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

The Battle of Didgori and Georgia's Golden Age 19.09.2026 11мин

In this episode, we explore the pivotal moment in 1121 when King David IV of Georgia turned the tide against the Seljuk Empire. We look at the strategic brilliance behind the Battle of Didgori, where a smaller Georgian force defeated a vastly larger army, securing independence and launching the country's Golden Age. Lucas and Luna discuss how David consolidated power by uniting the fragmented kingdoms, his military reforms that included foreign mercenaries, and the cultural flourishing that followed under his rule and that of his daughter Tamar. The conversation touches on the religious significance of Mtskheta, the architectural legacy of Gelati Monastery, and how Georgia managed to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape between Byzantium, the Seljuks, and the Crusaders. We also examine the internal challenges David faced, including rebellions from rival nobles and the delicate balance of power with neighboring empires, offering a nuanced view of one of the most successful medieval states in the Caucasus. #DavidIV #Didgori #GeorgiaHistory #Caucasus #SeljukEmpire #Bagrationi #TamarOfGeorgia #GelatiMonastery #Mtskheta #GoldenAge #MedievalMilitary #Sakartvelo #Byzantine #OrthodoxChristianity #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #KingDavidBuilder #GeorgianCulture Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Georgia's Russian Annexation and the Exile of Kings 18.09.2026 8мин

We trace the tragic end of Georgian sovereignty in the early nineteenth century, focusing on the forced annexation of Kartli-Kakheti by the Russian Empire. The episode examines Tsar Paul I’s decree in 1801 that dissolved the Bagrationi dynasty’s rule, stripping King Giorgi XII of his crown and exiling the royal family to St. Petersburg. We explore the immediate aftermath: the failed uprisings led by Prince David Orbeliani and the bitter resignation of Metropolitan Ilia II, who chose prison over loyalty to a foreign emperor. Through the lens of cultural erasure and political humiliation, we uncover how Georgia’s ancient monarchy was dismantled not by invasion, but by bureaucratic decree, leaving a nation to navigate its identity under the weight of imperial administration. #GeorgianHistory #BagrationiDynasty #RussianEmpire #KartliKakheti #TsarPaulI #GiorgiXII #DavidOrbeliani #MetropolitanIlia #StPetersburgExile #CaucasusHistory #ImperialRussia #Sakartvelo #19thCenturyGeography #GeorgianMonarchy #ColonialPolicy #TbilisiHistory #RussianAnnexation #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Georgia's Silk Road Monks and Safavid Spies 17.09.2026 7мин

While the great powers of Persia and the Ottoman Empire fought for dominance over the Caucasus, a quiet war was waged by Georgian monks who became master diplomats and spies. This episode explores how figures like Ioane and David of Gareji used their monasteries as hubs of intelligence and trade during the reigns of Shah Abbas I and Shah Abbas II. We look at the dual life of these clerics—praying in the morning, negotiating with Qizilbash commanders in the afternoon—and how they navigated the treacherous politics of Safavid Iran. From the fortified monastery complexes of Mount Athos to the dusty roads of Khorasan, we uncover how faith and cunning intertwined to preserve Georgia’s cultural identity when its political independence was slipping away. You will learn about the specific strategies used to smuggle manuscripts, the role of the Mkhargrdzeli family in these networks, and why the Safavids tolerated, and sometimes relied upon, these resilient religious centers. #GeorgianHistory #SafavidEmpire #DavidOfGareji #IoaneTheGeorgian #MountAthos #HilandarMonastery #Qizilbash #ShahAbbasI #ShahAbbasII #CaucasusHistory #OrthodoxChristianity #MedievalDiplomacy #BagrationiDynasty #Mkhargrdzeli #Kartli #Kakheti #Sakartvelo #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Silk Road of the Caucasus: Georgia's Forgotten Trade 16.09.2026 7мин

