Ideological and Political Aspects of the Early Rule of the Bagratid Dynasty (9th and 10th Centuries)

The article reviews the political ideology of the royal Bagratid dynasty, which established the foundation of its power in Tao-Klarjet‛i. The Georgian Bagratids created an ideological program that traced their origins back to the prophet and king of Israel, David. Based on analyzed sources, it is possible to infer how the Bagratid ideology was presented and how it justified their legitimacy. Due to the competition for power among many local aristocratic dynasties, a specific ideological program had to play an important role in defining and legitimizing royal rule. The ideological reinforcement of the dynasty’s supremacy was of great significance, hence the theory of biblical descent justified the dynasty’s claims to supremacy. Attention should be drawn to the crucial issue of the title ‘King of K‛art‛velians,’ which was introduced in 888 by ruler Adarnase II. This new title played an important role in the history of the principality during the rivalry between other local kingdoms. Adarnase II was the first ruler in Tao-Klarjet‛i who, in the ninth century , introduced the ancient title ‘King of K‛art‛velians,’ thus referring to the long tradition of the kingdom of K‛art‛li (Iberia).