Bagrat I Curopalates

Bagrat I was a member of the Bagrationi dynasty of Tao, Georgian curopalates (826–876) and son of Ashot I the Great.

Bagrat I fought for the liberation of Kartli. To accomplish this task, he assisted Arab commander Muhammad ibn Khalil in the fight against Sahak, Emir of Tbilisi, and his ally from Kakheti. After the battle near the Rekhi settlement, he returned to Tao and soon became an ally of Sahak.

During the invasion of Bugha al-Kabir (Bugha al-Turki in Georgian sources) in Kartli, Bagrat I joined the Arabs and took part in capturing Emir Sahak and fought against Teodore, King of Abkhazia, when he invaded Kartli. However, he still did not manage to capture Kartli. Bagrat I continued the construction of churches and monasteries started by Ashot I in Tao-Klarjeti.

Sources: მატიანე ქართლისა, წგ.: ქართლის ცხოვრება, ს. ყაუხჩიშვილის გამოც., ტ. 1, თბ., 1955; სუმბატ დავითის ძე, ცხოვრება და უწყება ბაგრატონიანთა, იქვე.

A. Bogveradze