There is a very interesting episode in Georgian history I wish to tell you about now.

@ESnicket @siobhantheonly @FillingTheEmpty @JindraKoci @ccwolf @litanies @Dreamscancometrue @Sierramaydell @mchhmje

King Alexander had a wife - queen Tinatin Gurieli, daaughter of prince Badzim Amilakhvari, who despite being a leader of pro-ottoman party in neighbouring Kartli, helped Alexander in war with Simon, king of Kartli. (Actuslly Badzim can be described as Walder Frey of georgia, because amount of his betrayals, switching sides to the strong ones is numerous... after simon took full power in Kartli (And got alliance with Alexader and persian shah Abbas), lord Badzim got exiled and he never again played any significant role.) (I remind, that I simpify these events a lot, so that we won't get distracted or lose any interest. It's prelude still.) Well, one could say that temper of grandfather was reborn in his grandchildren - sons of Tinatin and Aleander. Especially second and fourth one - David and Constantine

Oh, it's been so long since I've added something here...

@ESnicket @siobhantheonly @FillingTheEmpty @JindraKoci @ccwolf @litanies @Dreamscancometrue @Sierramaydell @mchhmje

So, that's obvious that Alexander had to be very cunning and doggy politician to simply survive, in case when you are srrounded by two the most powerful empires in the world, that are conflicting, wanting to invade you, that from the north numerous Caucasian little states (Especially Avar khanate or Avar Nutsaldom, which is known for having a black banner with white wolf on Wikipedia page, although on very same page it is stated that Avars never used wolf as symbol, that origins are more of a metaphor, a pun.) regularly become vassals of these empires and pillage Kaheti, that the country is surrounded by other Georgian kingdoms wanting to take your territories. And Alexander not only hsas manged to survive, but also to mae Kaheti a relatively big force... But There also was ONE MORE PROBLEM. Sons.

Wonderful

@ESnicket @ccwolf @JindraKoci @FillingTheEmpty @siobhantheonly @litanies @Sierramaydell and all others.

This story is something like Sophia's one, but unlike thaT ONE, IT'S SHORTER AND I WILL END IT.

So, as many fairytales begin,... in one land called Georgia, one kingdom called Kaheti, long ago, in thelate 16th - beginning of 17th century there ruled king Alexander the second... (Yes, one more) This was a difficult time, and only because the country was divided, but also because two huge empires were fighting to have control over Transcaucasia - Ottoman Empire by Ahmed the First (Ottoman Viserys the first), and Safavid Empire (Guarded domains of Iran) by Abbas the first "Great" (Some mix of Maekar Targaryen and his brother Aerys the first) . Later there also appeared Russian tsardom led by Boris Godunov (Something like Russian Littlefinger who actually managed to climb up the ladder of chaos, up to the Monomakh's cap - Russian main crown), which Alexander saw as possible helpful ally against two "Great Powder empires" of Islam. and reason was not only that both Georgia and russia were Orthodox christian, but also, that Russia had no possibility of holding full control over land)..

last long. Especially, after the end of 14th - beginning of 15th century, when Timur has made EIGHT expeditions to the country. Mepe Alexander the first "The great" managed to rebuild the country, but sfter his death it fell into chaos of civil wars and invasions of Aq Qoyunlu ( @ESnicket ) turkoman state and Safavid Iran. So in1490 king Constantine II had to admit that the country has already into three independent kingdoms: Kartli, ruled by him, Kakheti led by Alexander the first and Imereti led by Alexander the second (the numbers don't relate) and also independent and unrelated to georgian state Abkhazia, Svaneti, samegrelo, Guria, Meskheti. All three states were ruled by Bagrations dynasty, so the arguments over being the king of all rthe Georgia were inevitable. Our story takes part in the beginning of 17th century in Kakheti kingdom.