Gens:

KINGS OF IBERIA

Created:

2nd December 2014

Update:

30th July 2021

Notes:

The kingdom of Iberia (K'art'li in Georgian) in the Caucasus is the Eastern part of the later kingdom of Georgia, the other Western part being Colchis (Egrisi).

The stemma follows Toumanoff's analysis of the king-lists from the Georgian chronicles mainly the Royal Annals of Kartli, which he somewhat uncritically accepts,

in spite of discrepencies with other sources, incl. Greek-Roman historians. Several scholars disagree with Toumanoffs king-list and dating.

Names and dates in red follow alternative dating by other scholars.

The first name of a king is the classical name, the second the local name. A few kings are only known by their local name. The sources provide several alternative spellings.

The regnal number of years is traditional based on Georgian sources.

The title Vitaxa can approx. be translated as "viceroy", a person second in rank to the king.

Literature

Braund, David: "King Flavius Dades", in ZPE Bd. 96, 1993, p.46-50 (redates this king from age of Trajan to likely 3rd century, possibly 4th century)

Coert, Jean and Schmitt, Tassilo: "Wer war Fl. Dades? Überlegungen zum Verständnis einer Inschrift aus dem kaukasischen Iberien", in Advances in Ancient Black Sea Studies:

Historiography, Archaeology and Religion / ed.: Victor Cojocaru, Ligia Ruscu, Thibaut Castelli and Annamária‑Izabella Pázsint. – Cluj‑Napoca: Mega, 2019

(their new analysis of the inscription on a silver dish redates it to 4th century, possibly a political gift from Constantine I to a king Dades, who gave it to the pitiax Bersumas)

Gugushvili, A.: "The Chronological-Genealogical Table of the Kings of Georgia", in Georgica vol, I, 1936, p.112-113 (two lists of kings based on The Conversion

of Georgia and The Life of Georgia with a proposed list by S. Gorgadze)

Linderski: "How Did King Flavius Dades and Pitiaxes Publicius Agrippa Acquire Their Roman Names?", in Roman Questions II (2007)  p.262-276 (he prefers Dades to be a

petty king from outside Iberia, whose ancestor received his Roman name from the Flavian emperors)

Meissner, Burkhard: "A Belated Nation: Sources on Ancient Iberia and Iberian Kingship" in AMIT (Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan) Tome 32, 2000,

p.177-206 (ARTICLE NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)

PIR volume VII (1999) letter R: stemma p.39 of kings that can be attested from Mithridates M643 (as father of P341) to Pharasmanes P342

Preud'hommes, Nicolas J.: "Rois et royauté en Ibérie du Caucase. Entre monde romain et monde iranien. De l’époque hellénistique au début du Ve siècle de notre ère",

dissertation, Sorbonne, 2019, p.587-589 (tables of kings), p.583-586 (table of attested dates). He stresses the differences between the few kings attested by classical sources,

the kings attested epigraphically and the various kinglists and does not follow Tourmanoff's chronology. On p.619-621 analysis of king Flavius Dades.

On p.622-624 analysis of new king Oustamos Eugenios on inscription found in 2001 dated to 2nd or 3rd century.

Rapp, Stephen H.: "The Sasanian World through Georgian Eyes", Routledge, New York, 2014 (in depth analysis of the evidence, he follows the chronology of Toumanoff)

Rapp, Stephen H.: "Studies In Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts", Louvain 2003 Chapter 4 p.245-298 (analysis of the earliest pre-Christian

kinglists until Mirian III), chapter 5 p.299-333 (analysis of kinglists of Christian rulers)

Rayfield, Donald: "Edge of Empires - A History of Georgia", London, 2012, p.430 (stemma of Iberian royal dynasties based on Toumanoff)

Sanadze, Manana: "The Dates of the Reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali", in History Research, May 2013, Vol. 3, No. 5, p.370-375

Her dating of the kinglists is Aspagur and Trdat (Saurmag)–parallel reign aprx. 368–380, Great Bakur (the same Varaz-Bakur and not Aspagur) aprx. 380–395/400,

Parsman V aprx. 395/400-400/405, Mihrdat Bosmarios (father of Peter the Iberian) aprx. 400/405–428, Archil aprx. 430/431–463,