While we have covered the great battles and royal intrigues of Sakartvelo, there is another story written in silk, spices, and silver. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the economic lifeline that kept Georgia’s kingdoms afloat between the Ottoman and Safavid empires. We look at how Tbilisi became a cosmopolitan hub where Persian merchants, Armenian artisans, and Georgian nobles negotiated deals under the shadow of constant war. You will meet figures like Prince Kaikhosro and learn about the complex trade routes through Darial Gorge and the Kura River. This conversation moves away from the battlefield to examine the market square, revealing how Georgia survived not just by fighting, but by connecting the East and West when everyone else was trying to sever those links. #Sakartvelo #CaucasusHistory #SilkRoadTrade #TbilisiHistory #BagrationiDynasty #OttomanGeorgia #SafavidPersia #KuraRiver #DarialGorge #Mkhargrdzeli #GeorgianMerchant #ArmenianArtisans #PersianSpices #MedievalTrade #CaucasusMountains #EconomicHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Georgian Cross: Faith Forging a Nation in the Caucasus 15.09.2026 7мин

While empires like Byzantium, Persia, and Rome fought for control of the Caucasus, Georgia carved out its identity through something deeper than territory: faith. In this episode, we explore how the adoption of Christianity under King Mirian III and Queen Nana in the early fourth century didn't just change the religion of the land, but rewired its politics, culture, and resistance to foreign rule. We trace the journey from Zoroastrian influences to the establishment of the Church of Iberia, centered at Mtskheta, and look at the legendary figure of St. Nino, whose missionary work laid the spiritual groundwork for a nation that would later produce Queen Tamar and David IV the Builder. You will hear about the construction of the Jvari Monastery, a symbol of this Christian transformation, and how Orthodoxy became the glue holding together fragmented kingdoms like Kartli, Kakheti, and Imereti against constant invasions from Safavids, Ottomans, and Qajars. This is the story of how belief became statecraft. #Georgia #CaucasusHistory #StNino #KingMirianIII #QueenNana #Mtskheta #JvariMonastery #ChristianityInGeorgia #BagrationiDynasty #Sakartvelo #ByzantineEmpire #SasanianPersia #OrthodoxChurch #CaucasianAlbania #Lazica #DavidIVtheBuilder #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #AncientHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Georgian Cross: How Orthodoxy Shaped a Nation 14.09.2026 11мин

While Georgia’s history is often defined by its battles against the Seljuks, Mongols, and Safavids, its survival owed as much to faith as to swords. This episode explores how the Georgian Orthodox Church became the primary vessel of national identity when political unity fractured under foreign domination. We trace the lineage from Vakhtang Gorgasali’s founding of Tbilisi and the adoption of Christianity in the fourth century through the golden age of Queen Tamar, whose patronage built monasteries that served as libraries, hospitals, and fortresses. We examine the unique Georgian cross, the script innovations of Mesrop Mashtokt’s influence, and how monks like David of Gareji carved sanctuaries into volcanic cliffs to preserve culture during invasions. From the schism with Byzantium to the quiet resistance of the mountain monasteries, we look at how religion kept the Georgian language and customs alive when kings fell and borders shifted. Discover how spiritual resilience provided a continuity that political power could not match, turning faith into a shield for the soul of Sakartvelo. #GeorgianOrthodoxChurch #Sakartvelo #VakhtangGorgasali #QueenTamar #DavidOfGareji #KartlisTskhovreba #CaucasusHistory #ByzantineEmpire #ChristianityInGeorgia #BagrationiDynasty #Mtskheta #JvariMonastery #GeorgianScript #MedievalGeorgia #FaithAndNationhood #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Silk Road of the Caucasus: Georgia's Forgotten Trade 13.09.2026 6мин

We often think of Georgia as a fortress, defined by its battles against Mongols, Safavids, and Ottomans. But for centuries, the true strength of the Bagrationi dynasty lay in its control of the Darial Gorge, known locally as the Iron Gates. This episode explores how Georgian merchants turned a narrow mountain pass into one of the most lucrative trade arteries connecting China, Persia, and Europe. We examine the role of the Mkhargrdzeli family, who didn't just collect tolls but managed a complex network of caravanserais along the Kura River. You will hear about the specific goods that flowed through Tbilisi—Persian silk, Chinese porcelain, and Caucasian amber—and how this wealth allowed Georgia to maintain a degree of independence even when surrounded by empires. By looking at the ledgers of medieval traders rather than the maps of generals, we uncover a softer, more resilient history of Sakartvelo that relied on commerce, diplomacy, and the strategic placement of monasteries that doubled as banks. #Sakartvelo #Bagrationi #Mkhargrdzeli #DarialGorge #KuraRiver #Tbilisi #Ilkhanate #Safavid #Ottoman #Qajar #VakhtangGorgasali #ShahAbbasI #Gelati #Ani #Zoroastrian #Seljuk #Byzantine #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Silk Road of the Caucasus: Georgia's Forgotten Trade 12.09.2026 6мин

