Abstract:
Erekle I Nazarali Khan (r. 1688-1703 in Kartli; 1703-1709 in Kakheti) had a three sons, those were: David Imamkuli Khan, Constantine Mamadkuli Khan and Teimuraz. They all succeeded each other to the throne of Kakheti Kingdom. Was there any kind of regularity or it happened by chance? To clarify above-mentioned issue the analyses of succession to the throne in the first third of the 18th century Kingdom of Kakheti is essential. Based on tradition, royal charters include detailed and strictly defined succession to the crown and listing of male heirs in those charters was defined with certain order. In the royal charters next to King and Queen their sons were listed in accordance to order of precedence and only after that King’s brothers were listed. Quite often only royal sons are named in charters and King’s brothers are not mentioned at all. As for the royal charters of above-mentioned epoch an unprecedented condition is observed. The royal charters of David Imamkuli Khan lists King’s brother at the first place and only after his sons (Mahmad Mirza and Ali Mirza) are named, which arranges the order of precedence on the behalf of Teimuraz. The same condition is observed in royal charters of Constantine Mamadkuli Khan after the death of David Imamkuli Khan. Teimuraz, junior brother of King, is again named at the first place in the order precedence over his nephews. It is interesting to observe the order of precedence according to Constantine’s charters. Here we have defined order of succession to crown and in the order of precedence established in Constantine’s royal charters Teimuraz, King’s brother, is in the first place, after him next in the line of succession is not his son Erekle, but Erekle’s cousins, sons of David Imamkuli Khan, Mahmad Mirza and Ali Mirza are named. Above-mentioned clarifies that there was certain tradition in Kingdom of Kakheti and according to it all members of royal family based on seniority were included in the order of precedence. We do not know certain reasons for establishment of this order of precedence in Kakheti Kingdom. It is hard to say it was desire of Erekle I to establish this kind of order of precedence or it was old tradition at the royal court of Kakheti. But, according to the official documentation issued by the Kings, it is certain that above-mentioned order of precedence was established in Kakheti in the first third of the 18th century.
