Demetrius II the Self-Sacrificer

Demetrius II the Self-Sacrificer (b. 1259 – d. March 12, 1289) was the king of Georgia from 1271 to 1289. He was the son of David VII and Queen Gvantsa. After the execution of Queen Gvantsa by the Mongols (c. 1262), he was raised in the house of Tarsayciyan Orbelian. He became heir to the throne in 1268 after the death of his older brother George.

In 1270, after the death of David VII, Demetrius II was taken to the Ilkhanate. According to the existing rule, he had to be approved as the king by the Khan. Abaqa Khan approved Demetrius II as the king of Georgia and appointed Sadun of Mankaberd (Sadun Artsruni), a nobleman, as his guardian-supervisor. As a vassal of the Ilkhans, Demetrius II participated in all Mongol campaigns with the Georgian army.

During the reign of Demetrius II, the country's economy deteriorated further, Mongol taxes increased, the productive population decreased. Kakheti and Hereti were devastated.

Demetrius II was forced to take part in the dynastic struggles that broke out in the Ilkhanate. In 1282, he fought with the Georgian army in Khorasan on the side of Ahmad Khan (1282–1284) against Arghun Khan, son of Abaqa Khan; From 1284, he was on the side of the new Khan Arghun (1284–1291). Thanks to his friendship and loyalty to the Khan's first vizier Buqa (Buqa's son was married to Demetrius II's daughter Rusudan), Demetrius II's influence in the Ilkhanate was strengthened. In 1288, a plot against Arghun was revealed. Buqa was accused of organizing it. Buqa, his son, relatives and friends were executed. Demetrius II, as Buqa's friend, was summoned by the Khan. The king convened a royal council, which advised him not to go to the Ilkhanate. Demetrius II did not agree with the council, considering that this would lead to the destruction of the country by Mongols. Not having any proof of Demetrius II's participation in the plot, the Khan could not execute him. The decisive role in the execution of the king was played by Khutlubuga. Demetrius II was beheaded. His remains were secretly brought back and buried in Mtskheta. His descendants called him Self-Sacrificer. He is canonized as a saint.

The day of commemoration of the holy martyr Demetrius II is March 12 (25).

 Source: ჟამთააღმწერელი, ასწლოვანი მატიანე, წგ.: ქართლის ცხოვრება, ს. ყაუხჩიშვილის გამოც., ტ. 2, თბ., 1959.

Literature: ჯ ა ვ ა ხ ი შ ვ ი ლ ი  ივ., ქართველი ერის ისტორია, წგ. 3, თბ., 1982 (თხზ. თორმეტ ტომად, ტ. 3).

 

V. Guchua