While previous episodes have focused on battles and dynasties, this episode explores the economic arteries that kept the Kingdom of Georgia alive between the Byzantine Empire and Persia. We trace the routes through the Darial Gorge and the Kura River valley, looking at how merchants from China, India, and the Islamic world converged in Tbilisi and Mtskheta. Lucas details the specific goods traded—silk, spices, horses, and slaves—and how these commercial networks influenced Georgian culture, architecture, and politics. Luna asks about the dangers of the road and how local lords profited from tolls. The conversation covers the role of the Mkhargrdzeli family as both military commanders and trade facilitators, the impact of the Ilkhanate period on commerce, and the eventual decline under Safavid pressure. This is a look at the quiet, daily interactions that defined Georgia’s place in the medieval world. #Georgia #Caucasus #SilkRoad #MedievalHistory #Tbilisi #Mtskheta #Bagrationi #DarialGorge #KuraRiver #Ilkhanate #Safavid #Ottoman #Qajar #Mkhargrdzeli #VakhtangGorgasali #ShahAbbasI #Zoroastrian #Seljuk #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Georgia's Silent War: The Mongol Peace Treaty 11.09.2026 9мин

While most of the Caucasus burned under the Mongol hammer, Georgia survived through a strategy of radical submission. This episode explores how Queen Rusudan and her successors turned vassalage into survival, negotiating with Jalal al-Din and the Ilkhanate to preserve their Christian identity while paying heavy tribute. We trace the journey from the Battle of Khunan to the complex court politics in Sarai, where Georgian nobles like the Mkhargrdzeli family played both sides. You will hear about the specific demands of the Great Khan, the role of Georgian hostages in Karakorum, and how this precarious peace allowed Georgian culture to endure despite the destruction of Tbilisi. It is a story of diplomatic resilience, showing how small kingdoms navigate the shadows of empires without losing their soul. #GeorgianHistory #MongolInvasion #QueenRusudan #CaucasusHistory #Ilkhanate #JalalAlDin #Bagrationi #Sakartvelo #MedievalDiplomacy #TbilisiSiege #BattleOfKhunan #Karakorum #Mkhargrdzeli #Chormaqan #VassalState #ChristianCaucasus #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Silk Road of the Caucasus: Georgia's Forgotten Trade 10.09.2026 7мин

While we often focus on the battles and kings of Sakartvelo, the true engine of Georgian power was its position as the vital nexus of the Silk Road. This episode explores how Georgia controlled the Darial Gorge and the Kura River trade routes, transforming Mtskheta and Tbilisi into wealthy entrepôts. We examine the economic policies of Vakhtang Gorgasali and the Bagrationi dynasty, who leveraged their geography to extract tariffs from Sasanian, Byzantine, and later Mongol caravans. You will learn about the specific goods traded—from Chinese silk and Persian spices to Caucasian horses and salt—and how this wealth funded the construction of monasteries like Gelati and the fortifications at Ani. The conversation also looks at the Mkhargrdzeli merchant families who navigated the complex political landscape between the Seljuks, Ottomans, and Safavids, using commerce as a form of soft power. By understanding the flow of gold and goods, we gain a clearer picture of why Georgia remained a distinct cultural entity despite being sandwiched between empires. From the Zoroastrian fire temples of the early medieval period to the bustling bazaars under Shah Abbas I, we trace the economic history that built the Georgian state. #Sakartvelo #Bagrationi #Mkhargrdzeli #DarialGorge #Tbilisi #KuraRiver #Ilkhanate #Safavid #Ottoman #Qajar #SilkRoad #CaucasusTrade #Mtskheta #VakhtangGorgasali #ShahAbbasI #GeorgianHistory #MedievalEconomics #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Georgian Monks Who Outsmarted the Safavids 09.09.2026 6мин

