Vakhtang II

A son of the Western Georgian ruler, king David VI Narin, by his first wife Tamar, daughter of Prince Amanelisdze, Vakhtang had been declared as co-ruler and was therefore considered David's successor. On the instructions of Arghun, Khutlubuga (son of Sadun of Mankaberd) moved to Imereti and offered King David to make his successor the king of Eastern Georgia. The importance of this fact was that after the death of David Narin, Vakhtang would inherit Western Georgia as well, which would lead to the unification of both parts of Georgia under the authority of one king.^[1] It is true that this would lead to the spread of Mongol domination in Western Georgia, but this time Davit Narin considered the restoration of the country's unity more important and agreed to Ilkhanid Arghun's proposal. ^[2]

The purpose of meeting David Narin with his son, Vakhtang, seems to have been to make sure that this political plan of the Mongols was supported in Eastern Georgia itself. This is revealed by the fact that David Narin gave his son to him only after the nobles gathered there sworn an oath and firmness of loyalty. Calmed by this, King David returned to Western Georgia, and Prince Vakhtang was taken to Arghun to be presented and approved.^[3]

Khutlubugham presented Vakhtang to Arghun, who confirmed him as the king of Likhtiki and Likhtaketa (i.e. now and then) Georgia and married his sister Oljath.^[1]

Khutlubuga also fulfilled his task - he was given a gift. It seemed as if everything indicated that Sadun of Mankaberd's [ka] son would take over the reins of the country's government like his father, but Vakhtang did not turn out to be the kind of person Khutlubuga had hoped for. The chronicler describes Vakhtang II as a person endowed with positive qualities in every way: humble, merciful, generous, loving justice and, most importantly, strong-willed, who was not influenced by anyone. The famous scientist of that time Farsmanishvili was the educator of the king. Thanks to his qualities, Vakhtang gained great authority at the court of khans of the Mongols.^[1]

Khutlubuga was convinced that his chosen king would not allow him to roam free, so he drastically changed his attitude towards Vakhtang. This time, he wanted to make David, the eldest son of Demetrius II, the king of Georgia, who was still young, and Khutlubuga hoped that he would easily bring this young Batonishvili under his influence. At that time, Arghun was seriously ill, and the Mongols did not support Khutlubuga, influential officials of Georgia also supported Vakhtang's reign, so Khutlubuga could not achieve his goal. In March 1291, Arghun died, and Khutlubuga, with the help of the pro-Noyns, was given hope of victory again, but he still failed because he firmly held the reign of Vakhtang. Gaykhatu supported King Vakhtang, and the latter's position at the court of the Ilkhans was strengthened,^[5] but Vakhtang II's reign did not last long. He died suddenly after a short illness in 1292.^[6] Vakhtang, who died prematurely, was taken to West Georgia and he was buried at the Gelati Monastery near the city of Kutaisi.

His cousin, David VIII, succeeded as the king of Georgia in 1292. David also married Vakhtang's widow, the Mongol princess Oljath.

• Lortkipanidze, Mariam; Japaridze, Otar; Muskhelishvili, David; Metreveli, Roin (2012). History of Georgia in four volumes, vol. II - History of Georgia from the 4th century to the 13th century. Tbilisi: National Academy of Sciences of Georgia. ISBN 978-9941-19-585-3.