Gurgin Khan

Quick Facts: Who was Gurgin Khan?

Subject:

Gurgin Khan

Known for:

Georgian monarch who ruled Kartli, known for resisting Safavid influence and serving as a commander in Afghanistan.

Born:

1651

Died:

1709-04-21

Century / Era:

1651s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

George XI (Georgian: გიორგი XI, romanized: giorgi XI; died 21 April 1709), also known as Shah Navaz Khan II and Gurgin Khan in Iran, was a Georgian monarch (mepe) who ruled the Kingdom of Kartli as a Safavid Persian subject from 1676 to 1688 and again from 1703 to 1709. He is best known for his struggle against the Safavids which dominated his weakened kingdom and later as a Safavid commander-in-chief in what is now Afghanistan. He was the son of Vakhtang V, whom he succeeded as the ruler of Kartli in 1676, by his first wife, Princess Rodam Qaplanishvili-Orbeliani. As with many other Georgian rulers, he had to nominally accept Islam and take the name of Shahnawaz II before being able to be confirmed as a viceroy by Shah Solayman I. When nearly half-century-long peaceful relations between Kartli and its Persian suzerains significantly deteriorated, George attempted to centralise loose royal authority in Kartli and weaken the Persian influence. He patronised Catholic missionaries and had correspondence with Innocent XI.

Career & Major Achievements

After the Ottoman defeat in the Battle of Vienna, George XI hoped to exploit that Empire's new weakness. In a letter to Innocent XI dated April 29, 1687 he vowed to be a Catholic King and declared his readiness and willingness and that of his troops to obey any order of the Roman Pope. According to Catholic missionaries, George remained until his death a faithful Catholic. In 1688, George headed an abortive coup against a Persian governor of the neighboring Georgian region of Kakheti, and attempted, though vainly, to gain Ottoman support against the Safavid overlordship. In response, Shah Solayman deposed George and gave his crown to the rival Kakhetian prince Erekle I, who then embraced Islam and took the name Nazar-Ali Khan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Abbas Qoli-Khan, the beglarbeg (governor general) of Ganja, was placed in charge of the government in Kakheti and commissioned to reinforce Erekle's positions in Kartli. George fled to Racha in western Georgia, whence he made several attempts to reclaim his possession. In 1696, he managed to stage a temporary comeback and helped his brother Archil II to temporarily regain the crown of Imereti in western Georgia, but was eventually forced to withdraw from Kartli again. In 1694, following the death of Solayman, there was a change in the government in Georgia: Abbas-Quli Khan was accused by his rivals of supporting George XI. On the orders of the new shah Soltan Hosayn, he was promptly arrested by Erekle and sent to Isfahan under guard, while his possessions were confiscated.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1651: Birth of Gurgin Khan — Georgian monarch who ruled Kartli, known for resisting Safavid influence and serving as a commander in Afghanistan.
2. 1676: 1676 Milestone — He was the son of Vakhtang V, whom he succeeded as the ruler of Kartli in 1676, by his first wife, Princess Rodam Qaplanishvili-Orbeliani.
3. 1687: 1687 Milestone — In a letter to Innocent XI dated April 29, 1687 he vowed to be a Catholic King and declared his readiness and willingness and that of his troops to obey any order of the Roman Pope.
4. 1688: 1688 Milestone — In 1688, George headed an abortive coup against a Persian governor of the neighboring Georgian region of Kakheti, and attempted, though vainly, to gain Ottoman support against the Safavid overlordship.
5. 1694: 1694 Milestone — In 1694, following the death of Solayman, there was a change in the government in Georgia: Abbas-Quli Khan was accused by his rivals of supporting George XI.
6. 1696: 1696 Milestone — In 1696, he managed to stage a temporary comeback and helped his brother Archil II to temporarily regain the crown of Imereti in western Georgia, but was eventually forced to withdraw from Kartli again.
7. 1709 (1709-04-21): Passing & Historical Legacy — Gurgin Khan passed away on 1709-04-21, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Gurgin Khan

True or False: “Gurgin Khan was assassinated by Mirwais Hotak because he refused to cooperate with the Safavid regime.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was assassinated by Mirwais Hotak after Mirwais staged a coup and found evidence suggesting Gurgin's covert defection.

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