George I of Georgia

Giorgi I ( * 996, † 1027) was from 1014 to 1027 King of Georgia Bagrat III and son.

Life

In Giorgis reign there were serious clashes with the Byzantine Empire, which Georgia has always been considered as its sphere of influence and wanted to prevent a further increase in power in Georgia since its unification.

1020 reached Giorgi actively involved in the succession dispute in the Armenian Kingdom of Ani. There fought his bagratidischen cousins, the sons of King Gagiks I. (989-1020), Sumbat and Ashot bitterly for power. Through the mediation of the Georgian king, the two brothers agreed and divided the kingdom.

1021 decided Giorgi and the Armenian King Sumbat III. (1020-1042), shake off the existing Tributärverhältnis to Byzantium. They sent an embassy Emperor Basil II (976-1025), who wanted to collect the tribute due back with scorn and derision by Konstantin Opel. In the same year the Emperor personally went to Georgia. Lakeside Balagatsis it came to the battle that lost the Georgians after a long drawn battle heaving. The king had to seek refuge in the ravines of the Caucasus.

After the Byzantine troops had left the country in 1022, Giorgi quickly gathered an army and now dropped his hand on a Byzantine territory. All toward him deputy border Byzantine armies were put to flight. In Constantinople Opel panic broke out.

The emperor was obliged to march out again personally against Giorgi I.. Fearing another defeat and for fear of the reprisals that could stand before his country, Giorgi asked for peace. This was granted under harsh conditions. Giorgi had to send his four year old son Bagrat hostage to the Byzantine imperial court, who remained there for three years. He also had the legacy of David III. Kuropalats († 1000) without.

• King (Georgia)
• Georgian
• Born 996
• Died in 1027
• Man