The History of Georgia: Kingdoms Between Great Powers — Fexingo History — Podcast

The Battle of Didgori: Georgia's Turning Point Against the Seljuks 09.08.2026 7min

In 1121, a coalition of Seljuk and Georgian forces clashed at Didgori, a battle that reshaped the Caucasus. King David IV the Builder, who had unified Georgia and modernized its army, faced a numerically superior enemy. Using a combination of heavy cavalry, Kipchak auxiliaries, and a daring feigned retreat, the Georgians shattered the Seljuk army, opening the way for the reconquest of Tbilisi. This episode explores the strategies, the personalities, and the aftermath of a victory that became a national symbol. We look at David's reforms, the role of the Kipchaks, the controversial tactics, and how Didgori paved the way for Georgia's medieval Golden Age under Queen Tamar. With fresh perspective and vivid detail, we bring this pivotal moment to life. #BattleOfDidgori #DavidIVTheBuilder #SeljukEmpire #GeorgiaHistory #KingdomOfGeorgia #Kipchaks #MedievalCaucasus #GoldenAgeGeorgia #Tbilisi #1121 #FeignedRetreat #HeavyCavalry #QueenTamar #Sakartvelo #CrusadesEra #GeorgiaTurningPoint #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Georgian Script: A Written Voice Through the Centuries 08.08.2026 8min

Before the Bagrationi kings, before the Mongol invasions, before the Russian annexation—Georgia already had a written voice. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the life of the Georgian script, from its mysterious creation in the fifth century to its survival under Persian, Ottoman, and Soviet rule. They explore the oldest known inscriptions, the golden age of manuscript illumination under Queen Tamar, and the role of the script in forging a national identity. Along the way: the legend of Pharnavaz, the Georgian diplomatic correspondence with Rome, the printing presses of the seventeenth century, and the Soviet-era struggle to keep the alphabet alive. It's a story of letters that outlived empires—and still carry the sound of Sakartvelo today. #GeorgianScript #Sakartvelo #AlphabetHistory #Caucasus #Pharnavaz #Mtskheta #Bagrationi #Tamar #SovietEra #Linguistics #Manuscripts #Palimpsest #CulturalSurvival #Georgia #WritingSystems #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Dual Kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti in the Seventeenth Century 07.08.2026 7min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the intricate political landscape of seventeenth-century Georgia, focusing on the dual kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti. They discuss how these realms navigated the competing pressures of the Ottoman and Safavid empires, the cultural renaissance under King Teimuraz I, and the devastating consequences of the forced migration of tens of thousands of Georgians to Persia. The episode sheds light on the complex legacy of King Rostom, who accepted Islam to secure his throne, and the enduring impact of these events on Georgian identity. Listeners will learn about the role of the Bagrationi dynasty, the significance of the Kakhetian kingdom in the eastern Caucasus, and the cultural flowering that occurred even amid political turmoil. This conversation offers a nuanced look at survival, adaptation, and resilience in a small nation caught between great powers. #Kartli #Kakheti #TeimurazI #Rostom #SafavidGeorgia #OttomanGeorgia #Bagrationi #GeorgianHistory #SeventeenthCentury #Caucasus #PersianInfluence #ForcedMigration #Tbilisi #Qizilbash #ShahAbbas #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Sasanian Walls of Derbent: Georgia's Northern Gate 06.08.2026 8min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the monumental Sasanian fortifications of Derbent, the so-called 'Gates of Alexander' on the Caspian Sea, and how these walls shaped the fate of the Caucasus, including Georgia. They discuss the engineering marvels of the sixth century, the role of the Khazars and other steppe nomads, the strategic importance of the Caspian Gates, and the Byzantine-Sasanian rivalry that turned Derbent into a flashpoint. The conversation also touches on the local populations, the military history of the region, and the legacy of these walls in Georgian and Persian memory. Filled with specific names like Khosrow I, Darband, and the Lakhmid and Turkic forces, this episode offers a fresh angle on the longstanding interplay of empires in the Caucasus. #Derbent #Sasanian #CaspianGates #Georgia #Caucasus #KhosrowI #Khazars #Byzantine #History #FexingoHistory #Fortifications #GatesofAlexander #Sassanid #Darband #Steppe #AncientDefense #MilitaryHistory #Caucasian Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Queen Tamar's Coin: The Silver That Shaped Georgia 05.08.2026 6min

