Principality of Iberia

Principality of Iberia ქართლის საერისმთავრო Kartlis saerismtavro
c. 588–888
Flag
Status	Principality
Capital	Tbilisi (c. 588–736) Uplistsikhe (c. 736–813) Artanuji (c. 813–888)
Common languages	Georgian
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church
Prince
• 588–c. 590	Guaram I (first)
• 881–888 King of Iberia in 888–923	Adarnase IV (last prince)
Historical era	Early Middle Ages
• Established	c. 588
• Restoration of the Iberian kingship	888
Preceded by Succeeded by Sasanian Iberia Kingdom of the Iberians Principality of Kakheti Emirate of Tbilisi

Part of a series on the
History of Georgia
Prehistoric Georgia Shulaveri–Shomu culture Kura–Araxes culture Legend of Kartlos Trialeti culture Colchian culture Diauehi Mushki
Ancient history Colchis Aryan Kartli Kingdom of Iberia Pharnavazid dynasty Georgia in the Roman era Artaxiad dynasty of Iberia Campaign of Pompey Iberian–Armenian War Lazica Arsacid dynasty of Iberia Sasanian Iberia Chosroid dynasty Christianization of Iberia
Middle Ages Iberian War Lazic War Principality of Iberia Umayyad invasion of Georgia Arab rule in Georgia Emirate of Tbilisi Duchy of Tao Duchy of Klarjeti Bagrationi dynasty Kingdom of Hereti Kingdom of the Iberians Kingdom of Abkhazia Theme of Iberia Duchy of Kldekari Unification of the Georgian realm Kingdom of Georgia Duchy of Racha Kingdom of Kakheti-Hereti Byzantine–Georgian wars Great Turkish Invasion Georgian–Seljuk wars Georgian Golden Age Mongol invasions of Georgia Kingdom of Georgia (1256–1329) Kingdom of Western Georgia Armenia within the Kingdom of Georgia Timurid invasions of Georgia Turkoman invasions of Georgia Duchy of Aragvi Collapse of the Georgian realm
Early modern history Duchy of Ksani Samtskhe-Saatabago Kingdom of Kartli Kingdom of Kakheti Kingdom of Imereti Principality of Guria Principality of Svaneti Principality of Mingrelia Principality of Abkhazia Safavid Georgia Childir Eyalet Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti
Modern history Georgia within the Russian Empire 1832 Georgian plot Gurian Republic Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic Democratic Republic of Georgia Red Army invasion of Georgia Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic Georgia since 1991 Russo-Georgian War
History by topic Etymology Monarchs States Tbilisi Military history Wars Battles Chronology

Principality of Iberia (Georgian: ქართლის საერისმთავრო, kartlis saerismtavro) was an early medieval aristocratic regime in a core Georgian region of Kartli, called Iberia by classical authors. It flourished in the period of interregnum between the sixth and ninth centuries, when the leading political authority was exercised by a succession of princes. The principality was established shortly after the Sassanid suppression of the local royal Chosroid dynasty, around 580; it lasted until 888, when the kingship was restored by a member of the Bagrationi dynasty. Its borders fluctuated greatly as the presiding princes of Iberia confronted the Persians, Byzantines, Khazars, Arabs, and neighboring Caucasian rulers throughout this period.

The time of the principate was climacteric in the history of Georgia; the principality saw the final formation of the Georgian Christian church, the first flourishing of a literary tradition in the native language, the rise of the Georgian Bagratid family, and the beginning of cultural and political unification of various feudal enclaves, which would be united to form the Kingdom of Georgia by the early 11th century.