234–249 AD: Stability in a Time of Chaos

King Bacurius I (Bakur I), son of Vache, ascended the throne when the Sassanid shadow was growing longer. While history has left us few specific details of his daily life, the context of his reign tells a story of incredible diplomatic skill.

During his reign, the Sassanid King Shapur I began his legendary wars against Rome. Shapur was a conqueror who would eventually capture a Roman Emperor alive. For a small kingdom like Iberia to survive between these clashing titans without being crushed required a ruler of immense caution and savvy.

The Quiet Keeper

Bacurius I is often seen as a “caretaker” king, but this underestimates his achievement. In an era where cities were burned and dynasties erased, Mtskheta remained standing. He managed to keep Iberia autonomous while Shapur was busy fighting Rome in Mesopotamia.

He continued the Arsacid policy of balancing Roman friendship with Persian appeasement. It was a high-wire act. One wrong step could mean annihilation. That Bacurius died a natural death on his throne, passing a stable kingdom to his son, is his greatest victory.

Tourism Guide: Exploring the Undisturbed

Since his reign was relatively peaceful for the interior of Georgia, this period likely saw the expansion of agricultural settlements:

  1. Shida Kartli Plain: The heartland of the kingdom. Driving through the villages of Gori and Kaspi, you are passing through the fertile lands that fed Bacurius’s kingdom, allowing it to remain self-sufficient while the world around it burned.