# David VI

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This article is about the Georgian king. There was also a [Caucasian Albanian catholicos](/source/List_of_Caucasian_Albanian_catholicoi) named David VI from 958 to 965.

King of Georgia

David VI დავით VI A 13th-century fresco of David VI from the Gelati Monastery. King of Georgia Reign 1246–1259 Predecessor Rusudan Successor David VII Regent David VII King of Western Georgia Reign 1259–1293 Successor Constantine I Born 1225 Died 1293 (aged 67–68) Kutaisi Burial Gelati Monastery Spouse Tamar Amanelisdze Theodora Doukaina Palaeologina Issue Vakhtang II Constantine I of Imereti Michael of Imereti Prince Alexander House Bagrationi Father Ghias ad-din Mother Rusudan of Georgia Religion Georgian Orthodox Church Khelrtva

**David VI Narin** ([Georgian](/source/Georgian_language): დავით VI ნარინი, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Georgian): davit VI narini) (also called *the Clever*) (1225–1293), from the [Bagrationi dynasty](/source/Bagrationi_dynasty), was joint [king](/source/List_of_monarchs_of_Georgia) (*[mepe](/source/Mepe)*) of [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)) with his cousin [David VII](/source/David_VII) from to 1246 to 1256. He made secession in 1259, and from 1259 to 1293, ruled a [Kingdom of Western Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Western_Georgia) under the name **David I**, while his cousin [David VII](/source/David_VII) continued to rule in a reduced [Kingdom of Georgia (1256–1329)](/source/Kingdom_of_Georgia_(1256%E2%80%931329)) in eastern Georgia, under Mongol control.

## Life

See also: [Georgian Rebellion of 1256](/source/Georgian_Rebellion_of_1256)

The son of Queen [Rusudan](/source/Rusudan_of_Georgia) by her [Seljuk](/source/Seljuk_dynasty) husband, [Ghias ad-din](/source/Ghias_ad-din), David was crowned at [Kutaisi](/source/Kutaisi), as joint sovereign by his mother in 1230. Fearing that her nephew [David](/source/David_VII_Ulu) would claim the throne at her death, Rusudan held the latter prisoner at the court of her son-in-law, the Seljuk sultan [Kaykhusraw II](/source/Kaykhusraw_II), and in 1243 sent her son David to the [Mongol court](/source/Mongol_Empire) of [Batu Khan](/source/Batu_Khan) in [Karakorum](/source/Karakorum) to get official recognition as [heir apparent](/source/Heir_apparent).[1] She died in 1245, still waiting for her son to return. He was retained for three years at the Mongol court in [Karakorum](/source/Karakorum), until he was able to attend the enthronement of [Guyuk Khan](/source/Guyuk_Khan) with his cousin David VII in August 1246.[1]

Since David was believed by the Georgian nobles to have disappeared, two years later in 1245, they had proclaimed his cousin David VII Ulu, who had been freed on the death of Kaykhusraw, as king of Georgia. In 1246, David, son of Rusudan, was recognized by [Güyük Khan](/source/G%C3%BCy%C3%BCk_Khan) as junior co-king to his cousin David.[1] Thereafter known as David VI Narin (i.e. “the junior”) and David VII Ulu (i.e. “the senior”), the cousins ruled jointly from 1247 to 1248 upon their return, until 1259, when the former rose, unsuccessfully, against the [Mongol yoke](/source/Mongol_Empire) and, then, fled to [Kutaisi](/source/Kutaisi), from whence he reigned over western Georgia ([Imereti](/source/Imereti)) as a separate ruler.[1]

In 1259, David VI rebelled against his suzerain, although he did not drag his royal colleague into the rebellion.[2] The [Ilkhanate](/source/Ilkhanate) soon put an end to this revolt after a few short, bloody battles, while David VI managed to take refuge in western [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)).[3] Arriving in [Kutaisi](/source/Kutaisi), one of the largest towns in western Georgia, he declared the secession of the domains west of the [Likhi mountains](/source/Likhi_Range), and was proclaimed [King of western Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Western_Georgia) by the local nobility.[2]

