Kingdom of Kakheti

The Kingdom of Kakheti was a late medieval and early modern monarchy in eastern Georgia, centred on the Alazani and Iori river valleys. It emerged in 1466 from the tripartite division of the Kingdom of Georgia, when George VIII established himself as an independent ruler in his former appanage after losing the Georgian throne. Constantine II recognised Alexander I as king of Kakheti in 1490, completing the partition. The kingdom was briefly annexed by Kartli in the early sixteenth century but regained its independence. Its position on the Shirvan trade route and its fertile lands brought prosperity, and Gremi and Telavi became important trading towns with Armenian, Jewish and Persian communities. Kakheti usually accepted the overlordship of the Safavid shahs while keeping considerable autonomy. In 1616 Shah Abbas I deported much of its population, and the kingdom suffered repeated invasions. After 1747, under Teimuraz II and Heraclius II, it enjoyed greater independence. In 1762 Kakheti was united with Kartli under the Bagrationi dynasty, forming the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti.