The year 2013 was declared by His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos of All Georgia Ilia II, for, according to most historians, 800 years have passed since this amazing holy ruler of Iberia passed away to the Lord. The portal presents a biography of the holy Queen Tamara, prepared based on extremely interesting Georgian chronicles.
In Georgia, the people have exceptional love for the two holy wives - and the blessed Queen Tamara. Over the centuries that have passed since her death, this love has not weakened at all, and cannot weaken, for Saint Tamara not only exalted Georgia during her earthly reign, but even after her death she only multiplied prayers for her suffering homeland, which was plunged into ruin for many centuries. into the unbearable horror of the Islamic yoke. The very reign of the blessed queen became a real miracle and a gift for Georgia, since it was in this fragile, unusually beautiful woman that the Georgians found their best ruler, fair and merciful, not femininely wise, but angelically judicious. And most importantly, it was in her that they found an eternal, vigilant prayer book and representative at the Throne of God until the Last Judgment.
Two major works have survived to our time, in which the holy queen’s contemporaries describe her life and reign. The first of them - “The Life of the Queen of Queens Tamar” - was written, according to the most authoritative Georgian researchers, by a close associate of Queen Basili Ezosmodzgvari. In this work, attention is paid primarily to the moral character of the saint, which, in fact, should be most consistent with the hagiographic genre. Another work, “History and Praise of the Crowned People,” was written by a man more secular in spirit than the author of “The Life of the Queen of Queens,” but also an eyewitness to most of the events he describes. It is replete with detailed geographical information, descriptions of battles and state councils. Together, both of these works recreate the life of the era in question in sufficient detail. All other information about the life of Saint Tamara is contained in separate surviving decrees and documents like deeds of gift. Fortunately, both works were translated into Russian in the first half of the 20th century, so we can rely on primary sources, detailed information about which can be read in the relevant articles.
The Life of the Holy Blessed Queen Tamara
Childhood and youth
Holy Queen Tamara (1166-1213) came from the Bagratid family, which, according to established Georgian tradition, is usually traced back to the descendants of King David. The author of “History and Praise of the Crowned Bearers” at the very beginning of his narrative writes that he will “broadcast “praise of praise” to the one who came from the seed of Solomon,” for she “fully corresponded to her ancestors - the Davidids, Khosrovids and Pankratids.”
The father of Saint Tamara was the “king of kings” George, the grandson of the famous Saint David the Builder. He fought a lot with the Mohammedans. Under him, the borders of Georgia were further expanded, so that “the Greek, Alemannic in Jerusalem, Roman, Indian and Chinese kings brought him gifts and fraternized with him; the sultans of Khvarasan, Babylon, Sham, Egypt and Iconium served him.” Burdukhan, the mother of Saint Tamara, was beautiful and smart. From such parents came the one who was to become the adornment of Georgia, and indeed the entire Mediterranean.
In 1178, George, having gathered representatives of his seven kingdoms, with the consent of the patriarchs and all bishops, nobles, military leaders and generals, declared Tamara queen.
Two marriages and confirmation on the throne
From the very beginning of her reign, Tamara showed remarkable intelligence, being concerned, first of all, with electing the most worthy persons to the positions of viziers and military leaders. During this time, Tamara provided the bishops with donations, freeing the churches from dues and taxes. According to the chronicler, “during her reign, farmers became aznaurs, aznaurs became nobles, and the latter became rulers.”
She made Antony Glonistavisdze from Gareji and the two sons of Amirspasalar Mkhargrdzeli: Zacharia and Ivane her close associates. Although they were Armenians by faith, they highly revered Orthodoxy, so that one of them - Ivane - subsequently “understood the crookedness of the Armenian faith, crossed himself and became a true Christian.” In the future, all these people will show their best sides.
However, not everyone appreciated the tenacious mind of the young queen. Some of the senior officials conspired to rise even higher and not to let new associates higher up the career ladder pass. Minister of Finance Kutlu-Arslan openly proposed creating some kind of parliament that would deal with the affairs of government, and Tamara’s power would be reduced only to the formal approval of all the laws they adopted. The queen detained the minister, the military stood up for him, but through negotiations the situation was resolved.
