AD 58–106: The Golden Age of Roman-Georgian Friendship

Archaeology often speaks louder than chronicles. In 1867, a stone stele was discovered in Mtskheta that rewrote the history of the 1st Century AD. It bore a Greek inscription dedicated by the Roman Emperor Vespasian to King Mihrdat I (Mithridates). It calls him “The Friend of Caesar” and “The King of the Roman-loving Iberians.”

Mihrdat I, the son of Pharasmanes the Great, inherited a powerful kingdom and ruled it with wisdom for nearly 50 years. His reign represents the institutionalization of the alliance with Rome. He wasn’t just a client; he was a valued partner guarding the northern gates of civilization.

The Wall of Vespasian

The most significant event of his reign was a massive construction project funded and engineered by Rome. The Alans, a nomadic warrior people from the North Caucasus (ancestors of the Ossetians), were a constant threat to both Iberia and the Roman provinces to the south. Rome needed a strong doorkeeper.

Emperor Vespasian sent Roman engineers and money to Mtskheta to help Mihrdat fortify the city. The famous inscription reads: “Imperator Caesar Vespasian Augustus… strengthened these walls for Mithridates, King of the Iberians, son of King Pharasmanes, and Jamaspus, the son of the King, friend of Caesar and friend of the Romans.” This physical wall turned Mtskheta into an impregnable bastion against northern invasions.

A Cultural Renaissance

Mihrdat’s reign saw the deepening of Western culture in Georgia. While the religion remained pagan (Zoroastrian and local gods), the lifestyle of the nobility became increasingly Romanized. Bathhouses with hypocaust heating systems, Aramaic script used for administration (the “Armazic” script), and Roman-style jewelry became the norm. Mtskheta was a cosmopolitan city where merchants from Rome, Persia, and India met.

Tourism Guide: The Stele of Mtskheta

You can see the tangible proof of Mihrdat’s reign:

  1. Georgian National Museum (Tbilisi): The original stone stele with the Vespasian inscription is housed here. It is one of the most important artifacts in Georgian history, proving the close personal alliance between the Iberian King and the Roman Emperor.
  2. Armaztsikhe Fortifications: The walls you see at Bagineti today are largely the ones reinforced during Mihrdat’s time. Touching these stones is touching a joint Roman-Georgian engineering project from 2,000 years ago.