaimed as his successor. David's death led to an inter-dynastic f ...

in a bid to seize power. However, the Georgian loyalist party, led by Liparit

Baghvashi The Liparitids ( ka, ლიპარიტები), also known as Baghuashi (ბაღჳაში), were a Georgian noble house ('' didebuli'') in medieval Georgia, with notable members from the 9th to 12th centuries. They were famed for their ...

and supported by the

Ashot I of Armenia Ashot I (; c. 820 – 890) was a king of Armenia who oversaw the beginning of Armenia's second golden age (862 – 977). He was the son of Smbat VIII the Confessor and was a member of the Bagratuni dynasty. Life Early life Ashot was born aroun ...

, revolted against Nasra to place David's son Adarnase on the throne. As a result of these complications, Nasra was forced to take refuge in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

, while Gurgen, who had remained in Georgia, was given the title of ''Kouropalates'' and confirmed on the throne by

due to Adarnase's minority. Gurgen, now prince of Iberia and ''Kouropalates'',

Toumanoff, Cyril Cyril Leo Toumanoff ( ka, კირილ თუმანოვი; ; 10 October 1913 – 4 February 1997) was a Georgian-American historian, and academic genealogist who mostly specialized in the history and genealogies of medieval Georgia, Armen ...

(1967). ''Studies in Christian Caucasian History'', pp. 490-3.

Georgetown University Press Georgetown University Press is a university press affiliated with Georgetown University that publishes about forty new books a year. The press's major subject areas include bioethics, international affairs, languages and linguistics, political s ...

. pursued a policy of national reunification. To this end, he allied himself with the Georgian loyalist party and

, which worsened his relations with the Byzantine Empire and the neighbouring

Kingdom of Abkhazia The Kingdom of Abkhazia ( ka, აფხაზთა სამეფო, tr; ) was a medieval feudal state in the Caucasus which was established in the 780s. Through dynastic succession, it was united in 1008 with the Kingdom of the Iberians, f ...

. In 885, Nasra, without support in Iberia but helped by the Byzantines, left Constantinople and headed for Abkhazia, where he was welcomed by his brother-in-law, King Bagrat I of Abkhazia. Bagrat provided the rebel with numerous auxiliaries and Nasra left to regain the throne in

Samtskhe Meskheti ( ka, მესხეთი ) or Samtskhe ( ka, სამცხე ), also known as Moschia in ancient sources, is a mountainous area in southwestern Georgia. History Ancient tribes known as the Mushki (or Moschi) and Mosiniks (or Mo ...

. The young Adarnase, who now claimed the throne and was allied with Gurgen, left to defend himself. The three men met in 888 and the loyalist troops, although outnumbered by the Abkhazians, managed to defeat the enemy and capture Nasra, who was executed at Aspindza.

New civil war and death

As a result of the division of Nasra’s inheritance, Gurgen might have added Shavsheti and

Artaani Ardahan Province (; ka, არტაანის რეგიონი, tr; is a province in the north-east of Turkey, bordering Georgia and Armenia. Its area is 4,934 km2, and its population is 92,481 (2022). The provincial capital is the c ...

to his possessions, for we hear from the 18th-century Georgian chronicler

Vakhushti Vakhushti ( ka, ვახუშტი; 1696 – 1757) was a Georgian royal prince ('' batonishvili''), geographer, historian and cartographer. His principal historical and geographic works, '' Description of the Kingdom of Georgia'' and the ''Ge ...

of Gurgen having moved his residence there.

(1967). ''Studies in Christian Caucasian History'', pp. 490-3.

. In the meantime Adarnase, not being a curopalate and having the example of his Armenian cousins before him, assumed the title of king. Over the years, relations between Adarnsse and Gurgen increased. The Georgian nobility was once again divided between loyalists and pro-Gurgen, while the influential prince

Bagrat I of Klarjeti Bagrat I ( ka, ბაგრატ I) (died 20 April 900) was a Georgian prince of the Bagratid dynasty of Tao-Klarjeti and the ruler of Klarjeti from 889 until his death. There is some confusion in dating Bagrat's death. According to the 11th-ce ...

, who was Gurgen's own nephew, strengthened the loyalist troops. In 891, a battle broke out between the two parties and Gurgen was defeated at Mglinavi. He was captured and died of his wounds some time later. According to his will, Gurgen was buried at the monastery of Opiza restored by him.Thomson, Robert W. (1996), ''Rewriting Caucasian History'', p. 264.

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

Family

Gurgen was probably married to a daughter of Smbat VIII Bagratuni (826–855), the ''

sparapet ' () was a military title and office in ancient and medieval Armenia. Under the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, the ' was the supreme commander of the kingdom's armed forces. During the Arsacid period and for some time afterwards, the office was held ...

'' of Armenia. He left two sons behind: * Adarnase III of Tao (died 896), ruler of Tao (891–896) * Ashot the Immature Thus being a founder of the Bagratid "first house of Tao" which would become extinct with his grandson Gurgen II.

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gurgen 01 Of Tao 891 deaths Grand dukes of Tao Kings of Bagratid Iberia 9th-century monarchs in Asia Year of birth unknown Kouropalatai Bagrationi dynasty of Tao