In 1185, by unanimous decision of the Patriarch, bishops and courtiers, it was decided to find a husband for young Tamara. For this purpose, the merchant Zerubbabel was sent to Rus', “due to the belonging of the Russian tribes to Christianity and Orthodoxy.” Arriving in Rus' and meeting George, the son of the holy martyr Andrei Bogolyubsky, “a valiant youth, perfect in physique and pleasant to contemplate,” Zankan brought him to Georgia. Everyone approved of the groom’s choice, but Tamara, judicious beyond her age, said: “How can you take such a rash step? Let me wait until you see his advantages or disadvantages.” But the courtiers insisted on their decision, forced her consent and arranged a wedding.
A little later, Tamara’s fears were justified: our compatriot, alas, proved himself to be a drunkard who committed “many indecent things.” For two and a half years the saint endured her husband’s vices, addressed him through worthy monks, and then she herself began to denounce him face to face. But George became even more furious and began to commit more destructive offenses. Then Tamara, “shedding tears, sent him into exile, providing him with untold wealth and jewelry.” In 1187, George settled in Constantinople.
Thanks to her natural beauty, intelligence and charm, the saint became a desired bride for many kings and princes from all over the world. The eldest son of the Byzantine emperor Manuel almost went crazy because of her. Several sultans were ready to betray Islam just to win her hand. But Tamara remained adamant, because. Due to her innate craving for purity, she generally wanted to remain celibate.
However, the courtiers were worried about the lack of an heir, and only for his sake did the saint agree to marry the Ossetian prince David, a pupil of her aunt Rusudan, in 1188. This marriage turned out to be successful. In David, Saint Tamara found a wonderful husband and a fearless military leader. Contemporaries said about his abilities that “this David, within one year, surpassed everyone in everything that comes from the hands of man.” Soon Tamara gave birth to an heir, whom she named after her grandfather George, and then a daughter, whom she named after her aunt - Rusudan.
Having learned about the marriage of Saint Tamara, the Russian prince decided to compete for the lost throne. He left Constantinople and came to the country of Ezinkan. There he was joined by numerous traitors. Having gathered a large army, they went to war against Tamara, but were defeated in a night battle at the Kura River. The saint showed mercy and did not execute any of the traitors, even releasing her ex-husband.
George twice after this tried to regain the Georgian throne, but each time he was defeated by vassals loyal to Tamara.
State achievements
The reign became a time of prosperity not only for Georgia, but also for the surrounding peoples. According to the chronicler, “she sat as a judge between neighboring kings, making sure that no one started wars or tried to throw the yoke of violence on each other.” At the same time, she herself never relaxed from the action of time and did not show disdain for management. And it was during her reign that Georgia achieved such glory and power that it had never possessed before or after.
The enumeration of the cities she took alone could fill a whole book. And therefore we will dwell in detail only on two brilliant victories that she won over those who, out of hatred for Christianity, wanted to wipe Georgia off the face of the earth.
Caliph Abu Bakr, who hated Christianity, “opened the ancient treasuries” to gather a huge army from India, Samarkand and Derbent and move to Georgia. There were so many troops he collected that, according to the chronicler, they “did not have the opportunity to fit into one country.” Having learned about the impending invasion, Saint Tamara ordered the dissemination of a decree so that an army would immediately gather, that all-night vigils and litias would be held in all churches and monasteries, and that the courtiers would send “more money and everything necessary for the poor.” In ten days they managed to gather a considerable army. The saint turned to the soldiers: “My brothers, do not be afraid because there are so many of them, and you are few, because God is with us.” After which she entrusted them to God, and she herself took off her shoes and came barefoot to the Church of the Mother of God in Metekhi, where, falling in front of the holy icon, she did not stop praying with tears.
The Georgians were the first to attack the enemy. Seeing the Islamic forces between Gandza and Shamkhor, they dismounted, bowed to God and prayed before the Holy Cross with tears, and then struck the enemies and won. The number of prisoners was so great that they were sold for a wooden measure of flour.
“Did Tamar’s heart become proud?” the biography writer asks her and immediately answers: “On the contrary, she became even more humble before God.”
