Alexander II of Kakheti
| Alexander II | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| King of Kakheti | |
| Reign | 1574–1601 1602–1605 |
| Predecessor |
Levan of Kakheti David I of Kakheti |
| Successor |
David I of Kakheti Constantine I of Kakheti |
| Born | 1527 |
| Died | March 12, 1605 Zagem |
| Spouse | Tinatin Amilakhvari |
| Dynasty | Bagrationi dynasty |
| Father | Levan of Kakheti |
| Mother | Tinatin Gurieli |
| Religion | Georgian Orthodox Church |
| Signature |  |
Alexander II (Georgian: ალექსანდრე II) (1527 – March 12, 1605) of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Kakheti in eastern Georgia from 1574 to 1605. In spite of a precarious international situation, he managed to retain relative economic stability in his kingdom and tried to establish contacts with the Tsardom of Russia. Alexander fell victim to the Iran-sponsored coup led by his own son, Constantine I.
Alexander was a son of King Levan of Kakheti by his first wife Tinatin Gurieli. Upon Levan’s death in 1574, Alexander secured his succession in a power struggle with his half-brothers – El-Mirza and Kaikhosro – and their party. He was aided by his kinsman and western neighbor, Daud Khan of Kartli, who sent auxiliary troops under the princes Bardzim Amilakhvari and Elizbar of the Ksani, and helped Alexander crush the opponents at the Battle of Torgi.
Alexander II continued a traditional policy of his predecessors aimed at keeping peace with the neighbors of Kakheti. This, for the time being, secured the economic stability and prosperity in the kingdom. However, he faced a difficult task of maneuvering between the Ottomans and Saffavid Iran as both empires vied for the hegemony in the Caucasus. Although Alexander was initially a vassal, at least nominally, of the Safavids, he repudiated his allegiance to the Shah of Iran and accepted the Ottoman suzerainty when the latter empire gained the upper hand in 1578. The move did not prevent, however, Kakheti from being attacked by the mountainous subjects of the Shamkhal of Tarki who was apparently instigated by the Ottoman agents. Alexander decided to resume his father’s efforts to establish alliance with the Tsardom of Russia. After exchanging ambassadors in 1586–1587, Alexander received the protection of Tsar Feodor I of Russia, signing the Book of Pledge in 1589. Russian troops were sent against the shamkhal in a brief campaign of 1592. Little else came of the Russian promises, leading to a series of complaints by Alexander to the tsar’s ambassadors.
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