888–923 AD: The End of the Interregnum and the Return of the Georgian Monarchy

For three hundred years, Georgia had no king. Since the Persians abolished the monarchy in 580 AD, the land was ruled by “Presiding Princes” (Erismtavari), mere governors fighting for survival under the shadow of the Arab Caliphate. That changed in 888 AD.

Adarnase IV, a Bagrationi prince of the Tao-Klarjeti line, did the unthinkable. He declared himself “King of the Iberians” (Kartvelta Mepe). This was not just a title; it was a revolution. It signaled that Georgia was no longer a collection of Arab or Byzantine provinces, but a sovereign state once again.

The Architect of Sovereignty

Adarnase did not inherit a kingdom; he built one. His power base was in the rugged southwest—Tao-Klarjeti (historically part of Georgia, now mostly in northeast Turkey). From these mountain strongholds, aided by his Armenian ally King Ashot I, he waged a relentless war against the Arab emirs and the rival Abkhazian kings who sought to dominate Kartli.

His coronation in 888 AD was a geopolitical earthquake. The Byzantine Emperor, recognizing Adarnase’s power as a bulwark against the Arabs, bestowed upon him the title of Curopalates. However, Adarnase made it clear: his kingship came from God and his Bagrationi blood, not from the Emperor’s favor.

The War for the Heartland

Adarnase spent his life fighting for the heart of Georgia—Shida Kartli. He faced a formidable enemy in Constantine III of Abkhazia, who invaded from the west. Though Adarnase initially allied with the Armenians to check Abkhazian expansion, he suffered defeats that forced him to retreat to his Tao territories. Yet, he never lost his royal title.

By the time of his death in 923, Adarnase had achieved what no one had done in three centuries: he re-established the institution of the Georgian Monarchy. He is the true father of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia.

Tourism Guide: The Land of Tao

To see Adarnase’s legacy, you must visit the “Georgian Sinai” (Tao-Klarjeti):

  1. Bana Cathedral (Turkey): Though now a ruin, this massive round cathedral was the coronation site of the Bagrationi kings. Standing in its vast, circular nave, you can imagine the moment Adarnase placed the crown on his head.
  2. Oshki and Ishkhani: While expanded later, these monastic centers flourished under the stability Adarnase provided. They became the universities of medieval Georgia.