Tamar I

Tamar the Great was the Queen of Georgia from 1184 to 1213, and she is remembered as one of the greatest rulers in Georgian history. She was the first woman to rule Georgia on her own, and she was given the special title of mepe, meaning "King." Tamar took over after her father, George III, and even though some people in the country did not at first support her, she proved to be a strong and successful leader.

During her time as queen, Tamar worked hard to make her country strong and safe. She used a powerful group of soldiers to protect Georgia and to grow its power. Under her rule, Georgia became a big and important empire in the Caucasus region. Her leadership helped the country grow and become very rich in culture and arts.

Tamar was married twice. Her first husband was Yury Bogolyubsky, but she divorced him and he tried to take power from her, which she stopped. Her second husband was David Soslan, and they had two children together, George and Rusudan, who both became rulers after her. Tamar’s time as queen is known for many great achievements, and she is still remembered and honored in Georgia today as a symbol of strength and success.

Early life and ascent to the throne

Tamar was born around 1160 to George III, King of Georgia, and his wife Burdukhan, who came from a royal family in Alania. Her name, Tamar, has roots in Hebrew and was popular among the royal family because they believed they were related to David, a famous king from Israel.

When Tamar was young, her father faced a big challenge. Some nobles tried to take over the kingdom, supporting someone named Demna to be king instead. But King George III stopped them and made sure Tamar was ready to help rule. He made her a co-ruler in 1178, so there would be no arguments about who should be king after he passed away. He also brought in people from different backgrounds to help manage the kingdom, keeping powerful families from taking too much control.

Early reign

Tamar began her rule as a co-ruler with her father. When her father died in 1184, she became the sole ruler of Georgia and was crowned again at the Gelati cathedral near Kutaisi. Some people opposed her because she was a woman and because her father had been strict with the nobles. Her aunt Rusudan and the leader of the church, Michael IV, helped her gain support. However, Tamar had to make concessions to the nobles to keep peace.

Tamar faced challenges from nobles who wanted more power. One noble, Qutlu Arslan, tried to create a new council to limit the king's power, but Tamar had him arrested. She also had difficulties with her first husband, Yury, whom she later divorced. She then married David Soslan, who helped her defeat rebellious nobles. Together, they had two children: a son, who later became king George IV, and a daughter, Rusudan, who also became ruler of Georgia. Despite being a woman, Tamar was called mepe, meaning "king," showing her unique and powerful position.

Foreign policy and military campaigns

Muslim neighbors

Main article: Eldiguzids § Campaigns against Georgia

Queen Tamar worked hard to make Georgia strong again. With the help of important families, she began to expand Georgia’s lands. She and her generals took many cities and fortresses from nearby rulers.

In one big battle, her general David Soslan defeated a large army. Later, her troops took more land, including important cities. In another battle, David Soslan won again, and Georgia took control of several more places.

Trebizond and the Middle East

Main article: Byzantine–Georgian wars § Georgian expedition to Chaldia and the founding of the Trebizond Empire

During Tamar’s time, her nephews Alexios and David started a new state called the Empire of Trebizond on the Black Sea coast. They did this with help from Georgian soldiers. Tamar wanted to support Christian places and protect Georgia’s interests. Her leaders also worked to help Christian sites far away, like in Jerusalem.

Golden age

Georgia experienced a wonderful time during Queen Tamar's rule. Her great-grandfather David IV started important changes that helped make Georgia strong. Tamar used these changes to grow Georgia's power. Her kingdom grew very large, stretching from the Greater Caucasus mountains to the city of Erzurum and from the Zygii area to near Ganja.

This time was also great for Georgian culture. Many beautiful churches were built, mixing Byzantine styles with Georgian ideas. Writers created exciting stories, like the famous epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin. The country became richer, and people lived better lives.

Death and burial

Queen Tamar passed away after her husband, David Soslan, and was succeeded by her son, Lasha-Giorgi. She fell ill while meeting with her advisors near the town of Gori and later died in the castle of Agarani close to Tbilisi. Her body was taken to the cathedral of Mtskheta and then to the Gelati Monastery, where her family was buried. Historians generally believe she died in 1213, but some think it may have been earlier, in 1207 or 1210.

Over time, many stories appeared about where Tamar was buried. Some say she was placed in a hidden spot at Gelati Monastery to protect her grave. Others suggest her remains were moved to a distant place, perhaps the Holy Land. In the 13th century, a French knight wrote that Tamar's body was being taken toward Jerusalem for burial near the Holy Sepulchre. In the 20th century, people searched for her grave, but its exact location remains unknown.

Legacy and popular culture

Medieval

Queen Tamar became a very important figure in Georgia's history. During her time, many poets and writers were inspired by her. She was praised in songs and stories for her kindness, wisdom, and good rule. Even though she was a queen, people remembered her as a kind and fair leader.

Modern

In more recent times, Queen Tamar has continued to be remembered and honored. Writers and artists in the 19th century often pictured her as a wonderful and strong queen. In Georgia, she is seen as a symbol of a great time in the country's history. During World War II, some military groups were named after her. Today, she appears as a leader in video games, showing her lasting importance.

Genealogy

The chart below shows the family tree of Tamar and her relatives, starting from her grandfather and going to her grandchildren.