In 1202, the Sultan of Rum Rukn ad-Din spoke out against Saint Tamara, who feignedly concluded a number of peace treaties with her, and at that time he himself was recruiting troops throughout Ecumene: in Mesopotamia and Kalonero, in Galatia, Gangra, Ankyria, Isauria, Cappadocia , Greater Armenia, Bithynia and on the borders of Paphlagonia.
Rukn-ad-Din, seeing the army he had assembled, sent an envoy to Tamara: “I, Rukn-ad-Din, the Sultan of all the heavens, co-seating with God, I notify you, the queen of Georgia, Tamara. I am going so that you will never dare to take up the sword again. And I will give life only to the one who professes the faith of the Prophet Muhammad, rejects your faith and begins to break the cross with his own hand. Expect reprisals from me for the misfortune you brought upon Muslims.” Tamara, placing all her trust in God, called the courtiers and began to confer with them “not like a woman and not with disregard for the dictates of reason.” In a few days it was possible to gather soldiers, who first went to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vardzia. The queen entrusted her husband and his entire army to the Mother of God, and wrote a letter to the Sultan: “Having entrusted myself to Almighty God the Almighty and eternally praying to the Virgin Mary and trusting with faith in the honorable Cross, I read your message, which angers God, Nucardin. Anyone who falsely swears in the name of the Lord will be wiped off the face of the earth by God. I am sending a Christ-loving army to crush your pride and arrogance." The soldiers bowed to the Life-Giving Cross and went on a campaign, and the queen devoted herself to fasting and prayer.
When the Georgian troops arrived in Basiani, they saw that the Sultan had no guards posted. They attacked first, the Turks abandoned their camp and rushed to the fortifications. The Georgians surrounded them and frightened them so much that the defeated themselves tied up their fellow tribesmen. The townspeople decorated Tbilisi for the arrival of the king and queen, and they entered the city with the banner of Rukn ad-Din. The royal treasuries were filled with gold and golden utensils.
It is interesting that through the efforts of Queen Tamara, the entire Trebizond Empire was established, which appeared in 1204 after. As you know, Saint Tamara patronized a lot. One day, many monks came to her from the Black Mountain, Cyprus and other places. The saint gave them a large amount of gold. When the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Angelos saw it, he took it away from the monks. The queen sent even greater quantities of gold to the reverend fathers. At the same time, angry with the Greek king, she sent an army from Western Georgia to the Greek possessions, so that the Georgians took Lazika, Trebizond, Limon, Samison, Sinop, Kerasund, Kitiora, Amastris, Araklia and all the lands of Paphlagonia and Pontus from the Greeks. Over all these lands she placed her distant relative Alexius Komnenos, who became the emperor of the Trebizond Empire.
The rise of Georgian culture
Immediately after her election, Saint Tamara expressed her will that a church council be convened. She called Nikolai Gulaberisdze from Jerusalem, who, due to his modesty, at one time fled the rank of Catholicos of Kartli. When he arrived in Kartli, she gathered all the clergy, monks and hermits of her kingdom and people, experts in the law of God, striving to ensure that the evil seeds that had sprouted in the soil of Orthodoxy were destroyed in her kingdom. Having gathered everyone for the Council in one room and seated them on thrones, the queen sat down at a distance and said: “Oh, holy fathers, examine everything well and confirm what is straight and drive out what is crooked. Do not be partial to princes because of their wealth, and do not despise the poor because of their poverty. You in word, and I in deed, you in teaching, and I in teaching, you in instruction, and I in institution, let us all give each other a helping hand in order to keep God’s laws undefiled.”
The queen did everything to ensure that during her reign the rite of church service was carried out in full, according to the instructions of the Typikon and according to the Rules of the Palestinian monasteries.
Saint Tamara cared a lot about the improvement of God's churches. In the palace itself, vigils and prayers were continuously served, and the Bloodless Sacrifice was offered. During this period, the churches of Ikorta and Kvatakhevi were built in Kartli, and Lurji Monastery in Tbilisi. Only the ruins of the once magnificent Geguta Palace have reached us. A unique monument of the 12th century is the monastery complex carved into the rock in Javakheti. This is a fortified city, which consists of several hundred caves. Near Vardzia there is also the Vakhan Monastery carved into the rock. The high level of engineering art is evidenced by the Besletsky, Rkonsky bridges and the Dandalo bridge.
