Bagrat V of Georgia

Bagrat V the Great (Georgian: ბაგრატ V დიდი, Bagrat V Didi) (died 1393) from the Bagrationi dynasty was the son of the Georgian king David IX of Georgia by his wife Sindukhtar Jaqeli. He was co-ruler from 1355, and became king after the death of his father in 1360.

A fair and popular ruler, also known as a perfect soldier, he was dubbed “Bagrat the Great” by his multi-ethnic subjects. The Trapezuntine chronicler Michael Panaretos, who knew the king personally, calls him a “prominent and victorious general”.

Later he was an ally of the khan of the Golden Horde, Tokhtamysh, in his war with Timur (also known as Tamerlane). In late autumn 1386, a huge army of Timur attacked Georgia. Tbilisi was besieged and taken on 22 November 1386, after a fierce fight. The city was pillaged and Bagrat V and his family were imprisoned. Taking advantage of this disaster, the royal vassal Duke Alexander of Imereti proclaimed himself an independent ruler and was crowned king of Imereti at the Gelati Monastery in 1387.

In order to secure his release, Bagrat V agreed to convert from Orthodox Christianity and become Muslim. Timur agreed to free Bagrat and sent him with the troops of 20,000 Mongols back to Georgia. However, with secret aid from Bagrat, his son George completely destroyed a Mongol army and released the king.

In the spring of 1387, Timur again invaded Georgia but could not force the Georgians to submission. News of a revolt in Persia and an invasion of Azerbaijan forced Timur to withdraw.

In 1389, on the death of Alexander of Imereti, Bagrat was able to reduce his successor to a vassal duke again.

He died in 1393, leaving the throne to his son George.