by Google of the ancient and princely family of the Bagratides.' It appears, however, that when Nebuchadnezzar led the tribes captive, he was asked by Hratcha king of Armenia, 700-678 IJ.C, to deliver a Jewish prisoner named Chambat, whence the modem name of Sembat It is pretended that one of the descendants of this Chambat was Bagarat or Bagrat, who became the favourite of Vagharshan king of Armenia, 149-127 B.C. He had the dignity conferred upon him of thagadyr, that is to say, ' placer of the crown on the head of the king,' received the title of asjycf, ' knight,' and took precedence of every noble in the land; thenceforth the family of Bagarat was known by the name of Bagratoum, whence the Georgian Bagratounian, afterwards Bagratide.
In the reign of Artaces II., 30-20 b.c., the Bagratounian, who were the most distinguished among the satraps of Armenia, had great honours conferred upon them, even to holding the Viceroyalty in the eastern provinces, aa office invested with military and civil power. In their eastern territory was the fortified town of Sembatavan or Sembatavert, constructed by Sembat son of Byourat, 80-103 A.D., and destroyed in 1048 by the Seljoufcs. The chief residence of the Bagratouny was at Sber, Daroum, Pakran, and Erazkavors now Shyragvar, being included in his domains, as was also Ani to the close of the tenth century; he received the title of king from the Khalifs of Bagdad, but the Emperors of the East never styled him otherwise than archon.
The first advent to the throne of Geoi^ia by a Bagratide was in the person of Gouram, a descendant in the female line front Vakhtang, Gourgasal, of the Khosroid dynasty. Gouram was appointed couropolate of Georgia in 575, or more probably in 585, by the Eastern Emi)eror, and the Bagratides held the supreme ' Sec Dt Administrando Imperio, Constarlini; Foq>hyT. Bonn edition, iii. p. 197.
t, Google power until 6ig, when they were replaced for a time by the Khosroids; but they were again called to the throne in 786, when Ached I. Meds, ' the Great,' was nominated couropolatc by Constantine V. The second advent of this ancient race to the throne of Geoi^ia is marked by the glorious reigns of Bagrat III., Bagrat IV„ David the Restorer,' and the great Queen Thamar, whose brilliant rule and excellent qualities secured to her the title of Mep'he, ' King.' '
When Nadir Shah invaded Georgia, King Vakhtang (Bagratide) abdicated (1724), and having placed himself under the protection of Russia, retired to Astrahan where he died. The descendants of his daughter Thamar reigned until 1800, on September 28 of which year the Tzar Geoi^e XIII.^ signed his renunciation of the crown in favour of the sovereign of Russia. It thus appears that the Bagratides were on the throne for 1058 years, or more correctly 1029 years, if the period of various interregnums — viz., 29 years — be deducted.
The Bagratides succeeded the Khosroids as sovereigns of Georgia; the Khosroids were preceded by the kings of the dynasty of Arsaces which followed that of the Nebratides, who in their turn came after the Karthlosldes, so named after Karthlos the son of Thargamos. The dynasties of their kings were thus held in estimation by the Geoigians: — the Karthlosldes, the Nebratides, and the Arsaces were heroes, the Khosroids, powerful and intreoid giants, and the Bagratides were remarkable for their bravery, benevolence, and devotion to their country.*
Between Ghelaty and KoutaTs, but on the opposite side of the
'red river,' is the Metzamety, another monastery of some reputa-
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
by Google tioti; it encloses the tombs of two martyrs venerated in the Georgian Church, David and Constantine who perished in 730.