George Lipartiani

George Lipartiani

Sovereign prince (mtavar) of Megrelia.
Country: Georgia

Content:
  1. Georgiy Lipartiani Biography
  2. Early Life and Rise to Power
  3. Alliances and Conflicts
  4. Family Conflicts and Reconciliation
  5. Marriages and Children

Georgiy Lipartiani Biography

Georgiy Lipartiani was a powerful ruler in the region of Megrelia during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He held the titles of Prince of Salipartiano and Prince of Lechkhumi, and was the ruler of Megrelia from 1691 to 1704 and again from 1710 to 1715.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Georgiy Lipartiani inherited the territories of Salipartiano and Lechkhumi after the death of his father. To solidify his position, he initially passed the throne to his illegitimate son Levani III, ruling on his behalf. According to historical accounts, "Levani only carried the name of Dadiani and Lipartiani ruled over all affairs." He governed Megrelia with the same cruelty as his father, exterminating noble families and selling captives into slavery to the Turks.

Alliances and Conflicts

Georgiy Lipartiani formed an alliance with King Alexander of Imereti, who granted him control over the region of Lechkhumi. He initially supported King Archil, but when the latter refused to grant him control over Lechkhumi, Lipartiani abandoned him and returned to Megrelia with his army. With his power strengthened, he expelled Levani IV in 1691 and became the sole ruler.

Lipartiani, along with other nobles from Western Georgia, frequently influenced the selection of kings in Imereti. In 1704, he appointed his eldest son Katsia I as the ruler of Megrelia, while his second son Bezhan was given control over Lechkhumi. His third son Gabriel became the bishop of Chkondidi. Lipartiani himself retained the title of Prince of Salipartiano.

Family Conflicts and Reconciliation

Initially, Lipartiani's sons were under his complete control. However, they soon became estranged from him due to his divorce from their mother. In 1709, they switched their allegiance to the King of Imereti, George. Lipartiani was forced to flee to Abkhazia but regained power in Megrelia after the death of his son Katsia.

During this time, Lipartiani briefly sided with King George, only to betray him and install Prince Gurieli as the ruler of Imereti in 1711. He then struggled for power in Megrelia against his second son Bezhan, with King George supporting either one of them at different times. Eventually, in 1715, Lipartiani and Bezhan reconciled. Bezhan sent Catholicos Grigol, the head of the Western Georgian Church, to his father, promising to submit if the Catholicos visited him. As recorded by historical accounts, "on these conditions, Lipartiani trusted his son [...] and went to him with a few servants. Bezhan received him with kindness, but on the same night captured all his servants and stole his father's weapons. The next morning, he captured him and imprisoned him in a fortress. Later, he brought his mother, who had been divorced from him, and allowed her to visit her husband, and they remained together until their deaths."

Marriages and Children

Georgiy Lipartiani had multiple marriages. First, he was married to Princess Sevdia, daughter of Prince Otia Mikeladze, with whom he had several children, including Katsia I, Bezhan, Dadiani Manuchar, Antoni, Gabriel, and Princess Mzehatun. Princess Mzehatun was married to King George VII of Imereti, while Princess Dadiani married Prince Levan Mikadze.

He later married Princess Tamara Georgievna Abashidze, who was previously married to Kings Alexander IV and George of Imereti. His third marriage was to Princess Tamara, daughter of Mamia V Gurieli, but they divorced in 1714. Princess Tamara later married King George VII of Imereti. In 1714, Lipartiani remarried his first wife, Princess Sevdia.

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