1027–1072 AD: Internal Civil War and the Arrival of the Seljuk Turks

King Bagrat IV had one of the longest and most difficult reigns in Georgian history. Ascending the throne at age 8, he inherited a kingdom threatened by Byzantium. But his greatest enemy was not an Emperor or a Sultan; it was his own subject, the powerful feudal lord Liparit IV, Duke of Kldekari.

Bagrat’s life reads like a political thriller. For decades, he fought a chess match against Liparit, who was backed by Byzantium. Liparit famously defeated the King’s armies, forced Bagrat into exile, and essentially ruled the country. Yet, Bagrat IV was a survivor. He returned, rallied his loyalists, and eventually captured Liparit, forcing him into monkhood.

The Turkish Storm

Just as Bagrat subdued his internal enemies, a new, terrifying force appeared on the horizon: the Seljuk Turks. Led by the legendary Sultan Alp Arslan, they swept through the Middle East.

In 1064 and 1068, Alp Arslan invaded Georgia. Bagrat IV fought bravely, engaging the Turks in guerrilla warfare in the mountains of Kartli. He lost battles but refused to submit, preserving the core of the kingdom’s independence even as the capital was burned.

Maria of Alania: The Byzantine Connection

Bagrat IV was a master of dynastic diplomacy. His daughter, Martha, became one of the most famous women in Byzantine history. Known as Maria of Alania, she married two Byzantine Emperors (Michael VII and Nikephoros III). Her beauty and intellect made her a power player in Constantinople, and she used her influence to protect Georgia from total Byzantine aggression.

Tourism Guide: The Fortress of Liparit

  1. Kldekari Fortress: Hike up to the ruins of Kldekari, perched high on a rocky ridge in Trialeti. This was the Eagle’s Nest of Liparit IV, the rebel who defied the King. The view is spectacular, and the ruins evoke the bitter civil war that defined Bagrat’s reign.
  2. Ateni Sioni: This church contains inscriptions mentioning Bagrat IV. It stands as a witness to the turbulent 11th century.