Ivane I Mkhargrdzeli
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Ivane I Zakarian (; ka, ივანე I მხარგრძელი, tr) was an
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
prince, and a
Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia The court officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, were in charge of the royal court. The chronological lists below are not exhaustive, since there exist large gaps in the historical record. Majordomo The majordomo (Georgian: msakhurtukhutsesi) w ...
holding the offices of ''
Msakhurtukhutsesi ''Msakhurtukhutsesi'' (; lit. the "''Master of Servants"'') was a majordomor of the royal court or master of the royal household in feudal Georgia. He served in charge of the palace and its finances. "Within his province was the supervision of th ...
'' (Majordomo) and ''
Atabeg Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic language, Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince. The first instance of the ti ...
'' (Governor General) for Queen
Tamar of Georgia Tamar the Great ( ka, თამარ მეფე, tr , ; 1160 – 18 January 1213) queen regnant, reigned as the List of monarchs of Georgia#Kings of unified Georgia (1008–1490), Queen of Kingdom of Georgia, Georgia from 1184 to 1213, ...
during the early 13th centuries. He was a prince of the
Zakarid dynasty The Zakarid dynasty, also Zakarids or Zakarians () were an Armenian noble dynasty, rulers of Zakarid Armenia (1201–1350) under the suzerainty of the Kingdom of Georgia, and from 1256 under the control of the Mongol Ilkhanate of Persia. Their dyn ...
, the son of
Sargis Zakarian Sargis Zakarian ( ka, სარგის მხარგრძელი, tr; ) was a founder of the Zakarid dynasty line. He was a Court officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the offices of ''Amirsp ...
, and the younger brother and successor of
Zakare II Zakarian Zakaria Mkhargrdzeli (, ), was a Georgian prince and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia holding the office of '' amirspasalar'' (Commander-in-Chief) of the Georgian army for Queen Tamar of Georgia, during the late 12th and early 13th cen ...
. He was also ruler of feudal lands in the
Kingdom of Georgia The Kingdom of Georgia (), also known as the Georgian Empire, was a Middle Ages, medieval Eurasian monarchy that was founded in Anno Domini, AD. It reached Georgian Golden Age, its Golden Age of political and economic strength during the reign ...
.


