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Bagrat VIKing of Imereti (1463-1466), King of Georgia (1466-1478), representative of the Imeretian branch of the Bagrationi dynasty. Son of Tsarevich George and grandson of the Georgian King Constantine I.
Date of Birth: 01.01.1439
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Bagrat VI, King of Georgia
Early Life and Rise to PowerBagrat VI was born to Prince George, the son of King Constantine I of Georgia. In 1462, King George VIII of Georgia stripped Bagrat of his authority in Kutaisi, Imereti, due to his connections with the rebel Qvarqvare II Jaqeli. However, Bagrat resisted and defeated George VIII at the Battle of Chirokhi in 1463, proclaiming himself King of Imereti.
Reign as King of Georgia
In 1465, Bagrat took advantage of Qvarqvare II Jaqeli's capture of George VIII to invade Kartli and declare himself King of Georgia in 1466. His reign was marked by the invasion of Georgia by an Iranian army led by Uzun Hasan in 1477. Tbilisi, Gori, and the entire Kartli lowlands were occupied. Bagrat signed a treaty and paid tribute, but after Uzun Hasan's death in 1478, the Iranian forces withdrew.
Later Reign and Legacy
During the remainder of his reign, Bagrat VI maintained Kartli's independence and expanded his influence in neighboring regions. He died in 1478, leaving behind a legacy as a strong ruler who defended Georgia from external threats and consolidated its territorial integrity.
