Vakhtang, Duke of Aragvi

Vakhtang
Duke of Aragvi
Reign	1747–1756
Predecessor	Bezhan I
Successor	Levan
Born	1738 or 1742
Died	1756 or 1760 Tbilisi
Spouse	Ketevan of Mukhrani
Dynasty	Bagrationi
Father	Heraclius II of Georgia
Mother	Ketevan Orbeliani or Ketevan Pkheidze
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church

Vakhtang the Good[1] (Georgian: ვახტანგ კარგი) (1738[2] or 1742[1] – 1 February, 1756[2] or 1760[1]) was a Georgian royal prince (batonishvili) of the Bagrationi dynasty, he was also Duke (eristavi) of the Duchy of Aragvi from 1747 until his death in 1756.

Biography

Vakhtang was the first child and the eldest son of Heraclius II, then-prince of Kakheti, born of his first marriage to Ketevan Orbeliani[2] or, according to more recent research, Ketevan Pkheidze.[1] He was born at the time when eastern Georgia was reconquered by the resurgent ruler Nader Shah from the Ottoman Empire and the native monarchies in both eastern Georgian kingdoms, Kartli and Kakheti, were still dormant. In 1744, Nader Shah recognized Heraclius and his father Teimuraz II as kings of Kakheti and Kartli, respectively. Thereby, Vakhtang became heir apparent to the throne of Kakheti.

Furthermore, in 1747, Vakhtang was bestowed by his grandfather Teimuraz II with the fief of Aragvi, the hereditary duke (eristavi) of which, Bezhan, was murdered by the rebellious peasants in 1743. Henceforth, the duchy of Aragvi passed in possession of the royal family. As Vakhtang was still a minor, the duchy was run on his behalf by Prince Jimsher Cholokashvili, who had to deal with a peasant revolt and Dagestani inroads. Vakhtang, presumptive heir of Heraclius II and considered by many to be the hope for a Georgian reunification, died prematurely of smallpox in February 1756,[3] and Aragvi was granted to his half-brother, Levan.[4]

Family

Vakhtang was married to Ketevan (20 February 1744–4 March 1808), daughter of Constantine III, Prince of Mukhrani. They had no children. Princess Ketevan lived to see the demise of the Georgian kingdom at the hand of the Russian Empire in 1801 and died in Saint Petersburg in 1808.[2]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Vakhtang, Duke of Aragvi

16. David of Kakheti 8. Heraclius I of Kakheti 17. Elene Diasamidze 4. Teimuraz II of Georgia 18. Shermazan Cholokashvili 9. Ana Cholokashvili 2. Heraclius II of Georgia 20. Levan of Kartli 10. Vakhtang VI of Kartli 21. Tuta Gurieli 5. Tamar of Kartli 22. Kelchiko of Kabarda 11. Rusudan of Kabarda 1. Vakhtang 24. Khosia Pkheidze 12. Vakhushti Pkheidze 6. Zaal Pkheidze 13. Marekhi Gogoberidze or Ana Chiladze 3. Ketevan Pkheidze

References

1. Metreveli, Roin, ed. (2003). Scientific and Cultural Heritage of the Bagrationis. Tbilisi: Neostudia. ISBN 99928-0-623-0.
2. Montgomery, Hugh, ed. (1980). Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume 2. London: Burke's Peerage. p. 66. ISBN 0850110297.
3. Bendianashvili 1975, p. 532. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBendianashvili1975 (help)
4. Bendiashvili, A. (1975). "არაგვის საერისთავო [Duchy of Aragvi]" [Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia]. ქართული საბჭოთა ენცილოპედია. Vol. 1. Tbilisi. p. 532.