Theodosius III the Blind ( ka, თეოდოს III; also known as Theodosius the Sorrowed) was
King of the Abkhazians from circa 975 to 978. He was the fourth son of
George II George II or 2 may refer to:
People
* George II of Antioch (seventh century AD)
* George II of Armenia (late ninth century)
* George II of Abkhazia (916–960)
* Patriarch George II of Alexandria (1021–1051)
* George II of Georgia (1072–1089)
* ...
of the
Anchabadze dynasty. He succeeded his brother
Demetrius III, who died without a male heir.
Life
King
George II of Abkhazia
George II (, Giorgi II), of the Leonid dynasty was a king of Abkhazia from 923 to 957 AD. His lengthy reign is regarded as a zenith of cultural flowering and political power of his realm. Despite being independent and locally titled as a ''Mepe'' ( ...
sent two of his younger sons, Theodosius and Bagrat, to Constantinople to be educated there, so that after his death there would be no dispute during his succession. After his reigning brother
Leon III died in 967, a rebel party of
Meskheti
Meskheti ( ka, მესხეთი) or Samtskhe ( ka, სამცხე) (Moschia in ancient sources), is a mountainous area in southwestern Georgia.
History
Ancient tribes known as the Mushki (or Moschi) and Mosiniks (or Mossynoeci) were the ...
an,
Egrisian and
Kartli
Kartli ( ka, ქართლი ) is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari (Kura), on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role ...
an nobles encouraged Theodosius to assert his rights against his brother,
Demetrius III. Victorious in the ensuing civil war, Demetrius had Theodosius captured and blinded.
Theodosius first took refuge in the
Kartli
Kartli ( ka, ქართლი ) is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari (Kura), on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role ...
with certain Adarnase, then with
David III
David III Kuropalates (, ''Davit’ III Kurapalati'') or David III the Great (დავით III დიდი, ''Davit’ III Didi''), also known as David II, (c. 930s – 1000/1001) was a Georgian prince of the Bagratid family of Tao, a histori ...
of
Tao
''Tao'' or ''Dao'' is the natural order of the universe, whose character one's intuition must discern to realize the potential for individual wisdom, as conceived in the context of East Asian philosophy, East Asian religions, or any other phil ...
where he remained for a while, and finally moved at the court of
Kvirke II of Kakheti. Demetrius III managed to convince Theodosius to organize a reconciliation, who agreed to return to Abkhazia with guarantees of personal security confirmed by oaths before the Catholicos and the clergy. The central government was still powerful enough to cope with the local separatism, but not for surmounting the growing structural crisis. The weakness of the government brought about another act of cruelty. Demetrius caught his brother Theodosius in plotting again and makes blind.
It was not until the death of childless Demetrius in 975, when Theodosius was able to ascend the throne. During the short reign of King Theodosius III, the kingdom became engulfed into complete chaos and feudal anarchy combined with the raids by the Kakhetians in Kartli, where the royal power had completely collapsed and a governor, Ioanne Marushis-dze, allied with the Georgian Bagratid prince
David III Kuropalates
David III Kuropalates (, ''Davit’ III Kurapalati'') or David III the Great (დავით III დიდი, ''Davit’ III Didi''), also known as David II, (c. 930s – 1000/1001) was a Georgian prince of the Bagratid family of Tao, a histori ...
of
Tao
''Tao'' or ''Dao'' is the natural order of the universe, whose character one's intuition must discern to realize the potential for individual wisdom, as conceived in the context of East Asian philosophy, East Asian religions, or any other phil ...
to install Theodosius's nephew (
sister's son)
Bagrat
Bagrat ( hy, Բագրատ, in Western Armenian pronounced Pakrad, ka, ბაგრატ) is a male name popular in Georgia and Armenia. It is derived from the Old Persian ''Bagadāta'', "gift of God".
The names of the Armenian Bagratuni and ...
as a ruler of Kartli in 975. In 978, through Marushidze's efforts, Gurandukht's weak reigning brother Theodosius III was deposed and Bagrat, now of age, proclaimed King of Abkhazia. Since then Theodosius disappeared from history.
Genealogy
See also
*
Divan of the Abkhazian Kings
The ''Divan of the Abkhazian Kings'' ( ka, აფხაზთა მეფეთა დივანი, tr, which is often translated as the ''Chronicles of the Abkhazian Kings'') is a short medieval document composed in Georgian in the late 10th ...
Notes
Bibliography
*
Marie-Félicité Brosset
Marie-Félicité Brosset (24 January 1802 – 3 September 1880) was a French orientalist who specialized in Georgian and Armenian studies. He worked mostly in Russia.
Early life and first works
Marie-Félicité Brosset was born in Paris int ...
, ''Histoire de la Géorgie'', .
*
Marie-Félicité Brosset
Marie-Félicité Brosset (24 January 1802 – 3 September 1880) was a French orientalist who specialized in Georgian and Armenian studies. He worked mostly in Russia.
Early life and first works
Marie-Félicité Brosset was born in Paris int ...
, ''Additions et éclaircissements à l'Histoire de la Géorgie'', Addition IX, .
10th-century Kings of Abkhazia
Year of birth missing
10th-century births
978 deaths
Place of birth missing
Blind royalty and nobility
{{Georgia-noble-stub