Rusudan (daughter of George III of Georgia) facts for kids
Rusudan was a princess from the country of Georgia. She was the younger daughter of King George III. Her older sister was the famous Queen Tamar. Queen Tamar became the ruler of Georgia after their father.
Rusudan: A Georgian Princess
Rusudan was born sometime after the year 1160. Her mother was Burdukhan (also known as Gurandukht). Rusudan grew up in the royal family of Georgia.
Marriage and Family Life
Around the year 1180, Rusudan married Manuel Komnenos (born 1145). Manuel was the oldest son of Andronikos I. Andronikos I was the Byzantine Emperor. A Byzantine Emperor was the ruler of the powerful Byzantine Empire. This empire was a large and important country in that time.
Rusudan and Manuel had two sons together. Their first son was named Alexios. He was likely born in 1182. Their second son was named David. He was born around 1184.
A New Home and a New Empire
Andronikos I, Manuel's father, was removed from power and sadly died. Manuel was also badly hurt and may have died from his injuries. It is believed that Rusudan quickly left Constantinople with her two young sons. She found safety and a new home in Georgia, her birth country.
Later, between 1203 and 1204, a big event happened. This was the Fourth Crusade. During this time, crusader armies were gathered outside Constantinople. Rusudan's sister, Queen Tamar of Georgia, decided to help. She sent Georgian soldiers to assist Alexios and David, Rusudan's sons. In April 1204, they successfully took control of a city called Trebizond. With more lands they conquered, this area became a new country. It was known as the Empire of Trebizond.
