Georgia's King Vakhtang Gorgasali and the Founding of Tbilisi

Georgia's King Ashot I and the Rise of the Bagrationi Dynasty

Before the golden age of Queen Tamar, before the Mongol invasions, before Tbilisi became a capital — there was Ashot I Kuropalates, the founder of the Bagrationi dynasty that would rule Georgia for a thousand years. This episode traces his story from his family's exile in Tao-Klarjeti to his hard-won recognition as presiding prince of Iberia under Byzantine suzerainty. We explore how Ashot rebuilt a shattered Christian polity after centuries of Arab domination, how he used marriage alliances, fortress-building, and monastic patronage to create a durable power base, and why he was assassinated in a church — but his legacy endured. We also look at the mysterious origins of the Bagrationi claim of descent from King David, and how that claim became central to Georgian identity. Key figures include Ashot I, his sons Bagrat and Adarnase, the Byzantine emperor Leo V, the Arab emir Isma'il of Tbilisi, and the Armenian prince — and occasional rival — Sahak. The episode draws on the Georgian Chronicles and early medieval Armenian sources. #AshotIKuropalates #BagrationiDynasty #TaoKlarjeti #GeorgianHistory #Caucasus #ByzantineEmpire #ArabEmirate #Iberia #MedievalGeorgia #GeorgianChronicles #KingDavidDescent #Artvin #Colchis #OrthodoxMonastery #EarlyMiddleAges #History #FexingoHistory #Georgia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Georgia's King Erekle II and the 1795 Battle of Krtsanisi

In this episode of The History of Georgia, Lucas and Luna explore the tragic end of the 18th century for the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti under King Erekle II. After decades of navigating between the Ottoman and Persian empires, Erekle signed the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk with Russia, hoping for protection. But when Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar of Iran demanded Georgia's return to Persian suzerainty, Russian aid failed to arrive. The 1795 Battle of Krtsanisi saw a vastly outnumbered Georgian force crushed near Tbilisi. Erekle's last stand, the sack of Tbilisi, and the Qajar massacre of civilians marked a turning point. The episode also covers Erekle's earlier reforms—modernizing the army, fostering trade, and patronizing Georgian culture—and the complex legacy of choosing Russia over Persia. A devastating moment that set the stage for Russia's eventual annexation in 1801. #ErekleII #BattleOfKrtsanisi #KartliKakheti #AghaMohammadKhan #Qajar #TreatyOfGeorgievsk #CatherineTheGreat #RussianEmpire #PersianEmpire #SackOfTbilisi #1795 #GeorgiaHistory #CaucasusHistory #18thCentury #MilitaryHistory #Bagrationi #Diplomacy #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Georgia's King Vakhtang Gorgasali and the Founding of Tbilisi

Long before the golden age of Queen Tamar or the devastations of Timur, Georgia was shaped by its early medieval kings. This episode dives into the life and legacy of Vakhtang I Gorgasali, the 5th-century king of Kartli who transformed a small settlement into the capital Tbilisi. We explore his alliance with the Byzantine Empire, his wars against Sassanid Persia, the legendary founding of Tbilisi with its hot springs, and how his title 'Gorgasali' (wolf-head) earned him a place in Georgian lore. We also examine the contested history between Vakhtang's historical record and his larger-than-life portrayal in the Chronicles of Georgia. From the early Christian kingdom to the rise of the Bagrationi dynasty, this episode uncovers the foundations of Georgian statehood. #VakhtangGorgasali #Tbilisi #Kartli #SassanidPersia #ByzantineEmpire #GeorgiaHistory #Caucasus #5thCentury #foundingOfTbilisi #hotsprings #GeorgianChronicles #wolfhead #ChristianKingdom #Bagrationi #Sakartvelo #History #FexingoHistory #earlymedieval Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Arab Emirate of Tbilisi: Georgia Under Muslim Rule

Before the Bagrationi kings united Georgia, Tbilisi spent centuries under Muslim rule. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Arab Emirate of Tbilisi — a period between the 7th and 11th centuries when the city was an Islamic stronghold amid a Christian Caucasus. They discuss the Umayyad and Abbasid conquests, the legendary resistance of the Georgian princes, and how the emirate became a buffer state between the Caliphate and Byzantium. Lucas digs into the cultural and religious complexities: Christian Georgians living under Muslim governors, the role of the Tbilisi mint, and the surprising wealth of the emirate. He also covers the emirate's gradual decline as the Bagrationi dynasty rose, culminating in the 1122 reconquest of Tbilisi by King David IV. Luna asks sharp questions about daily life, conversion pressure, and the legacy of this period in modern Georgia. Filled with names like Marwan ibn Muhammad, Ashot I, and Jafar ibn Ali, this episode sheds light on a crucial but often overlooked chapter of Georgian history. #EmirateOfTbilisi #ArabRule #Umayyad #Abbasid #Tbilisi #Georgia #Caucasus #Bagrationi #DavidIV #AshotI #Marwan #JafarIbnAli #MedievalHistory #IslamicHistory #Byzantine #Khazars #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Georgia's King Giorgi II and the 1074 Battle of Partskhisi

In 1074, the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Malik Shah I pushed deep into Georgia, meeting King Giorgi II at the Battle of Partskhisi. Giorgi II — often overshadowed by his son David the Builder — faced a crushing defeat that forced Georgia into vassalage. But this disaster also laid bare the cracks in the Bagrationi monarchy: a weak central army, rebellious nobles, and a crumbling economy. We explore how the Seljuk advance devastated the kingdom, how Giorgi II tried to hold the line, and how the humiliation at Partskhisi ultimately fueled the reforms that would lead to David IV's golden age. Along the way, we discuss the role of the eristavi (regional dukes), the loss of key fortresses like Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and the shadow of the Byzantine Empire's decline. #Georgia #KingdomOfGeorgia #GiorgiII #BattleOfPartskhisi #SeljukEmpire #MalikShah #Bagrationi #Eristavi #Tbilisi #Kutaisi #DavidTheBuilder #1074 #MedievalGeorgia #Caucasus #ByzantineEmpire #Battle #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]