In this episode, we trace the story of Queen Tamar's silver coinage — the first Georgian currency to bear a female ruler's name and imagery. We explore how Tamar, reigning from 1184 to 1213, transformed Georgia's economy through a unified monetary system that stretched from Tbilisi to Trebizond. We discuss the coins' design, featuring Tamar's portrait and Georgian script, and their role in projecting royal authority. We also examine the minting process, the silver mines of the Caucasus, and the coins' circulation in regional trade networks. Along the way, we consider the challenges Tamar faced as a female monarch and how her coinage countered contemporary gender norms. We also touch on the later medieval coinage of George V the Brilliant and the eventual decline of Georgian minting under Mongol and Safavid influence. This episode offers a fresh view of Georgia's golden age through the lens of money, power, and representation. #QueenTamar #GeorgianHistory #MedievalCoinage #SilverCoins #CaucasusHistory #TamarTheGreat #GeorgianGoldenAge #Numismatics #BagrationiDynasty #TbilisiMint #MedievalEconomy #WomenInHistory #MedievalGeorgia #SilverTrade #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #MedievalWorld Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Georgia's Queen Tamar and the Golden Age's Female Ruler 04.08.2026 9min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of Queen Tamar of Georgia, the first woman to rule the kingdom in her own right. They discuss her rise to power despite patriarchal opposition, her military victories including the Battle of Shamkor, and her patronage of arts and culture that defined Georgia's Golden Age. The episode also covers her diplomatic skill in navigating the Crusader states, the Byzantine Empire, and the Muslim powers of the region, as well as her legacy in Georgian folklore and the ongoing debate about her burial place. This is a portrait of a ruler who broke through gender barriers and left an indelible mark on her nation's identity. #GeorgiaHistory #QueenTamar #GoldenAge #Shamkor #Bagrationi #Sakartvelo #MedievalGeorgia #Caucasus #FemaleRulers #Crusades #ByzantineEmpire #Patronage #ShotaRustaveli #Vepkhistqaosani #GelatiMonastery #Vardzia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Bagrationi Dynasty’s Long Shadow: From Kings to the Russian Empire 03.08.2026 7min

After three centuries of Mongol, Timurid, and Ottoman domination, the Bagrationi dynasty of Georgia faced its final reckoning. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the dynasty's survival through fragmentation, the tragic reign of Constantine II, the rise of the autonomous kingdoms of Kartli, Kakheti, and Imereti, and the Russian Empire's slow absorption of Georgia. They discuss the Treaty of Georgievsk, the betrayal of Tsar Paul I, the 1801 manifesto, and the emotional legacy of a ruling house that once stood among Byzantium, Persia, and the Ottomans. From the mountain stronghold of Svaneti to the last king George XII, discover how a medieval Christian kingdom became a pawn in the Great Game, and how the Bagrationi name still echoes in modern Georgia. Tune in for a story of resilience, betrayal, and the end of a thousand-year reign. #Bagrationi #Georgia #Caucasus #RussianEmpire #TreatyOfGeorgievsk #GeorgeXII #ConstantineII #Kartli #Kakheti #Imereti #MedievalGeorgia #Sakartvelo #TsarPaul #History #Podcast #FexingoHistory #Monarchy #Geopolitics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Georgian Church of the Holy Sepulchre 02.08.2026 9min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a hidden corner of Jerusalem: the small Georgian Orthodox community that held a foothold in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for centuries. They trace its origins to the Bagrationi kings and Queen Tamar, who funded monasteries and defended Georgian presence in the Crusader states. The conversation moves from the early pilgrim routes through the Caucasus to the golden age of Georgian monasticism on Mount Athos and in the Black Mountains near Antioch. They discuss the rivalry with Latin and Greek churches, the crucial role of the Georgian script in preserving the liturgy, and the slow decline after the Mongol invasions. Along the way, they touch on the kaliphe of the Georgian church, the famous Georgian monastery of the Cross, and the fragile diplomacy that kept Georgian monks in the Holy Land. The episode ends with a reflection on how a small kingdom's spiritual reach outlived its political power. #HolySepulchre #GeorgianMonks #Jerusalem #QueenTamar #Bagrationi #Crusades #GeorgianOrthodox #MonasteryOfTheCross #MountAthos #BlackMountains #Iberia #CaucasusHistory #MedievalGeorgian #ChristianPilgrimage #Sakartvelo #Mtskheta #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Lazica War: Rome and Persia in the Caucasus 01.08.2026 7min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna step back from the Bagrationi kings to explore one of the most savage and consequential conflicts in the Caucasus: the Lazica War of 541–562 CE. Caught between the Byzantine Empire and Sasanian Persia, the small kingdom of Lazica on the Black Sea coast became the arena for a decades-long struggle for control of the Silk Road and the strategic passes of the Caucasus. We meet King Gubazes II, whose shifting allegiances led to tragedy, and the generals Bessas and Mermeroes, whose campaigns turned the region into a graveyard. We follow the siege of Petra, the betrayal at the court of Constantinople, and the eventual Fifty-Year Peace that redrew the borders. Along the way, we discover how the Laz people, ancestors of modern Georgians, navigated the ambitions of empires, and how the war shaped the identity of the region for centuries. If you've ever wondered what happened between the fall of the Colchians and the rise of the Bagratids, this is the story you were missing. #LazicaWar #ByzantineSasanian #GubazesII #Petra #Colchis #Caucasus #RomanPersianWars #Justinian #KhosrowI #Lazica #SilkRoad #FiftyYearPeace #Mermeroes #Bessas #Sasanian #Byzantine #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Golden Fleece: Colchis and Georgia's Ancient Origins 30.07.2026 5min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna journey back to the misty origins of Georgia, exploring the ancient kingdom of Colchis. Often overshadowed by the later Bagratid monarchs, Colchis was a crucible of culture and commerce on the Black Sea, famous for its gold and the legend of the Golden Fleece. They discuss the historical reality behind the Argonaut myth—the technique of panning gold with sheep fleeces in the mountain streams. They examine the Greek colonies like Dioscurias and Phasis, and the conflicting accounts from Strabo and other historians. The episode also covers the rivalry between Colchis and the eastern kingdom of Iberia, and how the Golden Fleece became a symbol of Georgia's ancient heritage. Along the way, they touch on Medea's story, the possible origins of the myth, and what archaeology reveals about this enigmatic civilization. No prior knowledge of Georgian history is needed—just a curiosity about the ancient world. #Colchis #GoldenFleece #Jason #Medea #Argonauts #AncientGeorgia #CaucasusHistory #GreekMythology #Phasis #ColchianKingdom #Strabo #BlackSea #Hellenistic #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #GeorgianHistory #KingdomOfColchis Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

David VII Ulu: Georgia's Mongol Captive King 30.07.2026 5min

In the aftermath of the Mongol invasion, the Kingdom of Georgia was shattered. Queen Rusudan's son, David VII, was sent as a hostage to the court of the Great Khan in Mongolia, where he lived for years before being allowed to return as a vassal ruler. This episode follows his extraordinary journey—from the gilded cages of Karakorum to a desperate rebellion alongside the Byzantine Empire. We explore how David's desperate gamble against Ilkhanate rule collapsed at the Battle of Terek in 1262, and how his defiance later inspired the unifying reign of George V the Brilliant. Along the way, we meet his cousin David VI Narin, the Mongol general Arghun Aqa, and the secret papal envoys seeking a Franco-Mongol alliance. A story of survival, faith, and the terrible price of resistance. #DavidVIIUlu #MongolGeorgia #Ilkhanate #Bagrationi #Karakorum #BattleOfTerek #GeorgiaHistory #MedievalGeorgia #Caucasus #MongolInvasion #ByzantineEmpire #DavidVINarin #ArghunAqa #QueenRusudan #Sakartvelo #FeudalGeorgia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Arab Emirate of Tbilisi: Georgia Under the Caliphate 29.07.2026 5min

In this episode of The History of Georgia: Kingdoms Between Great Powers, Lucas and Luna explore the nearly four centuries when Tbilisi was ruled by an Arab emirate, from the 730s conquest by Marwan ibn Muhammad to its liberation by David the Builder in 1122. They discuss the Battle of Anakopia (736), where Georgian and Abkhazian forces repelled the Caliphate's army, the establishment of the Emirate and its walls, the cultural and religious coexistence under Muslim rule, and how this period shaped Georgia's later identity as a Christian bastion. They also delve into the life of the last emir, Ishaq ibn Ismail, who was killed by David IV's forces. This episode reveals a lesser-known chapter of Georgia's history between the great powers of Byzantium and the Caliphate. #History #Georgia #Caucasus #ArabEmirate #Tbilisi #MarwanIbnMuhammad #BattleOfAnakopia #DavidTheBuilder #MedievalHistory #IslamicRule #SilkRoad #ByzantineEmpire #Caliphate #Abkhazia #KingdomsBetweenGreatPowers #FexingoHistory #Podcast #GeorgianHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The 1832 Conspiracy: Georgia's Last Plot to Restore the Kingdom 29.07.2026 4min