Mihrdat (father of Vakhtang Gorgasali) aprx. 463–473, Vakhtang (the same Varan/Guaram I) aprx. 473–527,

Darchil/Archil II//parallel ruler in the South West of Kartli–his brother Patrician Mihrdat aprx. 527–545, Bakur aprx. 545–550

Sanadze, Manana: "Chronology of Georgian Kings and Patricians of the Ancient Period and the Early Middle Ages Vol. 1: The Pagan Georgian Kings", Edwin Mellen Press,

2017 (seems very relevant with a modern update to the king-lists, unfortunately NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)

Settipani, Christian: "Continuité des elites à Byzance durant les siècles obscures: les princes caucasiens et l'empire du VIe au IXe siècle",  Paris, 2006, p.393-445

(chapter Les Princes d'Iberie) and p.538 (stemma of family after 361). Settipani does not accept Toumanoff's reliance on the Georgian king lists, which give many of the

early kings of Iberia very long reigns. On p.397 he compares the king lists with a stemma of kings that can be attested.

Schleicher, Frank: "Die Chronologie der kʽartʽvelischen Könige. Das Ende des iberischen Königtums", in Schleicher, F. / Stickler, T. / Hartmann, U. (Hgg.),

"Iberien zwischen Rom und Iran. Beiträge zur Geschichte und Kultur Transkaukasiens in der Antike", Stuttgart 2019, p.69–98 (he believes the old chronicles are

untrustworthy both with respect to king names and reigns. He gives as an example Toumanoff's arbitrary reorganization of the reigns of Aspagur 1 (expanding reign

from 3 to 19 years in order to moves the dating of Mirian III from 268-345 to 284-361, also reducing Aspagur II from 22 years to 2. All in order to make Mirian III

identical to Meribanes mentioned as king in 361 by Ammianus Marcellinus. Sapur I conquered Iberia 253/260 when Aspagur was king. This does not fit his

reign of 265-284 or 265-268. He also doubts the last kings before 580, since the historian Procopius states that the kingdom was dissolved 535/540)

Schottky, Martin: "Vorarbeiten zu einer Konigsliste Kaukasisch-Iberiens 1 Anfänge der Pharnabaziden", in Anabasis 3, 2012, p.239-250 (He believes the kingship was first

established by a father to Artoces I (possibly Pharnabazus I). He doubts Toumanoffs identification of Bartom with Phanarbazus II.)

Schottky, Martin: "Vorarbeiten zu einer Konigsliste Kaukasisch-Iberiens 2 Das Zeitalter Pharasmanes ", in Anabasis 4 Studia Classica et Orientalia, 2013, p.133-148

(ARTICLE NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)

Schottky, Martin: "Vorarbeiten zu einer Konigsliste Kaukasisch-Iberiens 3 Pharasmanes II und Xepharnug", in Anabasis 5, 2014, p.85-106 (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)

Schottky, Martin: "Vorarbeiten zu einer Konigsliste Kaukasisch-Iberiens 4 Von den Arsakiden zu den Sasaniden", in Anabasis 6, 2015, p.157-173 (available through SCRIBD)

(Dismisses the traditional king lists; he accepts Flavius Dades as king under Constantine the Great, of the 2nd Flavian dynasty)

Schottky, Martin: "Vorarbeiten zu einer Konigsliste Kaukasisch-Iberiens 5 Im Schatten Schapurs II", in Anabasis 7, 2016, p. 204-222 (disagrees with Toumanoff's dating

of Meribanes III who probably lived until c.368)

Schottky, Martin: "Vorarbeiten zu einer Konigsliste Kaukasisch-Iberiens 6 Herrscher im Umkreis Petrus des Iberers" in Anabasis 8, 2017, p. 203-225

(ARTICLE NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)

Sullivan, Richard D.: "Papyri Reflecting the Eastern Dynastic Network", in Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt, Bd.II,8, 1977, p.908-938 with stemma at end

for kings of Iberia. His dating in red below.

