The Political Situation in Georgia at the End of the 50-ies and Beginning of the 60-ies XI Century
Abstract
The represented work refers to the political situation existing in Georgia at the end of the 50-ies and beginning of the 60-ies of the 15th century. The work has been done taking into consideration the approaches given in our historiography, and also, basing on the available historical sources This period is characterized by opposition between the royal power and noble people, the character of the Byzantine-Georgian political relations, the role of Turk-Seljuks in the regulation of the relations between Byzantium and Georgia, the reasons of returning Bagrat IV from Byzantium to Georgia, the role of church in returning Bagrat IV to Georgia, his intensive actions in the domestic and foreign policies of the country, the steps made towards the church reforms such as inviting the religious figure and scholar Giorgi Mtatsmindeli to Georgia, settling the problem of Tbilisi (the capital), strengthening the royal power, unite different politically opposed groups, settling peace throughout the country, solving numerous other problems existing at that time.
This work analyzes the following issues: why the Byzantine Empire changed its policy towards the Georgian kingdom? What were the circumstances that contributed to the release of Bagrat IV from “honorable captivity"? How did the king of Georgia overcome the resistance of Abazasdze and Baghvashi families? How did he fight for accession of Tbilisi? The arrival of George of Mtatsminda to Georgia and his Church reform is also referred to in the work. It is shown, how powerful Georgia was politically before Alp Arslan’s invasions. This work argues that the further development of Georgia on her way to political progress had been suspended by Turk Seljuk military campaigns under the command of Alp Arslan.
