Teimuraz I

Teimuraz I

 

Born 1589; died 1663. King of Kakhetia from 1606 to 1648 and of Kartli from 1625 to 1632.

Together with G. Saakadze, Teimuraz for many years led Kartli-Kakhetia in its lengthy struggle against Iranian aggression. He dispatched missions to Russia requesting aid in 1615, 1618, 1624, 1635, and 1649; in 1658 he went to Moscow himself to request aid but was refused. He retired from political life and became a monk in 1661. Soon after he was summoned to Iran and, for refusing to convert to Islam, was incarcerated in the fortress of Astrabad, where he died.

Teimuraz was a prominent poet of his time. His lyric poetry and his historical epic The Martyrdom of Ketevana are especially interesting.