Biography

The brothers, Zakare and Ivane Zakarian, who were sons of Sargis, were the most successful representatives of the family, who were military commanders under Queen Tamar. Zakare and Ivane took Dvin in 1193 from the
Seljuk Seljuk (, ''Selcuk'') or Saljuq (, ''Saljūq'') may refer to: * Seljuk Empire (1051–1153), a medieval empire in the Middle East and central Asia * Seljuk dynasty (c. 950–1307), the ruling dynasty of the Seljuk Empire and subsequent polities * S ...
Eldiguzids The Ildegizids, EldiguzidsC.E. Bosworth, "Ildenizids or Eldiguzids", Encyclopaedia of Islam, Edited by P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs et al., Encyclopædia of Islam, 2nd Edition., 12 vols. with ind ...
. They also took Sevan,
Bjni Bjni (), is a village in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. It is situated in a valley between canyon walls and a small river. The village is one of the prominent centers of education and culture of ancient and medieval Armenia. It is the birthplac ...
, Amberd and Bargushat, and all the towns above the city of
Ani Ani (; ; ) is a ruined medieval Armenian city now situated in Turkey's province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia. Between 961 and 1045, it was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom that covered much of present-day Armen ...
, up to the bridge of Khodaafarin bridge. Around the year 1199, they took the city of Ani, and in 1201, Tamar gave Ani to them as a
principality A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...
. Eventually, their territories came to resemble those of Bagratid Armenia. Their achievements under Queen Tamar also facilitated the first large-scale migration of
Kurdish tribes Kurdish tribes are tribes of Kurds, Kurdish people, an ethnic group from the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan in West Asia, Western Asia. The tribes are socio-political and generally also a territorial unit based on descent and kinship, real or ...
to the Caucasus. Still, Ivane and Zakare encountered animosity in some quarters because of their religious affiliation to Armenian Monophysism, rather than the
Chalcedonian Chalcedonian Christianity is the branches of Christianity that accept and uphold theological resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council, held in AD 451. Chalcedonian Christianity accepts the Christological Definitio ...
faith of the Georgians. The younger brother, Ivane eventually converted, allowing the two brothers to adroitely bridge the religious spectrum in Georgia, Ivane commanding Georgian troops while Zakare commanded Armenian ones. Conflicts regarding devotional practices still erupted between the two armies, hampering coordinated operations, as in a military campaign 1204. A synod had to be convened at the highest level, and the Armenians agreed to harmonize some practices. In 1210, Ivane had challenged the powerful
Ayyubid dynasty The Ayyubid dynasty (), also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate, was the founding dynasty of the medieval Sultan of Egypt, Sultanate of Egypt established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate, Fatimid Caliphate of Egyp ...
, attacking the former beylik of the
Shah-Armens The Shah-ArmensClifford Edmund Bosworth "The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual". Article «The Shâh-i Armanids», p. 197. (lit. 'Kings of Armenia', ), also known as Ahlatshahs (lit. 'Rulers of Ahlat', ) or Begtimurids ...
whose realm extended around
Lake Van Lake Van (; ; ) is the largest lake in Turkey. It lies in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in the provinces of Van Province, Van and Bitlis Province, Bitlis, in the Armenian highlands. It is a Salt lake, saline Soda lake, soda lake, receiv ...
and which had been absorbed by the Ayyubids in 1207. The ruler of
Ahlat Ahlat (; ) is a town in Turkey's Bitlis Province in Eastern Anatolia Region. It is the seat of Ahlat District.Al-Awhad Ayyub Al-Malik al-Awhad Najm ad-Din Ayyub ibn al-Adil Abu Bakr ibn Najm ad-Din Ayyub (died 1210) was the third Ayyubid emir (prince) of the Diyar Bakr emirate, centered in Mayyafariqin, between 1200 and 1210 CE. He was the fourth eldest son of Sultan ...
, son of Sultan
Al-Adil I Al-Adil I (, in full al-Malik al-Adil Sayf ad-Din Abu-Bakr Ahmed ibn Najm ad-Din Ayyub, ,‎ "Ahmed, son of Najm ad-Din Ayyub, father of Bakr, the Just King, Sword of the Faith"; 1145 – 31 August 1218) was the fourth Sultan of Egypt and Syr ...
and nephew of Sultan
Saladin Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub ( – 4 March 1193), commonly known as Saladin, was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. Hailing from a Kurdish family, he was the first sultan of both Egypt and Syria. An important figure of the Third Crusade, h ...
. While the Georgian army besieged Ahlat, Ivane was captured, whereupon Ivane's brother, Zakare threatened to raze the city and put its population to the sword. Ivane was released only after the
Georgians Georgians, or Kartvelians (; ka, ქართველები, tr, ), are a nation and Peoples of the Caucasus, Caucasian ethnic group native to present-day Georgia (country), Georgia and surrounding areas historically associated with the Ge ...
agreed to the
Thirty Years' Truce The Thirty Years' Truce or Truce of Khlat was a truce agreed to by Queen Tamar of Georgia and Al-Adil I, an Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt in October, 1210. By 1208, the Kingdom of Georgia The Kingdom of Georgia (), also known as the Georgian Empi ...
on following terms: Georgia had to return the captured fortresses and captives, Georgians paid a ransom of 100,000 ''dinars'' and hand Ivane's daughter
Tamta Tamta Goduadze ( ka, თამთა გოდუაძე; ; ; born 10 January 1981), known mononymously as Tamta, is a Georgian-born Greek singer. She first achieved popularity in Greece in 2004 for her participation in '' Super Idol Greece' ...
to al-Awhad. The brothers commanded the Armenian-Georgian armies for almost three decades, achieving major victories at Shamkor in 1195 and Basen in 1203 and leading raids into northern Iran in 1210 and suppression of rebellions of mountaineers in 1212. They amassed a great fortune, governing all of northern Armenia; Zakare and his descendants ruled in northwestern Armenia with Ani as their capital, while Ivane and his offspring ruled eastern Armenia, including the city of Dvin. Both brothers left several bilingual inscriptions across the Armeno-Georgian border lands and built several churches and forts, such as the
Harichavank Monastery The Harichavank (; transliterated as ''Harijavank'' or ''Harichavank'') is a 7th century Armenian monastery located near the village of Harich (Armenian: Հառիճ) in the Shirak Province of Armenia. The village is 3 km southeast of the ...
and
Akhtala Monastery Akhtala (), also known as Pghindzavank (, meaning ''Coppermine Monastery'') is a 10th-century Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Apostolic monastery located in the town of Akhtala in the Administrative divisions of Armenia, marz of Lori Provin ...
in northern Armenia. The family went in decline with the establishment of Mongol power in the Caucasus. One of the vassals of Ivane Zakarian was Vasak Khaghbakian ("Vasak the Great"), who had helped in the reconquest of
Vayots Dzor Vayots Dzor (, ) is a province (''marz'') of Armenia. It lies at the southeastern end of the country, bordering the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan to the west and the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan to the east. It covers an area of . With a p ...
,
Bjni Bjni (), is a village in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. It is situated in a valley between canyon walls and a small river. The village is one of the prominent centers of education and culture of ancient and medieval Armenia. It is the birthplac ...
, and Dvin, and was the father of
Prosh Khaghbakian Prosh Khaghbakian (; ), also known as Hasan Prosh, was an Armenian prince who was a vassal of the Zakarid princes of Armenia. He was a member of the Khaghbakian dynasty, which is also known as the Proshian dynasty after him. He was the supreme com ...
, the founder of the
Proshyan dynasty The Proshyan dynasty, also Khaghbakians or Xaghbakian-Proshians (), was a family of the Armenian nobility, named after its founder Prince Prosh Khaghbakian. The dynasty was a vassal of Zakarid Armenia during the 13th–14th century CE, established ...
.