She also sent her confidants all over the world, asking them: “Go around, starting from Alexandria, all of Libya and Mount Sinai.” She grieved over the needs of the churches, monasteries and Christian peoples of those countries, sent chalices, paten, covers for shrines and innumerable gold for monks and beggars. She did the same in the regions of Hellas and the Holy Mountain, also in Macedonia and Bulgaria, in the regions of Thrace and in monasteries of Constantinople, in Isauria and all around the Black Mountain and Cyprus.
In general, the very time of the reign of Saint Tamara became the “Golden Age” of Georgian culture. Even if we do not mention the names of Chakhrukhadze and Shavteli, little known to Russian readers, who wrote “Tamariani” and “Abdul-Messiah,” everyone is familiar with the most famous Georgian poetic work, “The Knight in the Skin of a Tiger.” It is interesting that its author, the brilliant Shote Rustaveli, according to one version, was hopelessly in love with his mistress and brought out her bright image in the personality of one of the heroines of his great poem.
Death and posthumous veneration
In 1206, the husband of Saint Tamara, David Soslan, died, a man “full of all goodness, divine and human, beautiful in appearance, brave and courageous in battles and war, generous, humble and exalted in virtues.”
The saint made her son George Lasha her co-ruler, and she herself, according to the inevitable law of the universe, began to prepare for death. First she took care of state affairs and managed them, then she managed church and monastic affairs. It was then that she developed an unknown illness. All human art turned out to be in vain. Everywhere lithiums and continuous all-night vigils were served for her health, and one could see “how tears shed equally from both the rich and the poor.” People cried out to God: “If only she alone would remain alive, but destroy us all!”
Wise Tamara called to her all the eminent people of the kingdom: “My brothers and children! So I am called by the Terrible Judge. I kept love for you in my heart. I pray to all of you to do good deeds and remember me. I leave you my children, George and Rusudan, as heirs of my house; accept them in my place.” After which she turned to God: “Christ, my One God, I entrust to You this kingdom, which You have entrusted to me, and this people, redeemed by Your honest Blood, and these children of mine, whom You have given me, and then my soul.”
The ashes of Saint Tamara were placed in the cathedral in Mtskheta for several days, and then buried in Gelati in the Bagrationi family tomb. However, no one knows where her relics actually rest. Knowing that the enemies of Christ would want to take revenge on her after death, she bequeathed to bury herself secretly so that the grave would remain hidden from the world. At night, ten detachments left the gates of the castle where Queen Tamara died. Everyone carried a coffin, ten coffins were secretly buried in different places. No one knew which of them contained the queen's body. According to one legend, she was buried in the Gelati monastery. Another claims that she was buried in the Cross Monastery of Jerusalem, since she promised to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but during her lifetime she could not do this, and the new king Lasha fulfilled her mother’s cherished wish.
Moral qualities of the holy queen
The name of Saint Tamara spread everywhere, like “the name of the angel of the four corners of the world, from east to west, from north to south.”
People loved her without regard and the animals themselves obeyed her. Once the Sultan sent her a lion cub as a gift; he grew up in the palace and became so attached to the saint that when he - already a huge, ferocious-looking lion - was taken out for a walk, he put his muzzle on her lap and caressed her like the lion of the Monk Gerasim. When they took him away, he cried profusely, flooding the ground with tears.
Saint Tamara made every effort so that “her human nature remained simple, according to the nature of her internal makeup, without connection with passions.” She turned out to be wiser than Solomon, for she loved God and began to shun all the temptations of the world. To the surprise of everyone, she “spent the whole night standing on her feet, staying awake, praying, bowing and tearful supplications to the Lord, as well as doing needlework to help the poor.” She possessed the beginning of all good things - she was imbued with fear of the Almighty and served God faithfully. The prayer services and vigils performed in her palace, according to the chronicler, “exceeded the prayers of Theodosius the Great and even the hermits.”
The saint spent the days of her life in joy because she herself brought joy to all the poor and weak every day. She placed faithful caretakers over the poor. She gave a tenth of all state income - external and internal - to the poor and made sure that not even one grain of barley was lost.
In all of Georgia it was impossible to meet a single person who, with her knowledge, had been subjected to violence. During the 31 years of her reign, by her order, no one was punished even with a whip.
It is impossible to describe her love for priests and monks. Before her there were always people who followed the rules of a righteous life.
Saint Tamara became one of the saints closest to the entire Orthodox world. It is not for nothing that so many women not only in Georgia, but also in Russia bear her name. Caring for her beloved Georgia, during her lifetime she did not forget about Byzantium and the Orthodox Slavic countries, sending help to Christians languishing in captivity, establishing magnificent monasteries and churches. Moreover, now, after death, she has become an intercessor for all of us. Her wisdom in governing the country had a truly Divine basis and is therefore very useful for all of us to study.
Finally, the love for God revealed in her life, the trust in His holy will and Providence is an example to all of us who are looking forward to the life of the next century, which through the prayers of the holy, blessed Queen Tamara, may the All-Merciful Lord, who so generously rewarded His servant, honor us!
Among Georgians who speak Russian, it is customary to call Saint Tamara Queen Tamar.
See Russian translation: Life of the Queen of Queens Tamar / Trans. and input V.D. Dondua. Research and note M. M. Berdzenishvili. - Tb.: Metsniereba, 1985.
The life of the Queen of Queens Tamar. pp. 6–8.
See Russian translation: History and praise of the crown bearers / Trans. and input K.S. Kekelidze. - Tb.: AN Georgian SSR, 1954.
“I have now conveyed to History and Vasilography, which means “The Story of the Kings,” only what I either saw myself or heard from wise and reasonable people.”
History and praise of the crowned people. pp. 5–12; The life of the Queen of Queens Tamar. pp. 6–24.
The exact years of the life of the holy Queen Tamara are still discussed among historians. Cm. Berdznishvili M. M. About the author and time of writing “The Life of the Queen of Queens Tamar” // Life of the Queen of Queens Tamar. P. 18.
An image of Queen Tamara by contemporary Russian artist Nadezhda Antipina.
Today in the Orthodox calendar is the day of remembrance of the blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia.
Tamara is the famous Georgian queen (1184 - 1213), with whose name one of the best periods in the history of Georgia is associated. She came from the Bagratid dynasty and was the only daughter of George III and the beautiful Burdukhan, compared by the chronicler to Penelope.
She was raised by her highly educated aunt Rusudan. Contemporary poets of the queen praised her intelligence and beauty. She was called not a queen, but a king, a vessel of wisdom, a smiling sun, a slender reed, a radiant face; they glorified her meekness, hard work, obedience, religiosity, and enchanting beauty.
There were legends about her perfections that have survived in oral transmission to our times; Everyone wanted to see her, Byzantine princes, the Sultan of Aleppo, and the Shah of Persia sought her hand.
Tamara's entire reign is surrounded by a mysterious aura; Reliable historical information was complicated by legendary tales from the day of her accession to the throne. Her father crowned her king (1179) during his lifetime, but only after his death (1184) did she begin to rule the state. Tamara proclaimed mercy and truth as the motto of her reign: “I am the father of the orphans and the judge of widows,” Tamara said. During her reign there was not a single case of death penalty or corporal punishment.
Avoiding complications within the kingdom, the queen waged a series of wars with neighboring states.
Her first husband, the Russian prince Georgy (Yuri, according to Karamzin, is the son of Andrei Bogolyubsky) made military expeditions to the north of Armenia, to Shirvan (present-day Azerbaijan) and Erzurum. When Tamara’s marriage to George was dissolved - according to the Georgian chronicler, due to the atrocities committed by the prince - Tamara’s former husband became her enemy and with a large army moved from Constantinople to Georgia to return the lost throne. Despite the fact that some regional rulers joined him, the Russian prince was defeated and disappeared without a trace.
Tamara, having entered into a new marriage with the Ossetian ruler David Soslani, with whom she grew up as a child, ten years after taking the throne, opens an offensive policy.
The Georgian kingdom towards the end of Tamara's reign.
