Quelling the Georgian uprising Abbas I of Persia

teimuraz of kakheti (also known tahmuras khan).




rostom (also known rustam khan), viceroy of kartli, eastern georgia, 1633-1658.

between 1614 , 1616, during ottoman-safavid war, abbas suppressed rebellion led formerly loyal georgian subjects luarsab ii , teimuraz (also known tahmuras khan) in kingdom of kakheti. in 1613, abbas had appointed these trusted georgian gholams on puppet thrones of kartli , kakheti, iranian safavid ruled areas of georgia. later year, when shah summoned them join him on hunting expedition in mazandaran, did not appear feared either imprisoned or killed. forming alliance, 2 sought refuge ottoman forces in ottoman ruled imereti.

this defection of 2 of shah s trusted subjects , gholams infuriated abbas, reported safavid court historian iskander beg munshi. following spring of 1614, abbas appointed grandson of alexander ii of imereti throne of kartli, jesse of kakheti (also known isā khān ). raised @ court in isfahan , muslim, loyal shah. subsequently, shah marched on kutaisi, capital of imereti, , punished peoples harbouring defectors. returned kartli, , in 2 punitive campaigns devastated tblisi, killed 60–70,000 kakheti georgian peasants, , deported between 130,000-200,000 georgian captives iran. after having secured region, executed rebellious luarsab ii of kartli , later had georgian queen ketevan, had been sent shah negotiator, tortured death when refused renounce christianity, in act of revenge recalcitrance of teimuraz. kakheti lost two-thirds of population in these years result of abbas punitive campaign either through deportation iran or lesser extent being killed.

teimuraz did return eastern georgia in 1615 defeated safavid force. brief setback abbas made plans such revolt not happen again. abbas successful in making eastern georgian territories integral part of safavid provinces. in 1619 appointed loyal simon ii (or semayun khan) puppet ruler of kakheti, while placing series of own governors rule of districts rebellious inhabitants located.

by end of 1616, iranian rule had been restored on eastern georgia, georgian territories continue resistant safavid encroachments 1624 until abbas death.