Atabegate

When his brother Zakare died in 1213, Ivane was offered the title of ''
Amirspasalar ''Amirspasalar'' or ''amirspasalari'' ( ka, ამირსპასალარი, from , ) was the commander-in-chief of the medieval Georgian army and one of the highest officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, commonly rendered as "Lord High C ...
'', but he declined. Instead, he asked for and obtained the title of ''
Atabeg Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic language, Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince. The first instance of the ti ...
'', which gave him the highest position in government. According to a contemporary Armenian historian, he said:


Monastic contributions

Ivane and his brother Zakare encountered animosity in some quarters because of their religious affiliation to Armenian Monophysism, rather than the
Chalcedonian Chalcedonian Christianity is the branches of Christianity that accept and uphold theological resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council, held in AD 451. Chalcedonian Christianity accepts the Christological Definitio ...
faith of the Georgians. Ivane eventually converted around 1200, allowing the two brothers to adroitely bridge the religious spectrum in Georgia, Ivane commanding Georgian troops while Zakare commanded Armenian ones. The beautiful murals of
Akhtala Monastery Akhtala (), also known as Pghindzavank (, meaning ''Coppermine Monastery'') is a 10th-century Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Apostolic monastery located in the town of Akhtala in the Administrative divisions of Armenia, marz of Lori Provin ...
, commissioned by Ivane in 1205–1216, are an example of Armenian-Chalcedonian art, blending Byzantine, Armenian and Georgian styles. Ivane also founded the
Tejharuyk Monastery Tejharuyk () is a 12th-century walled Armenian monastery located upon a wooded hill just southwest of the village of Meghradzor in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. It was constructed between 1196–99 and commissioned by Ivane I Zakarian, a comma ...
in 1196–99, the Church of the Mother of God (Surb-Astuacacin) in the
Monastery of Haṙič The Harichavank (; transliterated as ''Harijavank'' or ''Harichavank'') is a 7th century Armenian architecture, Armenian monastery located near the village of Harich, Armenia, Harich (Armenian: Հառիճ) in the Shirak Province of Armenia. The ...
, and renovated
Haghartsin Monastery Haghartsin () is a medieval monastery located near the town of Dilijan in the Tavush Province of Armenia. It was built between the 10th and 13th centuries. It is composed of three churches: St. Gregory's (the oldest one), St. Stephen's, and St. A ...
together with his brother Zakare, which he selected as the family's burial ground.