Toumanoff, Cyril: "Chronology of the Early Kings of Iberia", in Traditio, Vol. 25, 1969, p. 1-33 (he refutes the legend of a diarch period with two kings following

Pharasmanes I. The legend says 5 generations of two kings each ruled a total of 80 years (17+15+16+16+16))

Toumanoff, Cyrilel: "Les Dynasties de la Caucasie chrétienne de l’Antiquité jusqu’au XIXe siècle : Tables généalogiques et chronologiques", Rome,, 1990

Toumanoff, Cyrille: "Manuel de Généalogie et de Chronologie pour l’histoire de la Caucasie Chrétienne", Rome : Edizioni Aquila, 1976

Toumanoff, Cyrille: "Supplément au Manuel de Généalogie et de Chronologie pour l’histoire de la Caucasie Chrétienne", Rome : Edizioni Aquila, 1978

Toumanoff, Cyril: "Toumanoff_Studies in Christian Caucasian History", Georgetown University, 1963, p.358-434 (chapter IV Iberia between Chosroid and Bagratid Rule),

with stemma of Bakhtang I and his descendents at book end

Changes

2021.07.30 Much expanded reference list plus many additions extending the dynasty back to c.299 BC and up to 580 AD.

The PHARNABAZIDS

Pharnabazus I (P'arnavaz I)

* 326 (aged 27 when king)

King of Iberia c.299-c.234 (65 years)

nephew of Samar, dynast of Mts'khet'a, the capital of Kartli

~ princess of Dourdzouque

Sauromaces I (Saurmag I)

daughter

daughter

King of Iberia c.234-c.159 (75 years)

~ king of the Alani

~ Koudj, dynast of Colchis (Egrisi)

~ Albanian princess

daughter

daughter

~ Meribanes I (Mirvan I)

~ prince of Koudjide in Colchis (Egrisi)

duke of Samshvilde ,

cousin of his mother,

adopted by Sauromaces,

King of Iberia c.159-c.109 (50 years)

The NIMRODIDS or

the 2nd PHARNABAZID DYNASTY

daughter

P'arnajom / P'arnajob

King of Iberia c.109-c.90 (19 years)

~ Artaxias I (Arsaces / Arshak I / Arsok)

killed in battle vs Artaxias I

King of Iberia c.90-c.78 (12 years)

son of Artavasdes I

King of Armenia c.161-post 123

The ARTAXIADS

RE1

Artoces (Artog / Artag / Arik)

Meribanes II (Mirvan II)

King of Iberia c.78-c.63 (15 years)

* c.91 (aged 1 when father killed)

accepted Roman suzerainty 65

exiled to Parthia,

King of Iberia c.30-c.20 (10 years)

~ widow of Pharnabazus II

Pharnabazus II (Bartom / Bratman)

Artaxias II (Arsaces / Arshak II / Arsuk)

King of Iberia c.63-30 (33 years)

King of Iberia c.20 BC-1 AD (20 years)

overthrown by Meribanes II

defeated and slain in single combat by his successor,

attested 36 BC when defeated by Rome

~ Arsacid princess, ? dt of

Tigranes II of Armenia

M643

daughter

Mithradates I

† 35 AD

~ K'art'am, prince of Koudjide in Colchis

King of Iberia ? to 35

DIARCHY - unhistorical

† killed c.30 BC

mentioned by Dio 58,26,4

Toumanoff merges first three pairs

descendent of dt of Sauromaces I

into Mihrdat I, the 4th pair into

The 3rd PHARNABAZID DYNASTY

Amazaspus I and the 5th pair into

Pharasmanes II.

P341

M644

RE33

Pharasmanes I

Pharasmanes I (Aderki / Rok)

Mithradates (Mihrdat)

← King until 58

* c.30 BC posthumously † by 75

King of Armenia

King of Iberia 1 AD-58 (57 years)

35-37/8 and 41/2-51

King of Iberia post 35-c.60/72 (attested 35 as son of M643 and in 51)

† 51 exc. by nephew Radamistus

K'art'am

Bartam (Bartom)

~ Iamasaspoi

~ niece

King at Armazi

King at Mts'khet'a

or ~ dt of Artaxiad Armenian monarchs Tigranes IV and his sister-wife Erato.

reigned 17 years

reigned 17 years

R7 RE1

M638 RE34

A555

Z6

Radamistus

daughter

Mithradates I (Mihrdat I) (II)

Amazaspus (Amazasp)

sons

Zenobia

P'arsman

Kaos

King of Armenia 51-54

† 51 exc

King of Iberia c.58-c.106 (48 years)

ment on funeral epigram at Rome

† 51 exc.

King at Armazi

King at Mts'khet'a

† before 58 exc.

