Simon I of Kartli

Simon I
King of Kartli
Reign1556–1569
1578–1599
PredecessorLuarsab I of Kartli
David XI of Kartli
SuccessorDavid XI of Kartli
George X of Kartli
Born1537
Died1611
Constantinople, Yedikule Fortress
Burial
SpouseNestan-Darejan of Kakheti, Queen of Kartli
IssueGeorge X of Kartli
DynastyBagrationi
FatherLuarsab I of Kartli
MotherTamar of Imereti
ReligionGeorgian Orthodox Church, later Shia Islam
KhelrtvaSimon I's signature

Simon I the Great (Georgian: სიმონ I დიდი, romanized: simon I didi), also known as Svimon (Georgian: სვიმონი, romanized: svimoni; c. 1537 – 1611), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was a Georgian king (mepe) of Kartli from 1556 to 1569 and again from 1578 to 1599. His first tenure was marked by war against the Persian domination of Georgia. In 1569 he was captured by the Persians, and spent nine years in captivity. In 1578 he was released and reinstalled in Kartli. During this period (i.e. his second tenure), he fought as a Persian subject against the Ottoman domination of Georgia.[1][2] In 1599 Simon I was captured by the Ottomans and died in captivity.[1] During 1557 to 1569 he was known as Mahmud Khan (Persian: محمود خان, romanizedMahmūd Khān) and from 1578 to 1599 as Shahnavaz Khan (Persian: شاهنواز خان, romanizedShāhnavāz Khān). He was also referred to as Simon the Mad (Turkish: Deli Simon) by the Ottomans.[3]

  1. ^ a b Rota 2017, p. 53.
  2. ^ Rayfield 2012, p. 176.
  3. ^ Bilge, M. Sadık (2005) Osmanlı Devleti ve Kafkasya: Osmanlı varlığı döneminde Kafkasya'nın siyasî-askerî tarihi ve idarî taksimâtı, 1454-1829 ISBN 978-975-6372-15-9, p. 206