Mongol and Kipchack invasions

The 13th century Armenian historian
Kirakos Gandzaketsi Kirakos Gandzaketsi (; c. 1200/1202–1271) was an Armenian historian of the 13th century S. Peter Cowe. Kirakos Ganjakec'i or Arewelc'i // Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History / Edited by David Thomas & Alex Mallet. — BRILL, 2 ...
reports the first 1220 Mongol incursions under
Subutai Subutai (c. 1175–1248) was a Mongol general and the primary military strategist of Genghis Khan and Ögedei Khan. He ultimately directed more than 20 campaigns, during which he conquered more territory than any other commander in history a ...
, part of the
Mongol invasions of Georgia The Mongol invasions of Georgia ( ka, მონღოლთა ლაშქრობები საქართველოში, tr), which at that time consisted of Georgia proper, Armenia, and much of the Caucasus, involved multiple invasi ...
. This first wave was only composed of 3 ''tümen'' (30,000 men), and was actually on a search for the fugitive Khwarizmian ruler
Muhammad II of Khwarazm 'Alā' al-Din Muhammad II (Persian language, Persian: علاءالدین محمد خوارزمشاه; full name: ''Ala ad-Dunya wa ad-Din Abul-Fath Muhammad Sanjar ibn Tekish'') was the Shah of the Khwarazmian Empire from 3 August 1200 to 11 Janu ...
. The Zakarids served under the Georgian king
George IV of Georgia George IV ( ka, გიორგი IV, tr) , also known as Lasha Giorgi ( ka, ლაშა გიორგი, tr) (1192–1223), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the king (''mepe'') of the Kingdom of Georgia from 1213 to 1223. Early life Geor ...
to repulse them, with Ivane acting as ''
atabeg Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic language, Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince. The first instance of the ti ...
'' (Governor General) and ''
Amirspasalar ''Amirspasalar'' or ''amirspasalari'' ( ka, ამირსპასალარი, from , ) was the commander-in-chief of the medieval Georgian army and one of the highest officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, commonly rendered as "Lord High C ...
'' (Commander-in-chief), their army only half the size of the Mongol one. The Georgians and Armenians were defeated, but the Mongol retreated with heavy losses. The Mongols came back the following year, but were blocked on the road to
Tbilissi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...
by an army of 70,000. The Mongols again won, but retreated to
Tabriz Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...
. A third encounter the same year virtually annihilated the Georgian army, and the Mongols continued north to confront the
Kipchaks The Kipchaks, also spelled Qipchaqs, known as Polovtsians (''Polovtsy'') in Russian annals, were Turkic nomads and then a confederation that existed in the Middle Ages inhabiting parts of the Eurasian Steppe. First mentioned in the eighth cent ...
at far as
Soldaia Sudak ( Ukrainian and Russian: ; ; ; sometimes spelled Sudac or Sudagh) is a city, multiple former Eastern Orthodox bishopric and double Latin Catholic titular see. It is of regional significance in Crimea, a territory recognized by most countrie ...
, and the
Rus' Principalities The following is a list of tribes which dwelled and states which existed on the territories of contemporary Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Overview Clan cultures of the Stone Age and Bronze Age, up to the Late Antiquity period of the tribal soc ...
at the
Battle of the Kalka River The Battle of the Kalka River was fought between the Mongol Empire, whose armies were led by Jebe and Subutai, and a coalition of several Rus' principalities, including Kievan Rus', Kiev and Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia, Galicia-Volhynia, and t ...
. Before dying, George IV made an alliance with the
Sultanate of Rum The Sultanate of Rum was a culturally Turco-Persian Sunni Muslim state, established over conquered Byzantine territories and peoples (Rum) of Anatolia by the Seljuk Turks following their entry into Anatolia after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. ...
, by marrying his sister
Rusudan Rusudani ( ka, რუსუდანი) or Rusudan ( ka, რუსუდან) is a feminine Georgian name of Old Persian origin, today widely used in Georgia. Other forms of name Rusudan used in Georgian are: Rusa, Ruso, Rusiko and Ruska. It m ...
to Ghias ad-Din, son of the emir of
Erzurum Erzurum (; ) is a List of cities in Turkey, city in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. It is the largest city and capital of Erzurum Province and is 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 367,250 in 2010. It is the site of an ...
. In 1222, the
Kipchaks The Kipchaks, also spelled Qipchaqs, known as Polovtsians (''Polovtsy'') in Russian annals, were Turkic nomads and then a confederation that existed in the Middle Ages inhabiting parts of the Eurasian Steppe. First mentioned in the eighth cent ...
, fleeing from Mongol devastation, came to the Armenian city of Gandzak, where they encountered the troops of the ''atabeg'' Ivane Zakarian, who were again defeated. Although the Georgians ultimately prevailed in 1223, the Zakarian Prince
Grigor Khaghbakian Grigor Khaghbakian (died in 1220–1223) was a Prince of the Armenian Proshyan dynasty, Khaghbakian family in the province of Zakarid Armenia, Kingdom of Georgia. Together with his wife Zaz, he built the Surp Stepanos church at Aghjots Vank in 12 ...
was captured and tortured to death by the
Kipchak Turks The Kipchaks, also spelled Qipchaqs, known as Polovtsians (''Polovtsy'') in Russian annals, were Turkic nomads and then a confederation that existed in the Middle Ages inhabiting parts of the Eurasian Steppe. First mentioned in the eighth cent ...
. When the Khwarazmians under
Jalal al-Din Mangburni Jalal al-Din Mangburni (), also known as Jalal al-Din Khwarazmshah (), was the last Khwarazmshah of the Anushtegin dynasty. The eldest son and successor of Ala ad-Din Muhammad II of the Khwarazmian Empire, Jalal al-Din was brought up at Gurganj ...
invaded the region in 1226–1230, Dvin was ruled by the aging Ivane, who had given Ani to his nephew Shahnshah, son of Zakare. Dvin was lost, but
Kars Kars ( or ; ; ) is a city in northeast Turkey. It is the seat of Kars Province and Kars District. ...
and
Ani Ani (; ; ) is a ruined medieval Armenian city now situated in Turkey's province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia. Between 961 and 1045, it was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom that covered much of present-day Armen ...
did not surrender. In 1225, Ivane, leading Georgian troops, was defeated against the Khwarizmian troops of Jalal al-Din Mangburni, at the
Battle of Garni The Battle of Garni (, ) was fought in 1225 near Garni, in modern day Armenia, then part of the Kingdom of Georgia. The invading Khwarazmian Empire was led by Jalal al-Din Mangburni, its last Sultan, who had been driven from his realm by the Mo ...
. This defeat led to royal court of Georgian Queen
Rusudan Rusudani ( ka, რუსუდანი) or Rusudan ( ka, რუსუდან) is a feminine Georgian name of Old Persian origin, today widely used in Georgia. Other forms of name Rusudan used in Georgian are: Rusa, Ruso, Rusiko and Ruska. It m ...
(1223–1245) moving north to
Kutaisi Kutaisi ( ; ka, ქუთაისი ) is a city in the Imereti region of the Georgia (country), Republic of Georgia. One of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it is the List o ...
, which exposed the south of the country to subsequent looting during the
Mongol invasions of Georgia The Mongol invasions of Georgia ( ka, მონღოლთა ლაშქრობები საქართველოში, tr), which at that time consisted of Georgia proper, Armenia, and much of the Caucasus, involved multiple invasi ...
.


Death

Ivane remained ''Atabeg'' until his death in 1227, when he was succeeded by his son
Avag Zakarian Avag Zakarian ( ka, ავაგ მხარგრძელი, tr; ) (died 1250 AD) was an Armenian noble of the Zakarid line, and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, as ''atabeg'' and ''amirspasalar'' of Georgia from 1227 to 1250. Th ...
. The function of ''
Amirspasalar ''Amirspasalar'' or ''amirspasalari'' ( ka, ამირსპასალარი, from , ) was the commander-in-chief of the medieval Georgian army and one of the highest officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, commonly rendered as "Lord High C ...
'' was held by his nephew
Shahnshah Zakarian Shahnshah Zakarian ( ka, შანშე მხარგრძელი; ) was a member of the Armenian Zakarid dynasty, and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the office of ''amirspasalar'' (Commander-in-Chief) of the Georgian ar ...
, who had inherited from his father Zakare in 1212. Ivane was buried in
Akhtala Monastery Akhtala (), also known as Pghindzavank (, meaning ''Coppermine Monastery'') is a 10th-century Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Apostolic monastery located in the town of Akhtala in the Administrative divisions of Armenia, marz of Lori Provin ...
, where he was followed by his son Avag and other members of his family. The 13th-century historians
Kirakos Gandzaketsi Kirakos Gandzaketsi (; c. 1200/1202–1271) was an Armenian historian of the 13th century S. Peter Cowe. Kirakos Ganjakec'i or Arewelc'i // Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History / Edited by David Thomas & Alex Mallet. — BRILL, 2 ...
and
Vardan Areveltsi Vardan Areveltsi (; Vardan the Easterner, – 1271 AD) was a medieval Armenian historian, geographer, philosopher and translator. In addition to establishing numerous schools and monasteries, he also left behind a rich contribution to Armen ...
called the area Pghndzahank (copper mine), because of rich copper deposits in the surroundings. Gandzaketsi writes the following of the year 1227: "Ivane, Zakare's brother, also died hat yearand was buried at Pghndzahank near the church which he himself had built, taking it from the Armenians and making it into a Georgian monastery", referring to the fact that Ivane had converted to the Georgian
Chalcedonian Chalcedonian Christianity is the branches of Christianity that accept and uphold theological resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council, held in AD 451. Chalcedonian Christianity accepts the Christological Definitio ...
faith.


Sources

* * *


References

{{Tamar the Great Nobility of Georgia (country) 12th-century people from Georgia (country) House of Mkhargrdzeli 13th-century people from Georgia (country)