David II of Iberia explained

David II
Succession:King of the Iberians
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Reign:923–937
Predecessor:Adarnase IV of Iberia
Successor:Sumbat I of Iberia
House:Bagrationi
House-Type:Dynasty
Father:Adarnase IV of Iberia
Death Date:937
Religion:Georgian Orthodox Church

David II (Georgian: დავით II) (died 937) was a member of the Georgian Bagratid dynasty of Tao-Klarjeti and titular king (mepe) of Iberia from 923 until his death.

The eldest son and ultimate successor of Adarnase IV of Iberia as king of Iberia, David's control was limited to the duchies of Queli-Javakheti, and Lower Tao as the core lands of Inner Iberia (Shida Kartli) were under the Abkhazian control. In spite of his royal title and unlike his father, David did not bear the traditional high Byzantine title of curopalates which was bestowed by the emperor upon David's younger brother Ashot II. As a result, David's influence and prestige were overshadowed by those of his younger brother, Ashot II. As evidenced by Constantine Porphyrogenitus's De Administrando Imperio, David only had the title of magistros which he shared with his relative Gurgen II of Tao. Both Gurgen and David resolutely opposed the Byzantine takeover of the Bagratid town of Artanuji, a fief of Gurgen's father-in-law, Ashot the Swift. During the dispute, David even arrested the Byzantine plenipotentiary, the patrikios Constans, who was dispatched to create Gurgen magistros and bring David's brother Ashot for investiture as curopalates.[1]

David died childless, being succeeded by his brother Sumbat I.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Tavadze. Leri. კურაპალატის ტიტული ტაო-კლარჯეთის ბაგრატიონთა სამეფო სახლში. Proceedings of the Institute of Georgian History. 2012. Special: To the Splendid Hermitage Places of Klarjeti. 87–89. Title of kouropalates in Tao-Klarjeti Bagrationi royal house. Meridian Publishers. Tbilisi. Georgian, English. 1987-9970.
  2. [Cyril Toumanoff|Toumanoff, Cyril]