The kingdom created by David VI included a number of powerful duchies controlling several [Black Sea](/source/Black_Sea) ports, including the [duchies](/source/Saeristavo) of [Guria](/source/Guria), [Mingrelia](/source/Mingrelia) and [Abkhazia](/source/Abkhazia), which contained the cities of [Batumi](/source/Batumi) and [Poti](/source/Poti). To the north, the kingdom controlled the duchies of [Svaneti](/source/Svaneti) and [Racha](/source/Racha), thus controlling the [Caucasus mountains](/source/Caucasus_Mountains) against the empire of the [Golden Horde](/source/Golden_Horde).[4] This situation enabled the new government of Kutaisi to maintain important trade routes with the West, notably via the [Genoese](/source/Republic_of_Genoa) merchants based in Abkhazia and the [Empire of Trebizond](/source/Empire_of_Trebizond), leading to a large-scale immigration of Georgian nobles and merchants from eastern Georgia.[5]

David VI Narin even managed to shelter and share his throne with his cousin, [David VII Ulu](/source/David_VII_of_Georgia), when the latter in turn revolted against the Mongol yoke in 1261;[6] this agreement was short-lived and the two sovereigns were unable to work together to protect western Georgia, leading to David Ulu's return to [Tbilisi](/source/Tbilisi), eastern [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)) in 1262.[7] Thus, Georgia split into two parts and both rulers continued to be titled [king of Georgia](/source/List_of_monarchs_of_Georgia). However, David Ulu surrendered to [Hulegu Khan](/source/Hulegu_Khan) thus becoming a nominal vassal of the [Ilkhans](/source/Ilkhanate) in 1262.[8]

Coin of David VI Narin citing Great Khan Güyük as overlord (Tiflis mint), dated 1247

He developed friendly relations with the [Golden Horde](/source/Golden_Horde) and the [Bahri dynasty](/source/Bahri_dynasty) of [Egypt](/source/Medieval_Egypt), and repulsed the Ilkhanate attacks.[9] In 1269, David gave shelter to [Teguder](/source/Teguder_(Chagatai_prince)), relative of the [Chagatai](/source/Chagatai_Khanate) [Baraq Khan](/source/Baraq_(Chagatai_Khan)), who had rebelled against the Ilkhan ruler [Abaqa Khan](/source/Abaqa_Khan). When Teguder's force began terrorizing the Georgian population, David sided with Abaqa's general [Shiramun Noyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shiramun_Noyan&action=edit&redlink=1). Despite this, Abaqa attempted to overthrow David with the help of the renegade lord of [Racha](/source/Racha) [Kakhaber Kakhaberisdze](/source/Kakhaberisdze), and sent two expeditions against Imereti in the 1270s. Nevertheless, David VI Narin succeeded in retaining his independence and attempted to restore Georgian influence in the [Empire of Trebizond](/source/Empire_of_Trebizond). For this purpose, he marched to [Trebizond](/source/Trabzon) during Emperor [John II Comnenus](/source/John_II_of_Trebizond)’ absence at [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople) in April 1282; and although he [failed to take the city](/source/Siege_of_Trebizond_(1282)), the Georgians occupied several provinces.

In 1282, during [John's](/source/John_II_of_Trebizond) absence from [Trebizond](/source/Empire_of_Trebizond), David VI tried to restore Georgian influence in the empire, David invaded the empire in April 1282 and captured many provinces (including the historical [Chaneti](/source/Lazistan)) and [besieged the capital](/source/Siege_of_Trebizond_(1282)).[10][5] Though David failed to take the city, the [Georgians](/source/Georgians) succeeded in annexing the eastern part of the empire.[11][10]

In 1284, David VI helped [John's](/source/John_II_of_Trebizond) half-sister [Theodora](/source/Theodora_of_Trebizond), daughter of [Manuel I](/source/Manuel_I_of_Trebizond) and his second wife [Rusudan](/source/Rusudan_of_Georgia%2C_Empress_of_Trebizond), and possible niece of David VI,[12] to seize the crown from her half-brother.[13] She became empress for a few months, though soon in 1285 John II returned to the empire and regained power, and Queen Theodora took refuge in Georgia.[14]

He died at [Kutaisi](/source/Kutaisi) in 1293. David was succeeded by his son, [Constantine I](/source/Constantine_I_of_Imereti). David is buried within the chapel (*[eukterion](/source/Eukterion)*) of St. Andrew at the Cathedral of Nativity of the Theotokos of [Gelati](/source/Gelati_Monastery), east of the southern entrance to the church.[15]

## Family

Coin representing Theodora [Palaiologos](/source/Palaiologos), wife of King David VI.