In 1638, Shah Abbas II of Persia ordered the deportation of tens of thousands of Georgians to Khorasan, a devastating blow that nearly erased the nation's cultural core. Yet, amidst this forced migration, a small group of monks from the Mount Athos monasteries—specifically those from Iveron and Hilandar—orchestrated a daring rescue mission. This episode explores how these spiritual leaders used their diplomatic standing with both the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Tsardom to negotiate the return of the exiled clergy and laity. We examine the role of Father Ioane, who traveled through dangerous territories to secure safe passage, and the complex web of alliances that allowed Georgia’s intellectual heritage to survive the Safavid purges. It is a story of faith, strategy, and the preservation of identity when every other institution had fallen. #GeorgianHistory #SafavidEmpire #MountAthos #Iberia #Bagrationi #ShahAbbasII #Khorasan #IoaneOfAthos #HilandarMonastery #IveronMonastery #CaucasusStudies #OrthodoxChurch #OttomanDiplomacy #RussianTsardom #Tbilisi #Mtskheta #Sakartvelo #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Battle of Marj Dabiq: Georgia's Ottoman Shadow 08.09.2026 12мин

By the mid-sixteenth century, the Georgian kingdoms had fractured into a patchwork of principalities caught between the expanding Safavid Empire and the rising Ottoman Sultanate. While most historical narratives focus on the great battles of Didgori or Krtsanisi, this episode explores a lesser-known but pivotal moment: the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516. We trace how King David X of Kartli attempted to navigate the treacherous diplomatic waters between these two superpowers, only to find his kingdom’s sovereignty eroded by the very alliances he sought to maintain. Through the lens of Prince Kaikhosro I, we examine the internal strife, the betrayal of local nobles, and the subtle ways Ottoman influence began to seep into Tbilisi long before direct conquest. This is a story of survival, shifting loyalties, and the quiet loss of independence that preceded the more famous Qajar invasions. #History #FexingoHistory #CaucasusHistory #GeorgiaHistory #OttomanEmpire #SafavidDynasty #BattleOfMarjDabiq #KingDavidX #PrinceKaikhosroI #KartliKingdom #TbilisiHistory #BagrationiDynasty #SelimI #ShahIsmail #GeorgianPrincipality #16thCentury #MiddleEasternHistory #CaucasianPeoples Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

David the Builder and the Golden Age of Georgia 07.09.2026 7мин

In this episode, we explore the reign of David IV, known as the Builder, and how he transformed Georgia from a fractured state into a regional powerhouse. We trace his military reforms, the pivotal Battle of Didgori in 1121, and the cultural renaissance that followed under his son Demetrius I. The conversation examines how David united the Georgian principalities, expelled Seljuk influence from Tbilisi, and established Mtskheta as a spiritual center rivaling Constantinople. Listeners will hear about the role of Queen Gurandukht, the strategic use of Kipchak mercenaries, and the enduring legacy of the Bagrationi dynasty during its zenith. This story is one of resilience, political genius, and the brief but brilliant moment when the Caucasus stood independent against overwhelming odds. #DavidIV #GeorgiaHistory #Bagrationi #Didgori #Caucasus #MedievalHistory #TamarQueen #Seljuks #Mtskheta #Sakartvelo #Kipchaks #OrthodoxChurch #GeorgianCulture #Tbilisi #Iberia #MilitaryReform #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Georgian Monks Who Outsmarted the Safavids 06.09.2026 5мин

