George XI of Kartli

George XI
King of Kartli
Reign1676–1688
1703–1709
PredecessorVakhtang V of Kartli
Heraclius I of Kakheti
SuccessorHeraclius I of Kakheti
Kaikhosro of Kartli
Born1651
Kartli, modern day Georgia
Died21 April 1709(1709-04-21) (aged 57–58)
Kandahar, modern day Afghanistan
SpouseTamar Bagration-Davitashvili
Khoreshan Mikeladze
IssuePrince Bagrat
Princess Mariam
Princess Rodam of Kartli
DynastyBagrationi dynasty
FatherVakhtang V of Kartli
MotherRodam Kaplanishvili-Orbeliani
ReligionRoman Catholic
prev. Shia Islam
prev. Georgian Orthodox Church
Khelrtva

George XI (Georgian: გიორგი XI, romanized: giorgi XI; 1651 – 21 April 1709), known as 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. Being an Eastern Orthodox Christian, he converted to Shia Islam prior to his appointment as governor of Kandahar.[1]

  1. ^ Avery, Peter (1991). "Nādir Shāh and the Afsharid Legacy". In Avery, Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles (eds.). The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 7: From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge University Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-521-20095-0.