George III of Georgia

Giorgi III. (Georgian გიორგი III, † 1184 ) was from 1156 to 1184 King of Georgia.

Life

He was the youngest son of King Dimitris I. and next to his grandfather David IV the most important king of medieval Georgia. Under his rule was the Muslims of northern Armenia taken in 1161 with the capital of Ani, to be then recaptured in 1174. It was in 1236 united with Georgia until the invasion of the Mongols. In disputes with the neighboring Islamic countries, including the Emirate of Ganja and the kingdoms of Ahlat - Shah and Atabegs of Azerbaijan, he defended the supremacy of Georgia in the Caucasus region.

1177 instigated the high feudal nobility in a conspiracy against the king. The goal was the nephew of the king, Demna the son of David V. to bring to the king. Giorgi had to flee to Tbilisi. As the conspirators were reluctant to attack the city, the king succeeded to attract old friends for themselves. From Kyptschakenkhan he received auxiliary troops. Thus fortified, he risked a loss and beat the rebels. Revenge Giorgis was cruel: Many conspirators were executed or mutilated.

As Giorgi had no male offspring, he appointed his daughter Tamara in 1178 to co-regent and successor. To achieve this, he gave the church the privilege of tax exemption back.