In this episode, we explore how the monasteries of Mount Athos became a vital diplomatic bridge for Georgia during the long wars with the Safavid and Ottoman empires. While kings fought battles, monks like David of Gareji carried letters and negotiated safe passage across hostile borders. We look at the specific role of the Georgian Athonite community in preserving royal lineage records and securing papal support. The story centers on Abbot Ioane, who used religious networks to bypass political blockades. You will learn about the unique status of Georgian monastic enclaves in Greece, the handwritten chronicles they sent back home, and how faith provided a channel for diplomacy when state channels were closed. This is a story of ink, parchment, and high-stakes correspondence from the 17th century. #MountAthos #GeorgianMonks #SafavidEmpire #OttomanGeorgia #DavidOfGaredja #IoaneAthonite #CaucasusHistory #ByzantineLegacy #OrthodoxChurch #BagrationiDynasty #MedievalDiplomacy #GeorgianChronicles #HilandarMonastery #IveronMonastery #ShahAbbasII #PatriarchNektarios #GeorgianScript #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Silk Road of the Caucasus: Georgia's Forgotten Trade 05.09.2026 10мин

While earlier episodes explored Georgia’s military struggles against Mongols, Seljuks, and Safavids, this episode turns its gaze to the economic arteries that kept the kingdom alive. We trace the journey of Georgian silk, wine, and iron along the northern routes through the Darial Gorge, examining how Tbilisi became a critical hub between the Islamic world and Christian Europe. The conversation focuses on the intricate diplomatic maneuvers of Queen Tamar and her successors as they navigated tariffs, protected merchant caravans, and leveraged their geographic position to extract wealth from passing powers. We also look at the specific guilds of the Mkhargrdzeli families who doubled as merchants, and how the decline of these trade networks in the 15th century left Georgia economically vulnerable to the rising Qajar and Ottoman empires. This is a story of commerce, cultural exchange, and the quiet power of the market. #GeorgianHistory #SilkRoad #CaucasusHistory #TbilisiTrade #QueenTamar #BagrationiDynasty #DarialGorge #MedievalCommerce #Sakartvelo #IberiaKingdom #Mkhargrdzeli #GeorgianWine #BlackSeaTrade #PersianEmpire #OttomanTradeRoutes #MedievalGuilds #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #AncientTrade Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Siege of Tbilisi and Georgia's Ottoman Nightmare 04.09.2026 8мин

In this episode, we explore the devastating Ottoman invasions of the 17th century that shattered Georgia’s fragile unity. While earlier episodes covered medieval battles and Mongol yokes, we focus on the systematic destruction wrought by Shah Abbas I and his successors, particularly the sack of Tbilisi in 1615-1616 and the brutal raids led by Sultan Murad IV. We examine how the Safavid and Ottoman empires turned Georgian kings into pawns, forcing them to fight for Persia while their own lands burned. The narrative centers on King Teimuraz I of Kakheti and his son, King Vakhtang V, who tried to navigate the impossible choice between loyalty to Tehran or independence from Istanbul. We also look at the cultural cost: the deportation of thousands of Georgians to Isfahan and the resulting diaspora that preserved Georgian identity far from home. This is a story of resilience against two superpowers, where survival meant playing both sides until one side collapsed. Join us as we uncover how Georgia survived its darkest hour not through victory, but through endurance. #GeorgianHistory #OttomanEmpire #SafavidPersia #TbilisiSiege #KingTeimurazI #VakhtangV #ShahAbbasI #MuradIV #CaucasusHistory #KartliKakheti #IsfahanDiaspora #BagrationiDynasty #17thCenturyGeorgia #GeorgianCulture #OttomanRaids #PersianInvasions #HistoricalResilience #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Battle of Krtsanisi: Georgia's Fractured End 03.09.2026 9мин

In 1795, the Persian Empire under Agha Mohammad Khan launched a devastating campaign against the fractured Georgian kingdoms, culminating in the Battle of Krtsanisi outside Tbilisi. This episode explores how internal dynastic rivalries between the Bagrationi branches in Kartli and Kakheti left the region vulnerable to external domination. We examine the final days of King Erekle II, the brutal sack of Tbilisi, and the collapse of centuries-old alliances with Russia that had promised protection but failed to materialize in time. The conversation delves into the personal tragedies of royal family members, the strategic miscalculations of Georgian diplomacy, and the immediate aftermath that saw thousands enslaved or killed. By focusing on this pivotal year, we uncover how a once-unified Christian stronghold in the Caucasus was reduced to tributary states under Qajar rule, setting the stage for eventual Russian annexation decades later. Listeners will encounter specific figures like King Heraclius, Queen Darejan, and Prince David Orbeliani, alongside details of the battle tactics, the destruction of cultural landmarks, and the complex political landscape of late 18th-century Persia. #Krtsanisi #AghaMohammadKhan #ErekleII #Bagrationi #QajarDynasty #TbilisiSack #GeorgiaHistory #CaucasusHistory #KingdomOfKartli #KingdomOfKakheti #RussianEmpire #PersianInvasion #QueenDarejan #DavidOrbeliani #1795Battle #SafavidLegacy #GeorgianRoyalty #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Kakheti's Last Stand: The Battle of Khirsa 02.09.2026 8мин

