Gamrekeli Toreli or Gamrekeli of
Tori ( ka, გამრეკელი თორელი) was a 12th-century
Georgian
Georgian may refer to:
Common meanings
* Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country)
** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group
** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians
**Georgian scripts, three scrip ...
noble (
didebuli) and duke (
eristavi
''Eristavi'' (; literally, "head of the nation") was a Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine '' strategos'' and normally translated into English as "prince" or less commonly as "duke". In the Georgian aristocratic hierarch ...
) of
Akhalkalakhi and
Tori.
Biography
Gamrekeli, son of
Kakha, along with his father, supported the rebellion of Prince
Demna and the
Orbeli family in 1177, however they soon sided with king
George III of Georgia
George III ( ka, გიორგი III) (died 27 March 1184), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the 8th King of Georgia from 1156 to 1184. He became king when his father, Demetrius I, died in 1156, which was preceded by his brother's revolt agains ...
and fought for the monarchy against the insurgents.
The
uprising
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
was suppressed, and King George III elevated the
Toreli family.
After the failed revolt led by
Qutlu Arslan, Queen
Tamar elevated Gamrekeli to the office of ''Mejinibetukhutsesi'' (
High Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...
) and granted him possessions over
Tori (which was deprived of from
Apridon Apridon or Afridon () was the 12th-century Georgian politician, a dependent "aznauri", who had been raised to the rank of '' msakhurtukhutsesi ("Master of Servants").''
In sharp contrast to old, frequently rebellious Georgian feudal lords, Apridon ...
).
He became ''
amirspasalar
''Amirspasalar'' or ''amirspasalari'' ( ka, ამირსპასალარი, from fa, امیر سپه سالار, ) was the commander-in-chief of the medieval Georgian army and one of the highest officials of the Kingdom of Georgia, comm ...
'' after the death of
Sargis Mkhargrdzeli
Sargis or Sarkis ( hy, Սարգիս, ; , ) is a male given name in both Armenian and Assyrian communities. It is the reduced form of the Armenian surname Sargsyan/Sarkisian.
Etymology
The name ultimately derived from the Latin name Sergius.
Ass ...
.
Toreli as an
Eristavi
''Eristavi'' (; literally, "head of the nation") was a Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine '' strategos'' and normally translated into English as "prince" or less commonly as "duke". In the Georgian aristocratic hierarch ...
of
Akhalkalakhi was securing Georgia's southern frontier borders. In 1186-1187, He led Georgian forces against Seljuqid rulers, and repelled them from countries known by the names of Palakitzio and Dzagin ravine, bringing to the sovereign rich booty as a gift. During the revolt of Queen Tamar's disgraced husband,
George the Rus', around 1191, Gamrekeli Toreli was one of the few nobles who remained loyal to the Queen.
The force sent to Javakheti was commanded by him, jointly with the brothers
Mkhargrdzeli. When the amirspasalar Gamrekeli Toreli died "everybody grieved for him"; in consequence, his heirs lost only
Tmogvi
Tmogvi or Tmkaberd ( ka, თმოგვი ; hy, Թմկաբերդ) is a ruined fortress and medieval town in the southern Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, on the left bank of the Kura River, a few kilometers downstream of the cave city ...
.
The post of amirspasalar was given to
Zakaria Mkhargrdzeli.
References
Politicians from Georgia (country)
12th-century people from Georgia (country)
{{Georgia-hist-stub