1072–1089 AD: The Great Turkish Invasion and the Ultimate Sacrifice

King George II is often judged harshly by history as a “weak” king, but this ignores the impossible situation he faced. He ruled during the darkest nightmare of medieval Georgia: the Didi Turkoba (The Great Turkish Invasion). Following the Battle of Manzikert (1071), where the Seljuks crushed the Byzantine Empire, Georgia was left alone to face the flood.

George II was a man of peace forced into a war for survival. The Seljuk Turks did not just invade to conquer; they came with their flocks to settle, turning agricultural lands into pastures. This threatened the very existence of the Georgian nation.

The Impossible Choice

George II tried to fight. He won the Battle of Partskhisi (1074), proving his personal bravery. But the waves of invaders were endless. Realizing that military resistance would lead to the annihilation of his people, George II made a painful journey to Isfahan to meet Sultan Malik-Shah I.

He agreed to pay a heavy annual tribute (Haraj) and accept Seljuk suzerainty. In exchange, the Sultan recognized his kingship and returned the regions of Kakheti and Hereti to him. It was a humiliating peace, but it bought Georgia time.

The Abdication

However, the tribute did not stop the raids. The country was devastated. In 1089, a bloodless coup took place. The exact details are lost to history, but the result was clear: George II did something extraordinary. He abdicated the throne in favor of his 16-year-old son, David.

By stepping aside, George II allowed the rise of David IV the Builder, the greatest king in Georgian history. George II lived on for years in the shadow of his son, a “King Father,” content to see the kingdom rise under another’s hand. His sacrifice saved the dynasty and the nation.

Tourism Guide: The Ruins of Resistance

  1. Fortress of Partskhisi: Visit the site of George II’s greatest victory. Located in Kvemo Kartli, the ruins are overgrown but evocative. It is the place where the “weak” king proved he could fight.
  2. Gelati Monastery: Although built by his son David, George II is likely buried here or in the nearby royal necropolis, resting in the peace he sacrificed his crown to achieve.