GEORGE III

George III (1156-1184). In 1156 the youngest son reigned Demetre I - George III. By this time the son of old-Sheha son Demetrius I of David V-th Prince Demeter was a minor. During the reign of George III broke out a fierce struggle for the Armenian lands. George has repeatedly occupied the ancient capital of Ani and Armenia Dvin, but the final accession to the kingdom of Georgia pro-emanated at Tamar.

In 1177 against George III large-scale revolt broke out. Prince Demna (Demeter) tried to take the throne and supported him in this test - amirspasalar (army commander) Georgia Ioane Orbeli. The rebels joined the majority of the feudal lords of the eastern and southern Georgia, dissatisfied increasing royal power. The rebels had intended to seize captives located outside the city the king, but did not achieve goal. George returned to Tbilisi and began to gather around him his supporters. One of the first to the king was the Koman-blowing Polovtsian army Kubasar with 500 soldiers. Despite the fact that in the hands of the insurgents have focused a great military power (about 30 thousand people), they hesitated, hoping for support from outside. They even sent messengers to the Muslim rulers of the flagship, and began to wait for help from them. Meanwhile, George took the initiative in their own hands and attacked the rebels. At the first table-knovenii ranks of the rebels waver between them split, leaving part of them went over to the king. Prince Demna and John Orbeli locked themselves in the fortress Lore. King besieged the fortress, after which the rebels were forced to surrender to the king. George brutally cracked down on insurgents. Prince Demna was executed. The same fate befell Ioane Orbeli. Of the genus Orbeli saved only those who are outside of Georgia, and who managed to escape.

After the suppression of the revolt, the king appointed to high positions Chill devoted himself people. In George III had no sons, and after his death the throne was to join his daughter, Tamar. To avoid difficulties in the future, King George decided to build his daughter to the throne even during his lifetime. In 1178 he was crowned its king as his co-ruler. Since then, father and daughter ruled the country together. In the same year at the initiative of George the III-rd and Tamar was convened by the GSS-even earlier, in which it was decided to impose capital punishment for thieves and bandits, as the countries to participate in the looting and theft. Was a special office of "seekers of thieves". Past events have not failed to affect: the number of robberies and thefts decreased sharply. In 1184 George III died. He was buried in the Gelati Monastery.