Jikur ( ka, ჯიქური) (died 1252–1259) was a courtier of King

David VII of Georgia David VII, also known as David Ulu ( ka, დავით VII ულუ, "David the Senior" in the Mongol language) (1215–1270), from the Bagrationi dynasty, was king ('' mepe'') of Georgia from 1245 to 1270. He first ruled Georgia jointly with ...

, who exerted a considerable influence on the internal politics of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

until being executed on charges of treason.

Rise to power

The rise and fall of Jikur is documented in the 14th-century Georgian ''Chronicle of A Hundred Years'', which provides no information regarding his origin, but reports that Jikur, otherwise not particularly gifted and holding a relatively minor office of Master of Ceremonies (''mestumre''), rose to prominence thanks to his undaunted loyalty to David VII, whose troubled reign (1247–1270) was marred by the

Mongol Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China (Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family of M ...

dominance. When David had to repair for the court of

Batu Khan Batu Khan (–1255) was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Golden Horde, a constituent of the Mongol Empire established after Genghis Khan's demise. Batu was a son of Jochi, thus a grandson of Genghis Khan. His '' ulus'' ruled over the Kievan ...

, he left his wife Jigda-Khatun as a regent and placed her under protection of Jikur. He was instrumental in reducing brigandage in the country, helped the construction of the royal palace at Isani in

Tbilisi 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 ( ...

and levied tribute upon the fiercely independent mountaineers of

Pkhovi Pkhovi ( ka, ფხოვი), also known as Pkhoeti (ფხოეთი), is a Middle Ages, medieval term for the mountainous district in northeast Georgia (country), Georgia comprising the latter-day provinces of Pshavi and Khevsureti along the ...

. Considerable opposition to the authority of Jigda-Khatun and Jikur came from Torghva of Pankisi, the governor of

Kakheti Kakheti (; ) is a region of Georgia. Telavi is its administrative center. The region comprises eight administrative districts: Telavi, Gurjaani, Qvareli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signagi, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta. Kakhetians speak the ...

, who usurped the power in this region. Upon the king's return to Georgia, Torghva's courage began to fail and he retired to his fief of Pankisi. Jikur lured him out with the promise of security and had him murdered at the instigation of Jigda-Khatun.

Downfall and death

Jikur's fortunes began to reverse after the death of Jigda-Khatun in 1252. The chronicle says that Jikur and David's new consort,

Gvantsa Kakhaberidze Gvantsa ( ka, გვანცა, or, archaically, Guantsa, გუანცა; also transliterated as Gwantza, Gontza, Gontsa, or Gonc'a) (died 1263) was a Queen Consort of Georgia as the third wife of King David VII “Ulu” ( r.: 1245–1270) ...

, were enemies. Jikur's rivals, particularly Sumbat Orbeli, exploited this enmity and accused him before the king of treacherous connections with the Mongols. David, habitually gullible and prone to hasty decisions, had Jikur arrested and brought to the royal palace of Isani, overlooking the

Mtkvari river The Kura, also known in Georgian as Mtkvari ( ), is an east-flowing transboundary river south of the Greater Caucasus Mountains which drains the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus east into the Caspian Sea. It also drains the north side of ...

, while his house was pillaged by the king's men. Without any inquiry, David ordered Jikur to be thrown into the river. On the next morning, his body was found washed up on the river bank. The king, giving in to urging of the poor of Tbilisi, allowed them to mourn and bury Jikur, who had no children of his own, at the newly rebuilt church of St. Christina.

Notes

References

* * *{{cite book, title=ქართლის ცხოვრება, language=Georgian, trans-title= Kartlis Tskhovreba, year=2008, publisher=Artanuji, location=Tbilisi, chapter-url=http://www.science.org.ge/books/Kartlis%20cxovreba/11%20aswlovani%20matiane-2.pdf, editor-first=Roin, editor-last=Metreveli, editor-link=Roin Metreveli, chapter=„ასწლოვანი მატიანე“, trans-chapter=Chronicle of A Hundred Years, ref={{sfnRef, "Chronicle of A Hundred Years", url-status=dead, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401013934/http://www.science.org.ge/books/Kartlis%20cxovreba/11%20aswlovani%20matiane-2.pdf, archive-date=2012-04-01 13th-century people from Georgia (country) Politicians from Georgia (country) 1250s deaths Year of birth unknown Executed people from Georgia (country)