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| Kingdom of Kartli ႵႠႰႧႪႨႱ ႱႠႫႤႴႭ | |
|---|---|
| 302 BCE–580 CE | |
 | |
| Capital | Mtskheta |
| Official languages | Aramaic Greek |
| Common languages | Old Georgian |
| Government | Monarchy |
| History | |
• Established | 302 BCE |
• Dissolution | 580 CE |
The Kingdom of Kartli, also known as Iberia or Iveria, was an ancient kingdom located in what is now eastern Georgia.
History[edit | edit source]
Independent kingdom[edit | edit source]
Class society rapidly formed in eastern Georgia between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Azo brought the tribal shrines to Mtskheta and became the first state leader. Parnavaz I defeated Azo with support from Egrisi and declared himself king. He built his capital of Armazis-tsikhe directly across the Kura river from Mtskheta.[1]
Tigran II Artashesian of Armenia conquered parts of Kartli and put the entire kingdom under his influence. Art'agi, an ally of Tigran and Mithridates VI, ruled Kartli at this time. In the first century BCE, Pompeius Magnus captured the ruler of Kartli and made the kingdom pledge loyalty to Rome. Soon after, Marcus Antonius sent Canidius Crassus to defeat the resistance of King Parnavaz II. The Romans never took control of Kartli's internal affairs.[1]
Roman vassal[edit | edit source]
After the Roman conquest, the client rulers of Kartli sought to use the Parthian–Roman conflict to expand their own power. In the 30s CE, Parsman I installed some of his relatives as kings of Armenia. In 75, Vespasianus ordered the king of Kartli to build a wall to protect the Kura valley from northern tribes. Kartli supported Traianus's campaign against the Parthians from 114 to 117, and its prince Amazasp died in battle. King Parsman II moved to Rome after Emperor Hadrianus ended Rome's campaigns in the east. The Roman emperor gave Parsman 500 soldiers and a battle elephant.[1]
Government[edit | edit source]
The king appointed governors (eristavi) and other high officials. All kings, supreme judges, and warlords had to be from the ruling class.[1]
Economy[edit | edit source]
Commoners were called the "king's slaves," but only some of them were actual slaves.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.