In 1832, just three decades after the Russian Empire annexed the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, a group of Georgian nobles, princes, and intellectuals hatched a secret plot to overthrow Tsarist rule and restore the Bagratid monarchy. Led by Prince Elizbar Eristavi and the poet Solomon Dodashvili, the conspirators planned a nationwide uprising timed to coincide with a Russian military campaign against the Ottoman Empire. But the plot was betrayed from within, and its leaders were arrested, exiled, or executed. This episode explores the hopes, betrayals, and tragic aftermath of the last serious attempt to revive an independent Georgian kingdom before the Soviet era. We discuss the secret meetings in Tbilisi, the role of the eristavi aristocracy, the ideas of patriotism and national awakening, and how the crackdown shaped Georgia's 19th-century resistance. A story of doomed idealism and the long shadow of empire. #History #FexingoHistory #Georgia #Caucasus #1832Conspiracy #Bagrationi #ElizbarEristavi #SolomonDodashvili #RussianEmpire #Tbilisi #Eristavi #Aznauri #NationalAwakening #19thCentury #TsaristRussia #Conspiracy #GeorgianHistory #Sakartvelo Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

King Solomon I of Imereti Abolishes the Slave Trade 28.07.2026 5min

In this episode, Lucas and Luna turn their attention to western Georgia and the Kingdom of Imereti, which has often been overshadowed by its eastern neighbors. The spotlight falls on King Solomon I, who ruled from 1752 to 1784. Facing relentless Ottoman pressure and the scourge of slave raids that devastated his realm, Solomon took a radical step: he criminalized the slave trade within Imereti, defying the economic interests of powerful nobles and the Ottoman Empire. The conversation explores his military reforms, the pivotal Battle of Khresili in 1757 where he allied with Erekle II of Kartli-Kakheti, and the social impact of his anti-slavery decree. We also examine his efforts to centralize the kingdom, his patronage of the church, and the long shadow of his struggle against the Ottomans—a fight that ultimately left Imereti vulnerable to Russian expansion. This is a story of resistance, reform, and the cost of independence in the Caucasus. #KingSolomonI #Imereti #KingdomOfImereti #Khresili #Georgia #Caucasus #OttomanEmpire #SlaveTrade #ErekleII #KartliKakheti #Bagrationi #BattleOfKhresili #18thCentury #GeorgianHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #Podcast #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

George V the Brilliant: Reuniting Georgia After the Mongols 28.07.2026 3min

After decades of Mongol domination and civil war, Georgia's King George V the Brilliant (Giorgi V Brtsqinvale) restored the kingdom's unity and prestige in the early 14th century. This episode explores his rise amid the crumbling Ilkhanate, his diplomatic marriages into the Byzantine and Trebizond courts, and his military campaigns to bring breakaway regions of Imereti and Samtskhe back under the Bagrationi crown. We also look at his legal reforms, including the Code of George V that strengthened royal authority, and his victory that led to the final eviction of Mongol garrisons from Georgia. Against the backdrop of a fragmented Caucasus, George V's reign marked the last moment of Georgian unity before the Timurid invasions—a brief but brilliant golden twilight. #Georgia #GeorgeV #Brtsqinvale #GiorgiV #Sakartvelo #Bagrationi #Mongols #Ilkhanate #Reunification #Imereti #Samtskhe #Caucasus #History #FexingoHistory #14thCentury #Medieval #Tbilisi #Byzantine Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Georgia Under the Mongols: Queen Rusudan's Lost Kingdom 27.07.2026 9min

After the golden age of Queen Tamar, Georgia faced its greatest test: the Mongol invasions. This episode follows the reign of Tamar's daughter, Queen Rusudan, as she navigates the collapse of the kingdom under the onslaught of Genghis Khan's generals. We explore the brutal sieges, the geopolitical maneuvering between Mongols, Seljuks, and Crusaders, and the tragic fate of Rusudan's children. Lucas and Luna discuss how the Mongols reshaped Georgia's political landscape, splitting the kingdom into east and west, and how the Georgian spirit endured in the highlands of Mtiuleti. The episode also reflects on the costs of survival and the quiet resilience that kept Sakartvelo alive through centuries of foreign domination. #Georgia #Mongols #Rusudan #Ilkhanate #MedievalHistory #QueenTamar #Bagrationi #Caucasus #GenghisKhan #Chormaqan #Sakartvelo #Mtiuleti #GeorgianHistory #SiegeOfTbilisi #DavidVII #Tolerance #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Shota Rustaveli and the Knight in the Panther's Skin 27.07.2026 7min