~ uncle King

(??? = Flavius Dades of inscription)

† 114/117 during TRAJAN's

by Radamistus

~ Radamistus

reigned 15 years

reigned 15 years

by his father

Mithridates

King of Iberia attested 75

Parthian campaign

←

~ Zenobia, →

Or brother of Mithridates M639

attested 75 with brother

Azork (Arsok)

Armazel (Amazaer)

King at Armazi

King at Mts'khet'a

M639

A555

???

AE1947-125

reigned 16 years

reigned 16 years

Mithridates II

Amazaspus I (Amazasp I)

===

Xepharnuges (Ksefarnug)

King of Iberia

King of Iberia c.106-116 (10 years)

King of Iberia possibly = Amazaspus I

c.110/115

not king

("royal spendour")

Amazasp

Derok (Deruk)

? = king attested 75

but see below

King at Armazi

King at Mts'khet'a

P342

reigned 10 years

reigned 10 years

Pharasmanes II the Valiant or the Good (P'arsman K'ueli)

King of Iberia c.120-post 141, possible son of Mithridates II ↖

visited Rome 141

P'arsman the Good

Mihrdat

King of Iberia c.116-c.132 (16 years)

King at Armazi

King at Mts'khet'a

~ Ghadana, dt of Vologases I of Armenia

reigned 16 years

reigned 16 years

regent 135-149

AE1947-125

Radamistus (Adami or Gadam or Ghadami)

Xepharnuges (Ksefarnug)

King of Iberia c.132-c.135 (3 years)

King of Iberia mid or late 2nd century (? AD 160s)

likely the successor of Pharasmanes II

Pharasmanes III (P'arsman)

* c. 134

King of Iberia c.135-c.185 (50 years)

visited Roma c.154 (= his grand-father in 141)

daughter

Amazaspus II (Amazasp II)

King of Iberia c.185-c.189 (4 years)

~ Vologases II

† 189 killed in battle vs Rev I

King of Armenia 180-191

~ Drakontis, dt of Vologaeses of Armenia

King of Kings Parthia 191-207/8

as Vologases V (or IV)

The ARTACIDS

Rev I the Just (Rev Mart'ali)

see stemma of Parthia

Ustamos (Oustamos) Eugenios

King of Iberia c.189-216 (27 years)

King of Iberia

deposed his uncle

named on inscription found in 2001

~ Sephelia, a Roman ("Greek")

fl. c.170 / before 260

Vach'e

King of Iberia c.216-234 (18 years)

Bacurius I (Bakur I)

King of Iberia c.234-249 (15 years)

Mithridates II (Mihrdat II)

Amazaspus III (Khamazasp)

King of Iberia c.249-265 (16 years)

anti king of Iberia c.260-265

setup by Sapor I of Persia

Phanarbazid dynasty ?

unattested in Georgian sources

Aspacures I (Asp'agur)

King of Iberia c.265-284 (19 years)

or 265-268(traditionally 3 years, incorrect according to Toumanoff)

† in exile in Alania after defeat by Sassanids

The CHOSROIDS

RE1 PLRE

Abeschura

~ 284

Meribanes III (Mirian / Mihran)

Flavius Dades

† 292 sp.

son of a King of Parthia (Bahram II?), by concubine,

King of Iberia ?

last of her dynasty

but he was more likely of the Mihranid dynasty of Iran,

3rd century or early 4th century,

* c.277 King of Iberia c.284-361 (77 years)

king only known through

baptized Christian 337, later canonized

inscription on dish

a king Meribanes attested 361 by Ammianus Marcellinus 21,6,7

2 ~ Nana from Pontus/Bosporus, † 363, dt of Oligotos

(Toumanoff: possibly a corruption of Olympius/Olympus)

or (Settipani) dt of Theothorses King of Bosporus 285-308.

she was later canonized

2

2

2

Rev II

Aspacures II (Asp'agur II)

daughter

co-King of Iberia c.345-361

(or Varaz-Bak'ar / Bakur I)

† 361 before father

King of Iberia 363-365

~ Peroz I, prince of Gardman,

~ Salome, daughter of Tiridates IV (III) the Great,

(traditionally 22 years, incorrect)

vitaxa of Gogarene c.330-c.361

King of Armenia

of the Mihranid dynasty

RE1

PLRE1

Sauromaces II

Tiridates (T'rdat)

