Demetre I
Encyclopedia
Demetrius I (c. 1093–1156), from the Bagrationi dynasty, was King of Georgia
from 1125 to 1156. He is also known as a poet
.
(1123).
Demetrius succeeded on his father’s death on January 24, 1125. With his ascent to the throne, the Seljuk Turks attacked the Georgian-held city of Ani, Armenia
. Demetrius I had to compromise and ceded the city to a Seljuk ruler under terms of vassalage.
In 1139, he raided the earthquake-ridden city of Ganja (the present day Azerbaijan
). He brought the iron gate of the defeated city to Georgia
and donated it to Gelati Monastery
at Kutaisi
, western Georgia. Despite this brilliant victory, Demetrius could hold Ganja only for a few years.
In 1130, Demetrius revealed a plot of nobles, probably involving the king's half-borther Vakhtang
. The King arrested the conspirators and executed one of their leaders, Ioanne Abuletisdze
, in 1138 (or 1145). In 1154 David
, Demetrius's elder son forced his father to abdicate and become a monk
, receiving the monastic name Damian (Damianus). However, David died six months later and King Demetrius was restored to the throne. David was survived by his son Demna who was regarded by the aristocratic opposition as a lawful pretender.
Although Demetrius was not as successful as his father David the Builder, Georgia
remained a strong feudal power with a well-organized military and political system and a developed cultural and economical life.
He died in 1156 and was buried at Gelati Monastery
.
He is regarded as a saint
in the Orthodox Church and his feast day is celebrated on May 23
on the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar
.
(Thou Art a Vineyard), a hymn to the Virgin Mary, is the most famous of them.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
from 1125 to 1156. He is also known as a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Life
Demetrius was the eldest son of King David the Builder by his first wife Rusudan. As a commander, he took part in his father’s battles, particularly at Didgori (1121) and ShirvanShirvan
Shirvan , also spelled as Shirwan, Shervan, Sherwan and Šervān, is a historical region in the eastern Caucasus, known by this name in both Islamic and modern times...
(1123).
Demetrius succeeded on his father’s death on January 24, 1125. With his ascent to the throne, the Seljuk Turks attacked the Georgian-held city of Ani, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. Demetrius I had to compromise and ceded the city to a Seljuk ruler under terms of vassalage.
In 1139, he raided the earthquake-ridden city of Ganja (the present day Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
). He brought the iron gate of the defeated city to Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and donated it to Gelati Monastery
Gelati Monastery
The Monastery of Gelati is a monastic complex near Kutaisi, Imereti, western Georgia. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder in 1106, and the 13th-century churches of St George and St Nicholas....
at Kutaisi
Kutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi.-Geography:...
, western Georgia. Despite this brilliant victory, Demetrius could hold Ganja only for a few years.
In 1130, Demetrius revealed a plot of nobles, probably involving the king's half-borther Vakhtang
Vakhtang, son of David IV of Georgia
Vakhtang or Tsuata was the Georgian Bagratid prince and the son of King David IV "the Builder" , probably of his second marriage to the Kipchak "princess" Gurandukht, daughter of Otrok....
. The King arrested the conspirators and executed one of their leaders, Ioanne Abuletisdze
Abuletisdze
Abuletisdze was a Georgian noble family – eristavs – with its most prominent members in the 12th and 13th century. The family held appanages in the valleys of Aragvi and Tedzami in the eastern province of Kakheti....
, in 1138 (or 1145). In 1154 David
David V of Georgia
David V , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Georgia c. 1154/5.He was an elder son of King Demetre I. Fearing that Demetre would make his younger son Giorgi an heir to the throne, David attempted a revolt in 1130...
, Demetrius's elder son forced his father to abdicate and become a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, receiving the monastic name Damian (Damianus). However, David died six months later and King Demetrius was restored to the throne. David was survived by his son Demna who was regarded by the aristocratic opposition as a lawful pretender.
Although Demetrius was not as successful as his father David the Builder, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
remained a strong feudal power with a well-organized military and political system and a developed cultural and economical life.
He died in 1156 and was buried at Gelati Monastery
Gelati Monastery
The Monastery of Gelati is a monastic complex near Kutaisi, Imereti, western Georgia. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder in 1106, and the 13th-century churches of St George and St Nicholas....
.
He is regarded as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Orthodox Church and his feast day is celebrated on May 23
May 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
May 22 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - May 24All fixed commemorations below celebrated on June 5 by Old Calendarists-Saints:* Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, the wife of Cleopas, aunt of Jesus...
on the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar
Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar
The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar describes and dictates the rhythm of the life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Associated with each date are passages of Holy Scripture, Saints and events for commemoration, and many times special rules for fasting or feasting that correspond to the day of...
.
Marriage and children
The name of Demetrius's wife is unknown, but he had several children:- DavidDavid V of GeorgiaDavid V , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Georgia c. 1154/5.He was an elder son of King Demetre I. Fearing that Demetre would make his younger son Giorgi an heir to the throne, David attempted a revolt in 1130...
- Rusudan, married firstly with sultan Masud Temirek and secondly with Sinjar Shah of Seljuk
- GiorgiGeorge III of GeorgiaGiorgi III , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia from 1156 to 1184. His reign, and that of Tamar, are seen as the 'golden age' of Georgian history, the era of empire, diplomatic success, military triumphs, great learning, cultural, spiritual, and artistic flowering.-Life:He succeeded on...
, who succeeded him - unknown - wife of Prince Iziaslav II of KievIziaslav II of KievIziaslav II Mstislavich , Prince of Pereyaslav , Prince of Turov , Prince of Rostov , Prince of Vladimir and Volyn , Pereyaslavl , Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev , was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich, Kniaz' , and...
.
Poems
King Demetrius I was an author of several poems, mainly on religious themes. Shen Khar VenakhiThou Art a Vineyard
Thou Art a Vineyard is a Medieval Georgian hymn. The text was written by King Demetre I of Georgia . The composer of the music is unknown...
(Thou Art a Vineyard), a hymn to the Virgin Mary, is the most famous of them.