In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of Georgia's national poet, Shota Rustaveli, and his epic poem 'The Knight in the Panther's Skin' (Vepkhistqaosani). Written during the reign of Queen Tamar in the 12th century, this masterpiece of medieval literature weaves a tale of chivalry, friendship, and love set against a fantastical backdrop. We discuss Rustaveli's possible role as a state treasurer, the poem's Persian and Byzantine influences, its unique use of the Georgian shairi meter, and how it became a cornerstone of Georgian identity. We also touch on the controversies surrounding Rustaveli's life, including rumors of exile and his eventual fate. The episode highlights the poem's enduring impact on Georgian culture, from its mandatory study in schools to its quotes used daily. #ShotaRustaveli #Vepkhistqaosani #GeorgianGoldenAge #QueenTamar #MedievalEpic #GeorgianLiterature #Chivalry #Caucasus #Sakartvelo #Bagrationi #GelatiMonastery #Rustavi #Avtandil #Tariel #NestanDarejan #GeorgianAlphabet #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Georgia's Last King: George XII and the Russian Annexation of 1801 26.07.2026 6min

After the death of King Erekle II, his son George XII inherited a kingdom squeezed between Persia and Russia. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the final chapter of the Bagratid monarchy in Kartli-Kakheti. They follow George XII's desperate appeals to Tsar Paul I for protection, the shadowy diplomacy in St. Petersburg, and the cold proclamation that dissolved a thousand-year-old dynasty. Along the way, they discuss the failed regency of David Bagrationi, the role of Russian general Knorring, and the lingering question of whether the annexation was a betrayal or a grim necessity. From the halls of Tbilisi's palaces to the imperial court, this is the story of a kingdom's last breath and the birth of Russian Georgia. #GeorgeXII #GiorgiXII #KartliKakheti #Bagrationi #RussianAnnexation #1801 #TsarPaulI #TsarAlexanderI #TreatyOfGeorgievsk #ErekleII #Tbilisi #Caucasus #Sakartvelo #HistoryOfGeorgia #BagratidDynasty #18thCentury #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Saint Nino and the Christian Conversion of Georgia 26.07.2026 6min

This episode dives into the remarkable story of Saint Nino, a 4th-century Roman slave woman who is credited with converting the kingdom of Iberia (eastern Georgia) to Christianity. We explore her arrival in Mtskheta, her healing of Queen Nana, the conversion of King Mirian III, and the subsequent baptism of the nation. We also discuss the construction of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the significance of the grapevine cross. Along the way, we touch on the early Georgian church, the spread of Christianity in the Caucasus, and how this event set Georgia on a distinct path between the Roman and Persian empires. The episode also considers the legendary aspects of Nino's story and what historical evidence exists. Finally, we reflect on the lasting legacy of this conversion, which made Georgia one of the first Christian states in the world. #SaintNino #ChristianizationOfGeorgia #Iberia #Mtskheta #KingMirian #QueenNana #Svetitskhoveli #Caucasus #4thCentury #HistoryOfGeorgia #OrthodoxChristianity #Hagiography #RomanEmpire #PersianEmpire #EarlyChurch #CulturalHeritage #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Vakhtang I Gorgasali and the Founding of Tbilisi 25.07.2026 7min

Long before the unified kingdom of Sakartvelo, a 5th-century monarch named Vakhtang I Gorgasali—'Wolf-Head' in Persian—fought to hold back the Sasanian Empire while laying the foundations of a new capital. This episode explores his military campaigns, his complex relationship with the Byzantine Empire, and the legend that he founded Tbilisi on the site of a hot spring discovered while hunting. We examine the historical evidence behind the founding, the city's strategic role in the Caucasus, and how Vakhtang's image as a warrior-king shaped Georgian identity for centuries. Along the way, we touch on the Georgian Orthodox Church's early development, the rivalry with the Mihranid princes, and the fragility of early medieval Caucasian states caught between Rome and Persia. #VakhtangIGorgasali #FoundingOfTbilisi #SasanianEmpire #GeorgianHistory #Caucasus #ByzantineEmpire #5thCentury #Kartli #WolfHead #HotSpringLegend #Mtskheta #Ujarma #GeorgianOrthodoxChurch #Mihranids #BattleOfAvarayr #Armenia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo