He was son of Prince David of Kakheti (1612-1648), son of King Teimuraz I, by his wife Helene née Princess Diasamidze (died 1695). Taken to Russia when the pro-Persian king Rostom of Kartli defeated Teimuraz in 1648, he was raised and educated at the Romanov court at Moscow where he was known as TsarevichNicholas Davidovich (Russian: Царевич Николай Давыдович). In 1662, he returned to take over the then-vacant crown of Kakheti at the invitation of local nobility, but was defeated by the rival prince Archil who enjoyed Iranian support.
Nicholas had to flee back to Russia where he featured prominently and was best man of TsarAlexis Mikhailovich in his wedding to Natalia Naryshkina in 1671 and stood in high favor with the Russian court.
It is believed by some[who?] that he was a natural father of Peter the Great. The writer Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy researching the biography of Peter the Great, informed Joseph Stalin that he had unearthed some documents which suggested Peter's father was a Georgian king. He thought he would ingratiate himself with Stalin by telling him this. Instead Stalin was appalled and forbade Tolstoy to mention the matter ever again.[1]
Royal career
In Kakheti
In 1675, Archil conflicted with the shah's government, abandoned Kakheti and defected to the Ottoman Empire. Prince Nicholas capitalized on the ensuing turmoil, returned for a second time and was proclaimed as King of Kakheti Heraclius (Erekle) I. Earlier, in 1666, shah Suleiman I had succeeded Abbas II on the IranianSafavid throne. In 1674, Suleiman I asked him to decisively end his stay in Russia,[2] ordered him to Isfahan and promised to confirm him as king if Heraclius apostatized to Islam. The king refused to become Muslim and the shah's subject, citing the oath of allegiance given by his ancestor, Alexander II of Kakheti (r. 1574–1605), to Feodor I of Russia.[citation needed] Hence, he was deprived of the crown, being allowed, however, to settle to Isfahan. Kakheti was subsequently under direct Safavid rule.[2]
In Kartli
In 1688, when the government of Iran declared its recalcitrant subject George XI of Kartli deposed, Heraclius acceded to the shah's pressure. He converted to Islam[3] assuming the title of Nazar Alī Khān in 1676. In reward, Heraclius was confirmed as King of Kartli and given a Persian army to win over the crown. To buttress Heraclius's authority, the shah appointed 'Abbās-qolī Khan, formerly a beglarbeg of Ganja, as Persian viceroy in Kakheti (residing at Qara-Agach). The khan failed, however, to prevent George XI from staging a comeback in 1691 and blockading Heraclius (Nazar Alī Khān) in Tiflis, his capital. It was not until 1696 that George admitted defeat and came to Isfahan to offer his submission to the new shah, Soltan Hosayn.
At the same time, the shah grew increasingly dissatisfied with Nazar Alī Khān's administration. Having spent most of his life in Russia and Iran, his lack of knowledge of Georgian national traditions he had already estranged his subjects. A vacillating ruler, addicted to strong drink, though capable at times of being brave, philanthropic and reformist, he never really achieved a firm control of his possessions, or made himself popular with the populace of Kakheti. Meanwhile, George XI managed to gain the favor of Shah Hosayn and was reconfirmed as King of Kartli in 1703, while Nazar Alī Khān was removed from the throne and ordered to Isfahan where he was invested by Hosayn as King of Kakheti and appointed the commander of the shah's personal guard. He was never able to return to his kingdom, however, and died at the Persian capital in 1710, being succeeded on the throne by his son, David II (Imām Qulī Khān), who had run Kakheti during Nazar Alī Khān's absence at Isfahan.
Family
Royal charter of Erekle I.
Heraclius I married, in 1677, Ana, daughter of Prince Shermazan Cholokashvili (died before April 1716). They were the parents of two sons and two daughters:
Princess Elene (Banjanum) (1687 – 27 April 1750), who in 1715 married King Jesse of Kartli.
Teimuraz II (c. 1690 – 8 January 1762), King of Kakheti (1729–1736, 1738–1744) and of Kartli (1744–1762).
Princess Ketevan (died 1718), who married Prince Abel Andronikashvili.
