Bagrat I of Imereti

Bagrat I the Minor (Georgian: ბაგრატ მცირე, Bagrat Mts'ire; died 1372), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Western Georgia from 1329 until 1330, when he was reduced to a vassal duke by George V of Georgia.

Bagrat I
King of Western Georgia
Reign	1329–1330
Predecessor	Michael I
Successor	Alexander I (As Duke of Imerti)
Died	1372
Issue	Alexander I George I Constantine II
Dynasty	Bagrationi
Father	Michael I
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church

Biography

Bagrat was the only known son of King Michael of Imereti, on whose death he succeeded in 1329. Still a minor at this time (hence, his moniker mts'ire), Bagrat was compelled to remain in his capital, Kutatisi, as the provinces were being divided by the rivaling noble factions. In 1330, George V, the resurgent king in eastern Georgia, took advantage of the situation and of being Bagrat's relative and crossed the Likhi Range into Imereti, being welcomed by many Imeretians, weary of persistent violence and anarchy. Imereti was conquered and the integrity of the Kingdom of Georgia restored. Henceforth, Bagrat sat as eristavi ("duke") in Imereti, with his seat in Shorapani, under the tutelage of George V.^[1][2][3]

Personal life

In 1358, Bagrat married, with the approval of David IX of Georgia, Princess Jaqeli, a daughter of Qvarqvare I, Atabeg of Samtskhe. They had three sons:^[1]

• Alexander I (died 1389), Duke of Imereti (1372–1378), King of Imereti (1387–1389).
• George I (died 1392), King of Imereti (1389–1392).
• Constantine II (died 1401), King of Imereti (1396–1401).