Having given Georgia predominant political importance throughout Asia Minor, subduing internal and external enemies, expanding the borders of the kingdom, Tamara took care of the spiritual development of her country. A galaxy of famous writers gather at her court, bringing the Georgian literary language to complete perfection. Her century is marked by the poetic activity of Shavteli and Chakhrukh, who dedicated enthusiastic odes to the “god-like queen.” Under her rule, secular romantic literature in prose was created, representatives of which were Khoneli, the author of “Amiran Darejani,” and Sargis Tmogveli, translator of the Persian story about Vis and Ramin. Finally, during her reign the poet Shota Rustaveli became famous, whose magnificent poem “The Knight in the Skin of a Tiger” is completely imbued with love for Queen Tamara. We find her features simultaneously in two beautiful heroines: princesses Tinatina and Nestan-Darejan, and the poet’s love for her is expressed simultaneously by both Tariel and Avtandil.
The legendary story that attributes the construction of all the wonderful temples and fortresses of Georgia to Tamara is not far from the truth: many monuments of art were created by her, and among them is the luxurious Vardzia Palace, which houses up to 360 chambers.
Christianity and citizenship spread among the Caucasian mountaineers thanks to the energy and care of Tamara. Her name is conveyed with equal reverence in the poetic tales of various nationalities of the Caucasus. The church canonized her as a saint. Georgian mountaineers turned Tamara into a goddess - a healer of all ailments. In Svaneti, Tamara from a warlike wife became an object of religious veneration and at the same time an ideal of magical beauty.
The people believe that Tamara is not dead, she is sleeping in a golden cradle: when the voice of human sorrow reaches her, she will wake up and reign again. This belief is supported by the lack of precise indications of the location of her grave.
From the book Elena Grushko, Yuri Medvedev. Dictionary of names. N. Novgorod: Russian merchant, Brothers of the Slavs, 1996. Pages 603 - 606.
Let me touch on one more point.
Many poetry lovers remember Lermontov's lines from school:
In the deep gorge of Daryal,
Where the Terek rummages in the darkness,
The ancient tower stood
Blackening on a black rock.
In that tower high and cramped
Queen Tamara lived:
Beautiful as a heavenly angel
Like a demon, insidious and evil.
So, “treacherous like a demon” Tamara, who killed her lovers and ordered the corpses to be thrown into the Terek, has nothing to do with the historical Queen Tamara!
In unknown times, a myth took root in Russia that Tamara had lovers, and she killed them and threw their bodies into the Terek. This myth created an aura of glory around the Daryal Gorge and the “Tamara Castle”. However, this is a myth, and a very late one. Where he came from is unclear. The first Georgian historical and mythological stories became known in Russia from the memoirs of Jacques Chardin (-1713), but Chardin does not know any of Tamara’s lovers. Pushkin does not mention this topic. Lermontov’s poem “Tamara and the Demon” clearly mentions another Tamara, and this other Tamara, according to Lermontov, lived not above the Terek, but in the Aragv Gorge. And only in the poem “Tamara” (1841) does Lermontov directly describe the story with Tamara and the lovers. Where he got this story from is unclear. There is an opinion that this is a modification of the story about Tamara of Imereti, who was the wife of the Kartlian king Luarsab I and was known for her bad character. Mayakovsky propagated this myth, directly referring to Lermontov. He mentions this plot twice in the poem “Vladikavkaz-Tiflis” and in the poem “Tamara and the Demon” (1924).
A selection of images of Queen Tamara:
1. On a fresco in the Vardzia Monastery. 
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Monument to Queen Tamara. 
9.
10. Painting by Yesadze. 1913 
11.
7. Copy of a fresco from the Hermitage (my photo). 
8.
9.
10.
11. Painting by artist Alexey Vephadze.
(1184-1213), Georgian queen, was before George III from the beautiful Bur-du-khan. Under her mother, Christianity had already spread in different parts of Georgia. Ta-ma-ra left a good memory of herself in the na-ro-de. Some people in Georgia use Ta-ma-ru as a cure-all for ailments.
Georgian tales glorify her meekness, peace, love, wisdom, reli-gi-ness and beauty. It is also known that Saint Ta-ma-ra cared about the poor nation, about widows, orphans and co-operation wa-la for the spirit of the development of Georgia. In addition, she built a lot of temples, and so- the luxurious Vardzii palace. The Church, for its kindness and generous gifts, has counted Ta-ma-ru among the saints.
