Rusudan (daughter of Demetrius I of Georgia) facts for kids
Rusudan (Georgian: რუსუდანი) was a powerful princess from the Bagrationi royal family of Georgia in the 1100s. She was the daughter of King Demetrius I of Georgia and the sister of two kings, David V and George III. This made her the aunt of one of Georgia's most famous rulers, Queen Tamar of Georgia.
In Georgia, Rusudan was called dedopali, which means queen. In the nearby Seljuk Empire, she was known by the name Abkhaziyya Khatun.
Life in the Seljuk Empire
As a princess, Rusudan's marriages were very important for creating alliances with other kingdoms. She married three different rulers, known as Sultans, from the Seljuk Empire.
Marriages to Seljuk Sultans
In 1143, Rusudan married Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud. As part of the marriage agreement, she was given the city of Ganja as a dowry (a gift from the bride's family to the husband). Their marriage ended when the Sultan died in 1152.
She then married his uncle, Sultan Ahmad Sanjar. After he died in 1157, she married his nephew, Sultan Suleiman-Shah. When Suleiman-Shah died in 1161, Rusudan decided to return home to Georgia. She did not have any children and never married again.
Return to Georgia
Back in Georgia, Rusudan became a very important and respected figure. She took on the role of educating her brother George's daughters, Tamar and Rusudan. They grew up at her royal court in the fortress of Samshvilde.
A Powerful Aunt
When Rusudan's brother King George III died in 1184, her niece Tamar became the new ruler of Georgia. Rusudan was a major influence during Queen Tamar's reign and helped her make important decisions.
In 1185, some nobles in Georgia wanted to limit the young queen's power. Rusudan worked with the Catholicos (the head of the Georgian Church) to arrange a marriage for Tamar to a prince named Yury Bogolyubsky. After the marriage, Yury was also given the title of mepe (king). This meant Tamar's official title was changed to "king of kings and queen of queens" to show she was still the main ruler.
Tamar's first marriage did not last, and she divorced Yury in 1187. Rusudan was also the foster-mother to a prince named David Soslan. He later became Queen Tamar's second husband in 1189.