Mithridates III (Mihrdat III)

Bacurius I

King of Iberia 361-363 (2 years)

King of Iberia 394-406

King of Iberia 365-380 (15 years)

vitaxa of Gogarene

overthrown by his uncle

(12 years)

diarch of Iberia 370-378

comes domesticorum,

diarch of Iberia 370-378, restored 370

dux of Palaestina 378/394

to part of Iberia by emperor Valens

magister militum 394

Peranius (Piran)

daughter

~

Aspacures III

~

daughter

Arschouscha I

hostage in Iran 378

(Varaz-Bak'ar/Bakur II)

prince of Taschir,

King of Iberia 380-394 (14 years)

↓

↓

Mithridates IV (Mihrdat IV)

Tiridates (T'rdat)

Pharasmanes IV (P'arsman IV)

King of Iberia 409-411 (2 years)

King of Iberia 406-409 (3 years)

deposed and deported

Arch'il

King of Iberia 411-435 (24 years)

mention 422

~ Maria, related to emperor Jovian

Mithridates V (Mihrdat V)

King of Iberia 435-447 (12 years)

~ Sagdukht, daughter of Barzabod I, Mihranid Prince of Gardman in Albania,

PLRE2-Gurgenes

Vakhtang I Gorgasali / Gurgenes

Xuaranje (Khvaramze)

Mirandukht

* 440 † 522 after fleeing to Roman territory

* c.436

c.441

King of Iberia 447-522 (75 years) (or 449-502)

~ Bacurius II, vitaxa of Vogarene,

~ Great King ?

1 ~ 459 Balendukht, daughter of the Great King Hormizd III, (K.457-459)

of the Mihranid dynasty, c.449/455

2 ~ after 484 Helena, relative of emperor Zeno

descendent of Arschousha I  ↑

1

2

2

PLRE 3A

PLRE 3B-Leo9

PLRE 3B

Dach'i

Leo (Leon)

Mithridates (Mihrdat)

King of Iberia 522-534 (12 years)

* ante 510 † ante 534

archduke W. Iberia 522-534

ruled only Kakhetia in Iberia, rest under Iranian viceroy

archduke W. Iberia 522

prince of Chorlazene (Calarzene)

and Djavekhet'i 534

PLRE 3A

PLRE 3A

Bacurius II (Bakur II)

Guaram I

King of Iberia c.534-547 (13 years)

prince of Chorlazene and Javekhet'i

ruled only Kakhetia in Iberia, rest under Iranian viceroy

1. presiding prince of Iberia 588/589

Roman title curopalates 588/589 † 591/602

The GUARMIDS

PLRE 3B

PLRE 3B-Step55

PLRE 3A-Dem9

Pharasmanes V (P'arsman V)

brother

Stephen I (Step'anoz I)

Demetrius

King of Iberia c.547-561 (14 years)

prince of Chorlazene and Javekhet'i

honorary consul 637/642

ruled only Kakhetia in Iberia,

2. prince of Iberia c.590-627

rest under Iranian viceroy

Roman patrician

†627 killed in battle vs Byzantines

PLRE 3B

Pharasmanes VI (P'arsman VI)

King of Iberia c.561-?

ruled only Kakhetia in Iberia,

rest under Iranian viceroy

PLRE 3A

Bacurius III (Bakur III)

Guaram II

King of Iberia c.?-580 † 580

prince of Chorlazene and Javekhet'i

Iberian Monarchy was abolished by Iran,

6. prince of Iberia 684-c.693

on the demand of the Iberian princes 580

Roman curopalate

↓

PLRE 3A

princes of Iberia of the Guarmid dynasty

Adarnase I

princes of Iberia of the Bagratid dynasty (from 813)

minor in 580

prince of Kakhetia † 637/642

3. prince of Iberia 627-c.637/642

appointed by emperor Heraclius,

Patrician

PLRE 3B-Step55

Stephen II

prince of Kakhetia

4. prince of Iberia 637/642 - after 645 (c.650)

Patrician,

Adarnase II (Atr-Nerseh II)

prince of Kakhetia

5. prince of Iberia (c.650)-684/5

† 684 in battle vs Khazars, Patrician,

Patrician,

↓

princes of Kakhetia