Holy Ta-ma-ra convened a church council, which eliminated the turmoil in church life and swept away the inconsistencies. standing hierarchs. Its state activity was also successful, fortunately the Georgian kingdom increased and got stronger.
The Complete Life of Blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Holy Ta-ma-ra pro-is-ho-di-la from the noble family of Bag-ra-ti-o-nov, according to legend, the rise-ho-div-she- mu to sa-mo-mu king Da-vi-du. Her father Georgiy in 1178 proclaimed his daughter tsar-ri-tsei. 7 years later he died. From this moment on, the saint's reign began.
When Saint Ta-ma-ra ascended the throne, she said: “I am the father of orphans and the mother of widows.” This phrase defines all its rights.
The author of Ta-ma-ry’s bio-graphy left the following description of the young queen: “Regularly complex body, dark color eyes and pink color of white la-nits; behind-the-wall look,<…>a pleasant language, cheerful and alien with all sorts of discord, a speech pleasing to the ear, alien with all the badness talk".
Tsa-ri-tsa na-cha-la her right-le-nie from the personnel re-re-sta-no-vok. She swept away the evil-demanding rulers and chiefs of power, appointing others in their place . She liberated the Church from the taxation and eased the fate of the peasants.
In 1185, the pat-ri-arch proposed to the pra-vi-tel-ni-tse to marry. For this purpose, the right-of-salty came to Rus'. Soon it returned along with Ge-or-gi-em, the son of Prince Andrei Bo-go-lov-sky. Ta-ma-ra assured her surroundings that there would be no harm done with the wedding. After all, you still need to understand what kind of person he is. But the courtiers are on their own. Unfortunately, the wise king’s fears were justified. Ge-or-gy turned out to be unequally attuned to alcohol, doing “many in-personal things.” For two and a half years, Ta-ma-ra endured his rough treatment, trying every way possible to figure out how- shake your husband Everything would have been in vain. She had to break up with her husband.
For a long time the saint thought of remaining a widow with her living husband, but for the sake of Marry a second time - to an Ossetian tsa-re-vi-cha Yes-vi-da. This marriage turned out to be happy, and soon Georgia saw its future right.
During the reign of the holy Ta-ma-ry, the country reached its glory and power. Tsar-ri-tsa was a fair judge. Her labor-do-love, state-government talent, Christian co-operation pre-determined the “Golden Epo” -hu" of Georgia.
She successfully stopped the invasion of Kha-li-fa Abu-Ba-k-ra, who, having gathered a huge army from India, -I wanted to live on the riches of Georgia. The same fate befell another grab-chi-ka - sul-ta-na Rukn-ad-Di-na.
Immediately after ascending to the throne, Ta-ma-ra paid close attention to the organization of one -go-serv-no-go mouth and church-no-go ka-no-na. She called upon all the God-speaking people, those who know the For-God, the bishops and the priests will come to the city of Kart-li. Here, a general council was soon held, at which there was the presence of va-la and the tsa-ri-tsa.
Before the death of Tsar-ri-tsa Ta-ma-ra managed to finish all the necessary government affairs and arrange -sya on the main churches and mo-na-styr-skim issues. Unexpectedly, she was overtaken by an unknown illness. The doctors turned out to be powerless. The whole country is on you-ma-li-va-la its tsar-ri-tsu, one day on January 18, 1213, the great pra-vi-tel-ni-tsa world -but died.
About the exact location of the holy Ta-ma-ra there are still disputes among is-to-ri-kovs and arch-heo- logs
Note
Ta-ma-ra is a Russian pro-from-water name from the biblical “Fa-mar”. Translated as “fini-ko-vaya palm.”
Prayers
Troparion to Blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Desiring the highest beauty, / you drove the lower sweets of the body far from yourself / and, staying in the royal palace, / you conveyed the angelic life, / to the blessed Queen Tamaro, / / pray to Christ God will save our souls.