Princess Mariam (c. 1698 – 1732), who married in 1714 Prince Edisher Cholokashvili and became a nun in widowhood, with the name of Makrine. She was a hymnist and copyist of religious texts.
Heraclius I also had several natural children born of unknown concubines, of which better known are:
This biographical article needs more biographical information on the subject. Statistical information, such as date and place of birth, information on historical significance, and information on accomplishments is desired. Please remove this message when done. See this article's talk page for more information.(December 2018)
heraclius, kakheti, heraclius, georgian, ერეკლე, erekle, persian, ارگلی, خان, romanized, ereglī, khān, nazar, alī, khān, persian, نظر, علی, خان, romanized, naẓar, ʿalī, khān, georgian, ნაზარალი, ხანი, romanized, nazarali, khani, 1642, 1709, bagrationi, dynasty. Heraclius I Georgian ერეკლე I Erekle I Persian ارگلی خان romanized Eregli Khan or Nazar Ali Khan Persian نظر علی خان romanized Naẓar ʿAli Khan Georgian ნაზარალი ხანი romanized nazarali khani 1642 1709 of the Bagrationi dynasty was a Georgian monarch who ruled the kingdoms of Kakheti 1675 1676 1703 1709 and Kartli 1688 1703 under the protection of the Safavid dynasty of Iran Heraclius IHeraclius I by Nicolaes Witsen late 17th centuryKing of Kakheti more Reign1675 1676 1703 1709PredecessorArchil of ImeretiSuccessorDavid II of KakhetiKing of KartliReign1688 1703PredecessorGeorge XI of KartliSuccessorGeorge XI of Kartli restored Born1642Died1709 aged 66 67 Isfahan Safavid IranSpouseAna CholokashviliIssueDavid II of Kakheti Teimuraz II of Kakheti Constantine II of KakhetiDynastyBagrationiFatherPrince David of KakhetiMotherElene DiasamidzeReligionGeorgian Orthodox Church then Shia IslamKhelrtva Contents 1 Early life 2 Royal career 2 1 In Kakheti 2 2 In Kartli 3 Family 4 Ancestry 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life EditHe was son of Prince David of Kakheti 1612 1648 son of King Teimuraz I by his wife Helene nee Princess Diasamidze died 1695 Taken to Russia when the pro Persian king Rostom of Kartli defeated Teimuraz in 1648 he was raised and educated at the Romanov court at Moscow where he was known as Tsarevich Nicholas Davidovich Russian Carevich Nikolaj Davydovich In 1662 he returned to take over the then vacant crown of Kakheti at the invitation of local nobility but was defeated by the rival prince Archil who enjoyed Iranian support Nicholas had to flee back to Russia where he featured prominently and was best man of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich in his wedding to Natalia Naryshkina in 1671 and stood in high favor with the Russian court It is believed by some who that he was a natural father of Peter the Great The writer Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy researching the biography of Peter the Great informed Joseph Stalin that he had unearthed some documents which suggested Peter s father was a Georgian king He thought he would ingratiate himself with Stalin by telling him this Instead Stalin was appalled and forbade Tolstoy to mention the matter ever again 1 Royal career EditIn Kakheti Edit In 1675 Archil conflicted with the shah s government abandoned Kakheti and defected to the Ottoman Empire Prince Nicholas capitalized on the ensuing turmoil returned for a second time and was proclaimed as King of Kakheti Heraclius Erekle I Earlier in 1666 shah Suleiman I had succeeded Abbas II on the Iranian Safavid throne In 1674 Suleiman I asked him to decisively end his stay in Russia 2 ordered him to Isfahan and promised to confirm him as king if Heraclius apostatized to Islam The king refused to become Muslim and the shah s subject citing the oath of allegiance given by his ancestor Alexander II of Kakheti r 1574 1605 to Feodor I of Russia citation needed Hence he was deprived of the crown being allowed however to settle to Isfahan Kakheti was subsequently under direct Safavid rule 2 In Kartli Edit In 1688 when the government of Iran declared its recalcitrant subject George XI of Kartli deposed Heraclius acceded to the shah s pressure He converted to Islam 3 assuming the title of Nazar Ali Khan in 1676 In reward Heraclius was confirmed as King of Kartli and given a Persian army to win over the crown To buttress Heraclius s authority the shah appointed Abbas qoli Khan formerly a beglarbeg of Ganja as Persian viceroy in Kakheti residing at Qara Agach The khan failed however to prevent George XI from staging a comeback in 1691 and blockading Heraclius Nazar Ali Khan in Tiflis his capital It was not until 1696 that George admitted defeat and came to Isfahan to offer his submission to the new shah Soltan Hosayn At the same time the shah grew increasingly dissatisfied with Nazar Ali Khan s administration Having spent most of his life in Russia and Iran his lack of knowledge of Georgian national traditions he had already estranged his subjects A vacillating ruler addicted to strong drink though capable at times of being brave philanthropic and reformist he never really achieved a firm control of his possessions or made himself popular with the populace of Kakheti Meanwhile George XI managed to gain the favor of Shah Hosayn and was reconfirmed as King of Kartli in 1703 while Nazar Ali Khan was removed from the throne and ordered to Isfahan where he was invested by Hosayn as King of Kakheti and appointed the commander of the shah s personal guard He was never able to return to his kingdom however and died at the Persian capital in 1710 being succeeded on the throne by his son David II Imam Quli Khan who had run Kakheti during Nazar Ali Khan s absence at Isfahan Family Edit Royal charter of Erekle I Heraclius I married in 1677 Ana daughter of Prince Shermazan Cholokashvili died before April 1716 They were the parents of two sons and two daughters David II Imam Quli Khan 1678 2 November 1722 King of Kakheti 1703 1709 1722 Princess Elene Banjanum 1687 27 April 1750 who in 1715 married King Jesse of Kartli Teimuraz II c 1690 8 January 1762 King of Kakheti 1729 1736 1738 1744 and of Kartli 1744 1762 Princess Ketevan died 1718 who married Prince Abel Andronikashvili Princess Mariam c 1698 1732 who married in 1714 Prince Edisher Cholokashvili and became a nun in widowhood with the name of Makrine She was a hymnist and copyist of religious texts Heraclius I also had several natural children born of unknown concubines of which better known are Constantine II Mahmad Quli Khan died 28 December 1732 King of Kakheti 1722 1732 Ketevan Begum died 1752 who married c 1742 Prince Abdullah Beg of Kartli Little is known of Heraclius s other children Ismail Rostom 1685 1703 Vakhtang died 1695 Demetre 1688 1700 Gorgasal died 1697 George Reza Quli Mirza Mustafa MirzaThis biographical article needs more biographical information on the subject Statistical information such as date and place of birth information on historical significance and information on accomplishments is desired Please remove this message when done See this article s talk page for more information December 2018 Ancestry EditAncestors of Heraclius I of Kakheti8 David I of Kakheti4 Teimuraz I of Kakheti9 Ketevan of Mukhrani2 Prince David of Kakheti10 George X of Kartli5 Khorashan of Kartli11 Tamar Lipartiani1 Heraclius I6 Levan Diasamidze3 Elene DiasamidzeReferences Edit Martin McCauley Stalin and Stalinism Revised 3rd Edition 2013 p 94 a b Rayfield 2013 p 211 Islamic desk reference By E J van Donzel pg 111Sources EditLang David Marshall 1957 The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy 1658 1832 New York Columbia University Press Mikaberidze Alexander ed 2007 Erekle I Dictionary of Georgian National Biography Accessed October 9 2007 Rayfield Donald 2013 Edge of Empires A History of Georgia Reaktion Books ISBN 978 1 78023 070 2 Preceded byArchil King of Kakheti1675 1676 Succeeded byInterregnum under the Persian governorsPreceded byGeorge XI King of Kartli1688 1703 Succeeded byGeorge XI restored Preceded byInterregnum under the Persian governors King of Kakheti1703 1709 Succeeded byDavid II Imam Quli Khan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Heraclius I of Kakheti amp oldid 1119897750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
