Nugzar I, Duke of Aragvi
Nugzar Araghvis Eristavi (Georgian: ნუგზარ არაგვის ერისთავი) was a Georgian duke (eristavi) of the Duchy of Aragvi. He was the nephew of the previous duke, Avtandil I. Nugzar was a boy when his uncle died, and he was still young as well when he got control over the duchy from his "illegitimate cousins".[1] During the early years as duke, Nugzar managed to force Mtiuleti into submission.[1] In 1578, Simon I of Kartli (Shahnavaz Khan) was released from captivity by his Safavid overlords in order to fight the Ottomans during the Ottoman-Safavid War of 1578-1590.[1] Some months after however, he took revenge on allies of Nugzar – the eristavi of Ksani as well as the Amilakhori family,[1] in retaliation for several actions both of these factions had conducted against him during his first tenure as ruler of Kartli.[1] In 1580, Simon I defeated Alexander II of Kakheti, whom Nugzar was dependent on, but Nugzar himself apparently managed to evade Simon I's wrath.[1] During David I's brief usurpation of the Kakhetian kingdom (1601-1602), Nugzar was unsuccessful in defending himself against the former's campaign.[2] Soon after however, Nugzar switched his allegiance to George X of Kartli.[1] The latter had also promised Nugzar a daughter in marriage to his eldest son, Baadur (Bahadur).[1] During the Ottoman-Safavid War of 1603-1618, Safavid king Abbas I (r. 1588-1629) had George X and Nugzar summoned to him, but he later sent them both back to Kartli in order to bolster their defences.[3] Sometime after, in 1610, when Nugzar received his son-in-law Giorgi Saakadze (Mūrāv-Beg), he is recorded as being the master of all the lands situated between the three Aragvi streams.[1] His last appearance in the records is in 1611.[1] Nugzar I, had two sons, Baadur and Zurab (Sohrab). Baadur succeeded Nugzar first as eristavi of the duchy, while Zurab succeeded after him (1619-1629).[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Allen 1964, p. 167.
- ↑ Mikaberidze 2015, p. 249.
- ↑ Rayfield 2013, p. 184.
- ↑ Allen 1964, pp. 167-168.
Sources
- Allen, W.E.D. (1964). "Trivia Historiae Ibericae". In Salia, Kalistrat. Bedi Kartlisa, Revue de Kartvélologie. XVII-XVIII. Paris.
- Rayfield, Donald (2013). Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. London: Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1780230702.
- Mikaberidze, Alexander (2015). Historical Dictionary of Georgia (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1442241466.