{{Short description|Georgian ruling prince}}{{Infobox royalty | name = Beka I Jaqeli | image = Portrait Beka I Jaqeli.jpg | caption = Fresco of Beka I Jaqeli from the [[Sapara Monastery]]. | succession = Atabeg of [[Samtskhe-Saatabago|Samtskhe]] | reign = 1285–1308 | predecessor = [[Sargis I Jaqeli]] | successor = [[Sargis II Jaqeli]] | birth_date = {{Circa|1242}} | death_date = 1308 | spouse = Vakhakhi | issue = {{plainlist| * [[Sargis II Jaqeli|Sargis II]] * Qvarqvare * Shalva * Natela * [[Jiajak Jaqeli|Jiajak]]}} | house = [[House of Jaqeli|Jaqeli]] | father = [[Sargis I Jaqeli]] | religion = [[Georgian Orthodox Church]] }} '''Beka I Jaqeli''' ({{lang-ka|ბექა I ჯაყელი}}) ({{Circa|1242}} – 1308), of the [[House of Jaqeli]], was a [[Georgians|Georgian]] prince who ruled over (''[[mtavari]]'') of [[Samtskhe-Saatabago|Samtskhe]] from 1285 to 1308.{{Sfn|Toumanoff|1976|p=205}}
==Biography== His principality included Samtskhe, [[Adjara]], [[Şavşat|Shavsheti]], [[Klarjeti]], Lazia (Chaneti), [[Tao (historical region)|Tao]], [[Göle|Kola]], [[Ardahan Province|Artaani]] and most of [[Javakheti]]. His [[Samtskhe-Saatabago|realm]] stretched from Tashiskari (modern [[Khashuri District]]) to Karnu-kalaki (now [[Erzurum]]) and the [[Black Sea]]. During his reign, Samtskhe-Saatabago existed as a politically independent entity from the [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgian Kingdom]].
Beka was a vassal of the [[Ilkhanate]], paid regular tributes and participated in their campaigns.<ref name="GSE">[[Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia]], Volume 2, page 345-346, Tbilisi, 1977</ref> Paintings of the House of Jaqeli during the period show them wearing the ''[[caftan]]'' with ''[[tiraz]]'' bands on the sleeves inscribed with [[Kufic]] letters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eastmond |first1=Antony |title=Monumental Painting and the Role of Images in Armenia under the Mongols |date=1 January 2021 |location=Metropolitan Museum of Art |page=46 |url=https://www.academia.edu/98438550/Monumental_Painting_and_the_Role_of_Images_in_Armenia_under_the_Mongols}}</ref> Their caftan is decorated with the [[cloud collar]]s made of pearl embroidery, a design of Mongol Ilkhanate origin.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Вулета) |first1=Tatjana Vuleta (Татјана |title=The Cloud Collars from Lesnovo |journal=Patrimonium.MK 12 |date=1 January 2014 |page=181 and Fig.23 |url=https://www.academia.edu/107641992/The_Cloud_Collars_from_Lesnovo?email_work_card=view-paper |quote="the cloud collars decorated with pearl embroidery on the portraits of the Georgian princely family Djakeli from St. Saba in Sapara Monastery, 1285–1306. (fig.23), of Ilkhanate origin."}}</ref> This is also the costume worn at the time by the courtiers at the Mongol court in [[Tabriz]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eastmond |first1=Antony |title=Monumental Painting and the Role of Images in Armenia under the Mongols |date=1 January 2021 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |location=New York |isbn=978-1588397379 |page=51, Note 12 |url=https://www.academia.edu/98438550/Monumental_Painting_and_the_Role_of_Images_in_Armenia_under_the_Mongols |quote=Many of the courtiers in the [[Great Mongol Shahnameh|Great Mongol Shahnamah]], made in [[Tabriz]] in the 1330s, wear similar dress. Melville 2002, figs 45, 51}}</ref>
Despite being independent, Samtskhe still maintained some kind of relations with Georgia and Beka himself was given a title of Mandaturukhutsesi (the elder - ''first in rank'' - [[Mandator]]) by Georgian king.<ref>[[Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia]], Volume 2, page 345-346, Tbilisi, 1977</ref>
At the time of Beka's rule, the Turks became more active the Southwest borders, from the [[Sultanate of Rum]]. After a series of invasions, he managed to fend off the attacks.
Beka was a supporter of maintaining Georgian political influence over the [[Empire of Trebizond]]. For this cause, he married off his daughter [[Jiajak Jaqeli|Jiajak]] to the Trapezuntine Emperor [[Alexios II of Trebizond|Alexios II]]. Another daughter of Beka, - Natela, became the consort of [[Demetrius II of Georgia]] and bore him a son and [[George V of Georgia|the successor]] to the throne. After the execution of his father Demetrius by Mongols, future king [[George V of Georgia|George V]] was raised by his grandfather at his court.
== Family == Beka I Jaqeli was married to Vakhakhi. The children of Beka were:{{Sfn|Toumanoff|1976|p=205}}
* [[Sargis II Jaqeli|Sargis II]], Atabeg of Samtskhe from 1308 to 1334. * Qvarqvare. * Shalva. * Natela, who married [[Demetrius II of Georgia]], and was the mother of [[George V of Georgia]]. * [[Jiajak Jaqeli|Jiajak]], who married [[Alexios II of Trebizond]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=Toumanoff |first=Cyril |author-link=Cyril Toumanoff |title=Manuel de Généalogie et de Chronologie pour l'histoire de la Caucasie chrétienne (Arménie, Géorgie, Albanie) |publisher=Edizioni Aquila |year=1976 |location=Rome |language=French |trans-title=Manual of Genealogy and Chronology of Christian Caucasian History (Armenia, Georgia, Albania)}} {{s-start}} {{s-hou|[[Jaqeli]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Sargis I Jaqeli|Sargis I]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Samtskhe-Saatabago|Prince of Meskheti]]|years=1285-1308}} {{s-aft|after=[[Sargis II Jaqeli|Sargis II]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Atabegs of Samtskhe}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Atabegs of Samtskhe]] [[Category:Nobility of Georgia (country)]] [[Category:13th-century people from Georgia (country)]] [[Category:14th-century people from Georgia (country)]] [[Category:Military personnel from Georgia (country)]] [[Category:House of Jaqeli]] [[Category:1240s births]] [[Category:1306 deaths]]