David was married first to Tamar [Amanelisdze](/source/Amanelisdze). Their children were:

- [Vakhtang II](/source/Vakhtang_II) (died 1292), King of [Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Georgia) (r. 1289–1292)

- [Constantine I of Imereti](/source/Constantine_I_of_Imereti) (died 1327), King of [Western Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Western_Georgia) (r. 1293–1327)

- [Michael of Imereti](/source/Michael_of_Imereti) (died 1329), King of the [Western Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Western_Georgia) (r. 1327–1329)

In 1254, he married Theodora, daughter of Byzantine Emperor [Michael VIII Palaiologos](/source/Michael_VIII_Palaiologos). and they had one child:[9]

- Prince Alexander.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AM254_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AM254_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AM254_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-AM254_1-3) Mikaberidze, Alexander (6 February 2015). [*Historical Dictionary of Georgia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JNNQCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA254). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 254. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4422-4146-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4422-4146-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayfield2012131_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayfield2012131_2-1) [Rayfield 2012](#CITEREFRayfield2012), p. 131.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrosset1849545_3-0)** [Brosset 1849](#CITEREFBrosset1849), p. 545.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrosset1849546_4-0)** [Brosset 1849](#CITEREFBrosset1849), p. 546.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayfield2012132_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayfield2012132_5-1) [Rayfield 2012](#CITEREFRayfield2012), p. 132.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESalia1980231_6-0)** [Salia 1980](#CITEREFSalia1980), p. 231.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESalia1980232_7-0)** [Salia 1980](#CITEREFSalia1980), p. 232.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** C.P.Atwood - Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire, p.197

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_9-1) Rayfield, Donald. [*Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia*](https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/E/bo14444362.html) (Kindle ed.). Reaktion Books. pp. 132–133. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1780230306](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1780230306).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_10-1) [William Miller](/source/William_Miller_(historian)), *Trebizond: The last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era: 1204–1461*, 1926 (Chicago: Argonaut, 1969), p. 30

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESalia1980235_11-0)** [Salia 1980](#CITEREFSalia1980), p. 235.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [William Miller](/source/William_Miller_(historian)), *Trebizond: The last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era: 1204-1461*, 1926 (Chicago: Argonaut, 1969), p. 30

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [William Miller](/source/William_Miller_(historian)), *Trebizond: The last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era: 1204-1461*, 1926 (Chicago: Argonaut, 1969), p. 30

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Jackson Williams, Kelsey (2007). ["A Genealogy of the Grand Komnenoi of Trebizond"](https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/8570). *Foundations: The Journal of the Foundation for Mediaeval Genealogy*. **2** (3): 175. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10023/8570](https://hdl.handle.net/10023%2F8570). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1479-5078](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1479-5078).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Skhirtladze, Zaza (2011). "Fresco of the King of the South-Eastern Chapel of the Main Church of Gelati Monastery Materials for Possible Identification". *Humanitarian Studies*. **2**. Tbilisi State University Press: 223–255.

## Bibliography

- Brosset, Marie-Félicité (1849). [*Histoire de la Géorgie depuis l'Antiquité jusqu'au XIXe siècle. Volume I*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hc1CAAAAcAAJ) [*History of Georgia from Ancient Times to the 19th Century, Volume 1*] (in French). Saint-Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences.

- Salia, Kalistrat (1980). [*Histoire de la nation géorgienne*](https://books.google.com/books?id=decTAQAAMAAJ). Nino Salia.

- [Rayfield, Donald](/source/Donald_Rayfield) (2012). *Edge of Empires, a History of Georgia*. London: Reaktion Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78023-070-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78023-070-2).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [David VI of Georgia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:David_VI_of_Georgia).

- [History of Georgia – XIII-XV centuries](https://web.archive.org/web/20040920032222/http://www.tbilisiymca.ge/index.php)

Preceded by Rusudan King of Georgia 1246–1259 Succeeded by David VII Preceded by None King of Western Georgia 1259–1293 Succeeded by Constantine I

v t e Kings of United Georgia Kingdom of Georgia (1008–1256) Bagrat III George I Bagrat IV George II David IV Demetrius I David V George III Tamar I George IV Rusudan David VI-David VII (jointly) Kingdom of Western Georgia (1256–1329) David VI Vakhtang II Constantine I Michael Bagrat I Kingdom of Eastern Georgia (1256–1329) David VII Demetrius II David VIII Vakhtang III George V Reunification (1329–1490) George V David IX Bagrat V George VII Constantine I Alexander I Vakhtang IV George VIII Bagrat VI Alexander II Constantine II

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David VI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_VI) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_VI?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.