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George XI of Kartli

George XI
George XI of Kartli repaired.jpg
King of Kartli
Reign 1676–1688
1703–1709
Predecessor Vakhtang V of Kartli
Heraclius I of Kakheti
Successor Heraclius I of Kakheti
Kaikhosro of Kartli
Born 1651
Died 21 April 1709
Spouse Tamar Bagration-Davitishvili
Khoreshan Mikeladze
Issue Prince Bagrat
Princess Mariam
Princess Rodam of Kartli
Dynasty Bagrationi dynasty
Father Vakhtang V of Kartli
Mother Rodam Kaplanishvili-Orbeliani
Religion Georgian Orthodox Church, later Islam, then Roman Catholicism
Signature

George XI (Georgian: გიორგი XI) (1651 – April 21, 1709), known as Gurgin Khan in Iran, was a Georgian monarch who ruled the Kingdom of Kartli as a Safavid Persian subject from 1676 to 1688 and again from 1703 to 1709. He is best known for his struggle against the Safavids which dominated his weakened kingdom and later as a Safavid commander-in-chief in what is now Afghanistan. Being an Eastern Orthodox Christian, he converted to Islam prior to his appointment as governor of Kandahar. However, he converted to Roman Catholic Christianity.

He was the son of Vakhtang V, whom he succeeded as a ruler of Kartli in 1676. As with many other Georgian rulers, he had to nominally accept Islam and take the name of Shahnawaz II before being able to be confirmed as a viceroy by Shah Solayman I. However, Georgians continued to consider him as their king under his Christian name Giorgi (or "George" in English).

When nearly half-century-long peaceful relations between Kartli and its Persian suzerains significantly deteriorated. George attempted to centralise loose royal authority in Kartli and weaken the Persian influence. He patronised Catholic missioners and had correspondence with Innocent XI. After the Ottoman defeat in the battle of Vienna Gerge XI hoped to exploit that Empire's new weakness. In the a to Innocent XI dated April 29, 1687 he vowed to be a Catholic King and declared his readiness and willingness and that of his troops to obey any order of the Roman Pope. According to Catholic missionaries George remained until his death a faithful Catholic.


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