Kingdom of Imereti იმერეთის სამეფო | |||||||||||||||||
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1260–1810 | |||||||||||||||||
18th century coat of arms according to Vakhushti
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![]() The Kingdom of Imereti in 1490 | |||||||||||||||||
Capital | Kutaisi | ||||||||||||||||
Common languages | Georgian | ||||||||||||||||
Religion | Eastern Orthodox Christianity | ||||||||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||||
King | |||||||||||||||||
• 1260–1293 | David I (first) | ||||||||||||||||
• 1789–1810 | Solomon II (last) | ||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||
• Coronation of David I | 1260 | ||||||||||||||||
• Re-Annexation to Georgia | 1330 | ||||||||||||||||
• Restoration | 1387 | ||||||||||||||||
• Independence from Georgia | 1455 | ||||||||||||||||
• Vassal of the Ottoman Empire | 29 May 1555 | ||||||||||||||||
• Vassal of the Russian Empire | 25 April 1804 | ||||||||||||||||
• Russian Annexation | 20 February 1810 | ||||||||||||||||
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Today part of | Georgia |
History of Georgia საქართველოს ისტორია |
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The Kingdom of Imereti (Georgian: იმერეთის სამეფო, romanized: imeretis samepo) was a Georgian monarchy established in 1455 by a member of the house of Bagrationi when the Kingdom of Georgia was dissolved into rival kingdoms. Before that time, Imereti was considered a separate kingdom within the Kingdom of Georgia, of which a cadet branch of the Bagrationi royal family held the crown.[1]
The realm was conquered by George V the Brilliant and once again united with the east Kingdom of Georgia.[2] From 1455 onward, however, Imereti became a constant battleground between Georgian and Ottoman forces for several centuries, resulting in the kingdom's progressive decline due to this ongoing instability.
In 1621 it made the earliest appeal to Russia for aid; in 1650 it acknowledged Russian suzerainty and in 1769 a Russian force expelled the Turks.[3] Under pressure from Pavel Tsitsianov, in 1804 Solomon II of Imereti accepted Russian Imperial suzerainty, only to be deposed entirely in 1810. During the time that Imereti was a vassal state, the Mingrelia, Abkhazia and Guria princedoms declared their independence from Imereti and established their own governments.
See also: List of Georgian monarchs and Imereti kings family tree |
Since Solomon II of Imereti had no sons, he proclaimed Prince Constantine, son of king David II of Imereti, and his male-line senior descendants as heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of Imereti.
After the death of Hereditary Prince Constantine (III) (1898–1978), because the male-offspring of this branch came to end, the headship of the House of Bagrationi-Imereti transmitted to Prince Irakli Bagrationi (1925–2013), son of Prince Grigol, the male-line descendant of Prince Bagrat, younger brother of King Solomon I of Imereti (1752–1784).