106โ€“116 AD: The High Water Mark of Georgian Expansion and the Parthian Campaign

King Amazasp I ruled for a short but explosive decade. He inherited the strong, Roman-allied kingdom of his father, Mihrdat I, and took that alliance to its logical conclusion: total war. His reign coincides with the rule of the Roman Emperor Trajan, the conqueror who expanded Rome to its greatest territorial extent.

Amazasp wasn’t content to sit behind the walls of Mtskheta. He was a warrior king who marched his armies further south than any Iberian king before him, fighting deep inside Parthian territory.

Brother in Arms with Trajan

When Emperor Trajan launched his massive campaign against Parthia in AD 114, he called upon his allies. Amazasp I answered. The Iberian army joined the Roman legions, marching into Armenia and Mesopotamia. This was the peak of Georgian military projection in the ancient world.

Historical records are fragmented, but evidence suggests that Amazasp (or a high-ranking royal prince of the same name often identified with him) died in the city of Nisibis (modern-day Turkey/Syria border) while on campaign with Trajan. An epitaph found in Rome, written in Greek, memorializes an Iberian royal named Amazaspus, calling him the brother of King Mithridates, who “died at Nisibis on a sacred journey.” While historians debate whether this refers to the King himself or his uncle/brother, the connection is undeniable: the Iberian royal house was shedding blood for Rome on the front lines.

The Legacy of a Warrior

Amazasp Iโ€™s reign proves that Iberia was not a passive vassal. It was an active military power capable of projecting force hundreds of miles from its borders. His participation in Trajanโ€™s war secured Iberiaโ€™s independence and prestige for the next generation, ensuring that Rome treated Georgia as a partner, not a subject.

Tourism Guide: The Roman Frontier

While Amazasp died far from home, his legacy is felt in the strategic depth of Georgia:

  1. The Archaeological Site of Armazi: Look for the “Stele of Serapeitis” (the Armazi Bilingual). While dating to a slightly later period (AD 150), it references the “King of Kings” of Iberia and powerful officials (Pitiakhsh), showing the sophisticated court structure that Amazasp I helped solidify through his wars.
  2. Uplistsikhe: This ancient cave city was a major religious center during Amazasp’s time. As the King fought abroad, the pagan priests here prayed for his victory. Walking through its halls connects you to the spiritual life of his era.