Kvirike II of Kakheti

Kvirike II (Georgian: კვირიკე II) (died 976) was a Prince and chorepiscopus of Kakheti in eastern Georgia from 929 to 976.

He succeeded upon the death of his father, Padla II.

Long Reign

Most of his long reign was spent in a continuous struggle against the expansionism of the kings of Abkhazia who ruled over a significant portion of western and central Georgia and aimed at conquering Kakheti. Subversively aided by the rebellious Kakhetian nobles, George II of Abkhazia even succeeded in dispossessing Kvirike of his principality in the 930s.

Leon III

Kvirike II soon recovered the crown in 957 and successfully resisted the attempts of George’s successor Leon III to gain a foothold in Kakheti. After Leon’s death during one of his incursions into Kakheti II (969), Kvirike capitalized on the dynastic feud in the Kingdom of Abkhazia to reassert his full authority and even expand his possessions to the west.

Bagrat III

In 976, Kvirike II invaded Kartli (central Georgia), captured the city of Uplistsikhe and took captive the Georgian Bagratid prince Bagrat who was intended by his powerful foster-father David of Tao to seat on the thrones of Kartli and Abkhazia. In response, David marshaled an army to punish Kvirike and forced him to withdraw from Kartli and release Bagrat.

Successor

He was succeeded by his son David.

References

• Toumanoff, Cyrille (1976, Rome). Manuel de Généalogie et de Chronologie pour le Caucase chrétien (Arménie, Géorgie, Albanie).
• Вахушти Багратиони. История царства грузинского. Возникновение и жизнь Кахети и Эрети. Ч.1.