Bagrat II of Tao

Bagrat II (Georgian: ბაგრატ II) (died 966) was a Georgian prince of the Bagratid dynasty of Tao-Klarjeti and hereditary ruler of Upper Tao, with the title of eristavt-eristavi, "duke of dukes", from 961 until his death in 966. A personality whose position within the Bagrations dynasty remains murky, he came to the throne after a coup d'état against his father but was unable to remain as ruler for long.

Bagrat II ბაგრატ II
Bagrat as depicted on a bas-relief from the Oshki cathedral
Prince of Tao
Reign	961 – 966
Predecessor	Adarnase V
Successor	David III
Died	966
Dynasty	Bagrationi
Father	Adarnase V of Tao
Mother	David I of Klarjeti's daughter
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church

Biography

Bagrat was probably the eldest son of Adarnase V of Tao, Kouropalates and influential political leader of the Georgian states during the Abkhazian occupation of Kartli, and a daughter of David I of Klarjeti.^[1] Information on his life lacks details, but we know that he participated with his younger brother David in a plot against his own father and forced the latter to abdicate to join, against his will, the monastic orders in 961.^[2] This coup d'état allowed Bagrat to become the ruler of Upper Tao, but there is no record of the passing of the Byzantine dignity of Kouropalatate after the event.

Bagrat's short reign is poorly documented and who has the title of eristavt-eristavi, or "duke of dukes", probably accomplished nothing of note during this period, despite the fact that he found himself the man fort of the Bagrationi dynasty due to the Abkhazian occupation of Kartli. Giorgi Merchule 10th-century hagiographic work Life of Grigol of Khandzta mentions Bagrat II as a protector of Georgian culture and a builder of churches.^[3] He is considered the founder of the Oshki Cathedral.

Bagrat probably died in 966.^[4] Having no descendants, he left his domains to his younger brother David, who later became David III Kuropalates.

References

1. Toumanoff 1990, p. 131.
2. Brosset 1849, p. 264.
3. Djobadze, Wachtang, "The Donor Reliefs and the Date of the Church at Oški", Byzantinische Zeitschrift LXIX (1976): 39
4. Brosset 1849, p. 280.

Bibliography

• Toumanoff, Cyril (1990). Les dynasties de la Caucasie chrétienne de l'Antiquité jusqu'au xixe siècle : Tables généalogiques et chronologiques [Dynasties of Christian Caucasus, from Ancient Times to the 19th century: Genealogical and Chronological Tables] (in French). Rome.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Brosset, Marie-Félicité (1849). Histoire de la Géorgie, depuis l'Antiquité jusqu'au XIXe siècle - 1re partie. St. Petersburg: Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences.