Vakhtang, Duke of Aragvi

Vakhtang the Good^[1] (Georgian: ვახტანგ კარგი) (1738^[2] or 1742^[1] – 1 February, 1756^[2] or 1760^[1]) was a Georgian royal prince (batonishvili) of the Bagrationi dynasty. He was the first child and the eldest son of Heraclius II, then-prince of Kakheti, born of his first marriage to Ketevan née Orbeliani^[2] or, according to more recent research, Ketevan née Pkheidze.^[1]

Vakhtang was born at the time when eastern Georgia was reconquered by the resurgent ruler of Iran Nader Shah from the Ottoman Empire and the native monarchies in both eastern Georgian kingdoms, Kartli and Kakheti, were still dormant. In 1744, Nader Shah recognized Heraclius and his father Teimuraz II as kings of Kakheti and Kartli, respectively. Thereby, Vakhtang became heir apparent to the throne of Kakheti. Furthermore, in 1747, Vakhtang was bestowed by his grandfather Teimuraz II with the fief of Aragvi, the hereditary duke (eristavi) of which, Bezhan, was murdered by the rebellious peasants in 1743. Henceforth, the duchy of Aragvi passed in possession of the royal family. As Vakhtang was still a minor, the duchy was run on his behalf by Prince Jimsher Cholokashvili, who had to deal with a peasant revolt and Dagestani inroads. Later, after Vakhtang's untimely death of smallpox in Tbilisi, Aragvi was granted to his half-brother, Levan.^[3]

Vakhtang was married to Ketevan (20 February 1744–4 March 1808), daughter of Constantine III, Prince of Mukhrani. They had no children. Princess Ketevan lived to see the demise of the Georgian kingdom at the hand of the Russian Empire in 1801 and died in St. Petersburg in 1808.^[2]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Vakhtang, Duke of Aragvi

16. David of Kakheti               8. Heraclius I of Kakheti                       17. Elene Diasamidze               4. Teimuraz II of Georgia                             18. Shermazan Cholokashvili               9. Ana Cholokashvili                       2. Heraclius II of Georgia                                   20. Levan of Kartli               10. Vakhtang VI of Kartli                       21. Tuta Gurieli               5. Tamar of Kartli                             22. Kelchiko of Kabarda               11. Rusudan of Kabarda                       1. Vakhtang                                         24. Khosia Pkheidze               12. Vakhushti Pkheidze                       6. Zaal Pkheidze                             13. Marekhi Gogoberidze or Ana Chiladze                       3. Ketevan Pkheidze

References

1. Metreveli, Roin, ed. (2003). Scientific and Cultural Heritage of the Bagrationis. Tbilisi: Neostudia. ISBN 99928-0-623-0.
2. Montgomery, Hugh, ed. (1980). Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume 2. London: Burke's Peerage. p. 66. ISBN 0850110297.
3. Bendiashvili, A. (1975). "არაგვის საერისთავო [Duchy of Aragvi]" [Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia]. ქართული საბჭოთა ენცილოპედია. 1. Tbilisi. p. 532.