In the early seventeenth century, while Europe was consumed by the Thirty Years' War, the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kakheti faced an existential threat from the expanding Safavid Empire. This episode explores the dramatic Battle of Khirsa in 1605, where King Luarsab II led a desperate defense against Shah Abbas I’s forces. We examine the political maneuvering that preceded the conflict, the brutal siege tactics employed by the Persians, and the tragic fate of the Georgian nobility who refused to convert to Islam. Through the lens of this lost battle, we uncover how the fragmentation of Georgia into rival kingdoms like Kartli and Imereti allowed foreign powers to systematically dismantle one of the Caucasus’s most resilient Christian states. #Kakheti #LuarsabII #BattleOfKhirsa #ShahAbbasI #SafavidEmpire #GeorgianHistory #CaucasusHistory #KingdomOfGeorgia #17thCenturyWarfare #OrthodoxChristianity #PersianEmpire #BagrationiDynasty #TbilisiSiege #Mingrelia #Imereti #Kartli #ReligiousConflict #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Giorgi Lasha and the Betrayal of Mtskheta 01.09.2026 8мин

In this episode, we examine the tragic reign of Giorgi IV Lasha, Georgia’s last unified king before the Mongol invasions fractured the realm. We explore his complex relationship with his father, Queen Tamar, and how his reliance on Byzantine political models alienated the Georgian nobility. The narrative focuses on the pivotal moment in 1213 when Lasha’s failure to defend the capital, Mtskheta, from Seljuk raiders led to a mutiny by his own knights. We delve into the cultural clash between the traditional warrior aristocracy and Lasha’s pacifist, courtly ideals, set against the backdrop of rising Khwarezmian power. By looking at the primary sources like the Chronicle of Kartlis Tskhovreba, we reconstruct the final days of a kingdom that was too proud to adapt and too divided to survive. This is a story about the cost of idealism in a brutal geopolitical landscape. #GiorgiLasha #QueenTamar #Mtskheta #Bagrationi #Sakartvelo #Seljuks #Khwarezmia #Byzantium #Mongols #CaucasusHistory #MedievalGeorgia #GeorgianEmpire #Iberia #KartlisTskhovreba #Didgori #DavidIV #Rusudan #HistoryPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Fall of Constantinople and Georgia's Last Byzantine Bride 31.08.2026 8мин

In this episode, we trace the life of a Byzantine princess who became a Georgian queen and the final link between two Orthodox worlds on the eve of Constantinople's fall. We follow Maria Megale Komnene from Trebizond to the court of Vamek Dadiani, the powerful eristavi of western Georgia, and her role in the fragile politics of the Black Sea coast. We also explore the 1453 siege through the eyes of Georgian chroniclers, the last embassies between the Komnenoi and the Bagrationi, and the fate of the Golden Fleece myth in a world of gunpowder and cannon. Along the way we consider why the fall of the Byzantine Empire mattered so deeply to a small kingdom in the Caucasus, and how Georgia's own medieval era quietly ended in the same century. A story of marriage, alliance, and the long shadow of empire, told in the warm, unhurried style you expect from our show. #ByzantineEmpire #FallOfConstantinople #Georgia #Trebizond #MariaKomnene #VamekDadiani #Bagrationi #Mingrelia #BlackSea #OrthodoxChristianity #1453 #MehmedII #Caucasus #DavidIV #QueenTamar #Eristavi #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo