Shanshe Mkhargrdzeli

Shanshe Mkhargrdzeli (died 1261 AD) was a Georgian noble of Armenian descedant, he was mandaturtukhutsesi and amirspasalar of Georgia during the 13th century.^[1]

Biography

After death of Zakaria II Mkhargrdzeli, his five-year-old son, Shanshe was adopted by his uncle Ivane Mkhargrdzeli, the latter raised and converted him in Chalcedonism. As soon as he reached age of adulthood he was raised to office of mandaturukhutsesi.

During Mongol invasion of Georgia Queen Rusudan had to evacuate Tbilisi for Kutaisi, while Shanshe took refuge in Adjara, then made peace with the Mongols and agreed to pay them tribute. They confirmed Shanshe in his fief.^[2] Soon Rusudan sent Avag Mkhargrdzeli to arranged her submission to the Mongols in 1243 and arrived in eastern Georgia, where she was met by Shanshe and other notable nobles.

During the period of interregnum (1245–1250), with the two Davids absent at the court of the Great Khan in Karakorum, the Mongols divided the Kingdom of Georgia into eight districts (tumen), three of which belonged to Mkhargrdzeli's, i.e., the territories of the Shanshe in Ani and Kars; of the Avag in Syunik and Artsakh; and of the Vahram (Gagi, Shamkor and the surrounding area).

Rubroek, envoy extraordinary of the French king Louis IX to the Khan of Mongolia, stayed in 1255 with Shanshe on one of his Armenian estates. Rubroek characterizes Shanshe as a great feudal lord and owner of 15 cities.^[3]

In 1260, Hulagu Khan requested that David Ulu supported him in the war against Mamluk Sultanate in Cairo. David, remembering the Georgian losses at Baghdad (1258) refused to comply and revolted. Georgian nobles, led by David Ulu was defeated and once again submitted to Mongol rule. Although Prince Shanshe was freed for a ransom, his son Zakaria was killed.^[4][5] Shanshe died not soon after this event. He was buried in his ancestral Kobayr monastery.

References