Gurgen I ( ka, გურგენ I) (died 891) was a Georgia (country), Georgian prince of the Bagrationi dynasty, Bagratid dynasty of Principality of Tao-Klarjeti, Tao-Klarjeti. He was a Principality of Iberia, presiding prince of Principality of Iberia, Iberia with the Byzantine Empire, Byzantine title of Kouropalates, curopalates from 881 until his death in a dynastic feud in 891.
[Cyril Toumanoff, Toumanoff, Cyril (1967). ''Studies in Christian Caucasian History'', pp. 490-3. Georgetown University Press.]
The oldest son of Prince Adarnase II of Tao-Klarjeti, Adarnase I, Gurgen was baptized by the prominent monk Gregory of Khandzta, Grigol Khandzteli. He inherited from his father the duchy of Tao (historical region), Upper Tao, including the residence of Kalmakhi. In the dynastic war which erupted among the Bagratids, Gurgen initially sided with Nasra, who had murdered his cousin David I of Iberia, David I, the curopalates of Iberia in 881. True to the policy of division and because of the minority of David’s son and legitimate heir Adarnase IV of Iberia, Adarnase, the Byzantine court confirmed as curopalate, not Adarnase, but Gurgen. Eventually, Gurgen switched his side and joined Adarnase against Nasra who was defeated and put to death in 888. As a result of the division of Nasra’s inheritance, Gurgen might have added Shavsheti and Ardahan, Artaani to his possessions, for we hear from the 18th-century Georgian chronicler Vakhushti of Kartli, Vakhushti of Gurgen having moved his residence there.
In the meantime Adarnase, not being a curopalate and having the example of his Bagratuni dynasty, Armenian cousins before him, assumed the title of king. The relations between Adarnase and Gurgen grew tense and degenerated into an open warfare. Gurgen was fatally wounded and captured at Mglinavi near Artaani by Adarnase and his ally Bagrat I of Klarjeti, Bagrat Mampali in 891. According to his will, Gurgen was buried at the monastery of Opiza restored by him.
[Thomson, Robert W. (1996), ''Rewriting Caucasian History'', p. 264. Oxford University Press, ]
Gurgen was probably married to a daughter of Smbat VIII Bagratuni (826–855), the ''sparapet'' of Armenia. He left two sons behind – Adarnase III of Tao, Adarnase and Ashot the Immature, Ashot Kukhi – thus being a founder of the Bagratid "first house of Tao" which would become extinct with his grandson Gurgen II of Tao, Gurgen II.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurgen 01 Of Tao
891 deaths
Grand dukes of Tao
Kings of Bagratid Iberia
9th-century monarchs in Asia
Year of birth unknown
Kouropalatai
Bagrationi dynasty of Tao