This is the list of individuals who ruled Safavid Georgia. The territory of the province was principally made up of the two subordinate eastern Georgian kingdoms of Kartli (Persian: کارتیل, romanized: Kartil) and Kakheti (Persian: کاخت, romanized: Kakhet) and, briefly, parts of the Principality of Samtskhe.[a] The city of Tiflis (present-day Tbilisi) was its administrative center, the base of Safavid power in the province, and the seat of the rulers of Kartli. It also housed an important Safavid mint. Safavid rule was mainly exercised through the approval or appointment of Georgian royals of the Bagrationi dynasty, at times converts to Shia Islam, as valis or khans.[b] The eastern Georgian kingdoms had been subjected in the early 16th century, their rulers did not commonly convert. Tiflis was garrisoned by an Iranian force as early as IsmailI's reign, but relations between the Georgians and Safavids at the time mostly bore features of traditional vassalage. Davud Khan (David XI) was the first Safavid-appointed ruler, whose placement on the throne of Kartli in 1562 marked the start of nearly two and a half centuries of Iranian political dominance over eastern Georgia.
Not known to be conferred with a title (e.g. vali, khan). Subjected by Ismail (r. 1501–1524). Upon Ismail's death in 1524, the Safavid forces were expelled from Kartli.
Not known to be conferred with a title (e.g. vali, khan). Armed resistance against the Safavids. Kartli (including Tiflis) de facto occupied by the Safavids nevertheless.
Appointed by Abbas I (1588–1629). Executed in 1622 in Shiraz. Also known as Luarsab II.
1614–1619
Direct Safavid rule
Tenure of the brothers Ali-Qoli Beg and Emamqoli Beg, as well as Bagrat Khan. When Abbas I (1588–1629) launched his punitive campaigns in Safavid Georgia, he temporarily entrusted Kartli's governorship to Ali-Qoli Beg and his brother Emamqoli Beg. After Ali-Qoli Beg was killed in 1615, Abbas I appointed Bagrat Khan to the post. Raised in Isfahan. Also known as Bagrat VII.
1619–1630/1631
Direct Safavid rule
Tenure of Semayun Khan. Appointed by Abbas I (1588–1629). Raised in Isfahan. Murav-Beg (Giorgi Saakadze) was appointed as his regent (vakil) and vizier when he was in his minority. Murdered by Zurab I, Duke of Aragvi. Also known as Svimon II or Simon II.
Appointed by Safi (1629–1642). Raised in Isfahan. Held numerous other positions within the Safavid state as well. Buried in Qom. Also known as Rostom, or Rustam Khan.
Appointed by Suleiman I (1666–1694). Upon his appointment, Abbas Qoli-Khan of neighboring Kakheti was made his supervisor. Removed from position by Suleiman I's successor, Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Subsequently, made commander of the shah's personal guard, as well as vali of Kakheti (1703–1709). Died in Isfahan. Also known as Erekle I, Heraclius I, or Eregli Khan.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Due to his absence, being Safavid governor in Kandahar and commander-in-chief (sepahsalar) of the Safavid armies, his brother Shah-Qoli Khan was briefly made janeshin (regent) of Kartli. Assassinated by rebels while on duty in Kandahar. Also known as Giorgi XI, George XI.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Spent the entire period as a Safavid commander-in-chief (sepahsalar), and thus served as vali in absentia. Also held the position of prefect of Isfahan for some time, as well as being the deputy to the divanbegi (chancellor, chief justice). Died on the battlefield. Also known as Kaikhosro.
1711/12–1714
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Regency (actually since 1703) of the future Hosayn-Qoli Khan (Vakhtang VI).
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Raised in Isfahan. Held numerous other positions within the Safavid state as well. Also known as Iese or Jesse.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Functioned as janeshin on behalf of his father Hosayn-Qoli Khan (Vakhtang VI), who was detained at Isfahan. Held numerous other positions within the Safavid state as well.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Held numerous other positions within the Safavid state as well. Rebelled in 1722 to join the Russian attack. He was declared deposed by the Safavid government in 1723. Also known as Vakhtang VI.
Appointed by Tahmasp II (1722–1731). Born and raised in Isfahan. Held numerous other positions in the Safavid state as well. Ordered to take control of Kartli after Hosanyqoli Khan's rebellion. Surrendered to the Ottomans later that same year. Also known as Constantine II.
Including with Shah-Navaz, Bakar Mirza briefly as vassal in 1723 (new name given by the Ottomans: Ibrahim Pasha), and Ali-Qoli Khan (new name given by the Ottomans: Mustafa Pasha) until 1727. Direct Ottoman rule afterwards.
Not known to be conferred with a title (e.g. vali, khan). Accepted Safavid overlordship both during the reign of Ismail I (1501–1524) as well as Tahmasp I (1524–1576).
Not known to be conferred with a title (e.g. vali, khan). Repudiated his allegiance to then incumbent king Mohammad Khodabanda, and accepted the Ottoman suzerainty when the latter empire gained the upper hand in 1578.
Appointed by Abbas I (1588–1629). Raised in Isfahan. Held several other positions as well in the Safavid state. Killed in battle against Georgian rebels. Also known as Constantin(e) Mirza, Konstandil/Kustandil Mirza, and Constantine I.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Due to him being kept at Isfahan, where he also served as commander of the king's personal guard, the actual administration in Kakheti was headed by his son Emamqoli Khan. He died in Isfahan, and was also known as Irakli I, Heraclius I, or Eregli Khan.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Born and raised in Isfahan. In 1709–1715, due to Emamqoli Khan's absence being at the court in Isfahan, his younger brother Teimuraz II and the latter's mother took care of the administration. He was buried in Qom. Also known as Davit II, or David II.
Appointed by Sultan Husayn (1694–1722). Born and raised in Isfahan. Held numerous other positions in the Safavid state as well. Killed in 1732 by the Ottomans at the time of Nader Qoli Beg's (Nader Shah) reestablishment of Safavid power in the region. Also known as Constantine II.
It was during this period that Manuchar II Jaqeli fled to the Safavid court. His son, Manuchar III Jaqeli, was appointed as ruler of Samtskhe–Meskheti by Abbas I in 1607.
The Ottomans were given the Safavid (i.e. "eastern") part of Samtskhe–Meskheti according to the Treaty of Zuhab. All of Samtskhe–Meskheti remained thenceforth in Ottoman hands.
Notes[]
^Eastern Samtskhe was part of the Safavid Empire from 1551 to 1582, as well as for several years after 1613–1614.[1]
^Before Abbas I's r. (1588–1629), governors of Georgia were usually referred to as hakem.[2] Sometimes they were also styled as soltan (salatin).[3]
Floor, Willem (2001). Safavid Government Institutions. Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers. ISBN978-1568591353.
Floor, Willem M. (2008). Titles and Emoluments in Safavid Iran: A Third Manual of Safavid Administration, by Mirza Naqi Nasiri. Washington, D.C.: Mage Publishers. pp. 1–324. ISBN978-1933823232.
Rayfield, Donald (2012). Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. Reaktion Books. ISBN978-1780230702.