Hereti 1554075 209642517 2008-05-02T06:29:05Z Amire80 210028 [[Category:Caucasian Albania]] {{Georgian statehood}} '''Hereti''' (ჰერეთი, ''Herethi'', in [[Georgian language|Georgian]]) was a historic province in [[Caucasian Albania]] and later [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. It roughly corresponds to the southeastern corner of the [[Kakheti]] region, Eastern Georgia. Part of the province commonly known as [[Saingilo]] is now in [[Azerbaijan]]. Independent monarchy in [[787]]-[[959]], Hereti played an important role in the medieval Georgia’s history. == History == The area was inhabited in earliest times by Hers, Sujs, Tchilbs, and Lbins. Collectively called Hers (Heretians), these tribes came under the rule of [[Caucasian Albania|Albanian kingdom]] in the [[3rd century BC]]. With its decline, the area was gradually incorporated into the [[Caucasian Iberia|Iberian kingdom]] forming one of its counties (saeristavo) in the [[5th century]] and its peoples were eventually assimilated into the [[Georgians]] proper. It was when the name ''Hereti'' first appeared in the [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] sources. According to traditional accounts, the name of the province originated from the legendary patriarch Heroes, the son of Thargamos, who founded the city of Hereti (later known as Khoranta) at the [[Alazani|Alazani River]]. As a reward for the contribution in struggle against the [[Emirate of Tbilisi|Arab occupants]], the [[Kartli]]an ruler (''erismtavari'') Archil gave Hereti to the noble family of [[Bagrationi]] in the [[740]]s-[[750]]s. After the death of the last Kartlian erismtavaris John and Juansher, the Heretian lords extended their fiefdoms and, in [[787]], established an independent principality (''samtavro'') with the capital in [[Shaki]]. The principality gained significant strength and prestige by [[893]] allowing Prince Hamam to be crowned the king. Alarmed by the increasing power of the Heretian kingdom, Kvirike I ([[892]]-[[918]]), the ruler of the neighbouring [[Kakheti]]an principality, allied himself with King [[Constantine III of Abkhazia]] and, in [[915]], campaigned against King Adarnase II Patrikios of Hereti ([[897]]-[[943]]). The allies occupied and divided the country but for a short time as Adarnase Patrikios soon reconquered what had been lost. A son and successor, Ishkhanik ([[943]]-[[951]]) ruled together with his mother Dinar, sister of Grand Magister Gurgen IV, Prince of [[Klarjeti]] ([[918]]-[[941]]). Under them, Hereti was forced to recognize the supremacy of the stronger neighbour, Principality of Deilam, ruled by the [[Salarids|Salarid dynasty]] (Southern [[Azerbaijan]]). In [[950]], Ishkhanik took advantage of the bitter power struggle in the Salarid State, and ceased to pay tribute effectively restoring his independence. It was during his reign, that the Heretians abandoned their [[Monophysite]] faith to convert to [[Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church|Georgian Orthodox Chistianity]]. [[Image:Hereti map 950.png|thumb|right|Kingdom of Hereti (ca [[950]])]] The next Heretian ruler, John (Ioane Senekerim, [[951]]-[[959]]) added to his kingdom part of the former [[Caucasian Albania|Albanian kingdom]] and the eastern Georgian mountainous area [[Tzanaria]]. After his death, a local dynasty seems to have ceased to exist, and the kingdom fell under Kvirike II, [[Chorbishop|Chorepiscopus]] of [[Kakheti]] ([[929]]-[[976]]). The area then was contested between his successor, David ([[976]]-[[1010]]), and the Georgian king [[Bagrat III of Georgia|Bagrat III]] who sought to bring all Georgian lands into a single monarchy. The next Kakhetian ruler, already titled as the king, [[Kvirike III of Kakheti|Kvirike III the Great]] ([[1010]]-[[1037]]) finally absorbed Hereti into his “kingdom of Kakhs and Rans” in the [[1020]]s. When the Georgian king [[David the Builder]] brought the kingdom under his control in [[1104]], Hereti became a ''saeristavo'' (i.e. a duchy) within the Georgian realm. After the final disintegration of the unified Georgian monarchy in [[1466]], Hereti came under the [[Kakheti]]an crown. Afterwards the name of the province itself has gradually disappeared from the historic records and public usage. ==See also== * [[History of Georgia (country)|History of Georgia]] * [[Kakheti]] * [[Saingilo]] * [[Caucasian Iberia]] * [[Caucasian Albania]] ==External links== * [http://www.istoria.ge/hereti.htm ჰერეთის სამეფო (in Georgian)] == Literature == * Papuashvili, T. Problems of Heretian history. Tbilisi, 1970 (in Georgian) * Papuashvili, T. Kingdom of the Rans and Kakhs. Tbilisi, 1982 (in Georgian) {{Georgian historical regions}} [[Category:Former provinces of Georgia (country)]] [[Category:Former monarchies of Europe]] [[Category:Caucasian Albania]] [[ca:Herèthia]] [[de:Heretien]] [[he:הרתי]] [[ka:ჰერეთი]] [[fi:Hereti]] [[tr:Hereti]]