Translation: Desiring heavenly sweetness, you drove away base pleasures far from yourself and, staying in the royal palace, led an angelic life, Queen Tamara, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Troparion to Blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia
In the saints, wondrous, / Iberia was the shining light, / faithful to Queen Tamaro, / who erected temples on the high mountains, / so that in them prayers are sent to the Lord, / through your prayers the fortress bestowed upon the lover of Christ and the great people of the country of Iveron, / who with her right hand overthrew the Hagaryan hordes, / pray Christ God // our souls will be saved.
Translation: Amazing among the saints, the luminary of Georgia, the orthodox Queen Tamara, who erected temples on the high mountains so that prayers were sent to the Lord in them, with your prayers she bestowed strength on the Christ-loving warriors of the Georgian country, with her right hand she overthrew the Muslim hordes, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Prayer to Blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Oh, holy, great and faithful Queen Tamaro! We, sinners (name) and humility, as we diligently resort to a warm protector and ambulance, asking for help and intercession in the abyss of troubles that we are plunging into, and every day and hour we receive adventures from wicked people those who are overcome by various illnesses, and through your intercession, since you have great boldness towards God, pray for us in our sorrows, needs and misfortunes, and protect us from all enemies visible and invisible, especially from demonic wiles and tricks, arrogant attacks and flattering approaches, let us not be a reproach and ridicule to them, and with your strong help from them Drive us away, just as Iverstey drove us away from the country, and establish true love for God in our hearts and make it worthy.
When our departure from this temporary life and migration to eternity has arrived, come to our aid soon, and free us from the violence of the enemy, for you have eternal life, and bring our hearts ours to true repentance, so that we too may present ourselves to the Most Holy Trinity with undefiled lips and a clear conscience , glorifying and singing Yu, with all the saints for endless ages. Amen.
Canons and Akathists
Akathist to the Holy Blessed Queen Tamara
Kontakion 1
Chosen from the ancient dynasty of the Bagratid kings, a wonderful decoration of the Georgian country and the conqueror of Islam, and the widespread dissemination of the Christian faith, the planter of temples, fortresses and monasteries, and the preacher of the Word of God,
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Ikos 1
All the red people of the world neglected their grandfather King David III, the follower of the Christian faith and its renewer throughout the Georgian country, the great holy Tamara, remembering such a strong and strong faith of yours, we bring you this song:
Rejoice, you who have despised all the good things on earth and the red things of the world. Rejoice, having loved Christ from youth with all your heart and with all your soul. Rejoice, King David III, follower of the Christian faith. Rejoice, and with Father George III, co-emperor. Rejoice, you who enlightened many people of the Svaneti region in Christianity. Rejoice, you who also built the temples of the Lord in Svaneti.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the Almighty God about your zeal for the faith of Christians, sending help to you to defeat the Muslim faith of the Roman Sultanate of Ruqi-ed-Din, we are amazed, grateful to God, who arranged this, and sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Reason is acceptable to God, Saint Tamara, the all-praised one, it is beneficial to you and others to gain zeal, day and night, from the merciful God, you diligently asked for victory over the Islamic faith, and the philanthropic God heeded your prayer, giving victory, for the sake of which we cry out to you like this:
Rejoice, blessed Tamara, who, according to your desire and God's will, successfully achieved victory. Rejoice, thou who hast acquired many spiritual good and beneficial treasures from God. Rejoice, you who built many temples in the country of Iverstei. Rejoice, having strengthened many Christians with your wisdom. Rejoice, expander of the country's borders. Rejoice, builder of the construction of canals, roads, networks, and water pipelines. Rejoice, great builder of monastic monasteries. Rejoice, and planter of monuments of architecture, painting, literature and science.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High has settled in your pure heart, beloved Queen Tamara, kindle your love, and win in the historical battle near Basiani. And in our country, for your wise rule, having won the love of all the people, and seeing your zeal as such, we sing to the Almighty God: Alleluia
Ikos 3
Having a great desire to renew the Christian faith throughout Iberia, the holy queen asked for strength from the Lord God and strengthen us who fall to you with our faith, who wish to diligently sing and glorify your name:
Rejoice, having been heard by the Almighty in your prayer. Rejoice, you who have received strength from the Lord. Rejoice, service to God and the Mother of God, who most of all loved you with all your soul. Rejoice, you who presented the image of humility to all old and young. Rejoice, praised and honored by all the virtues of your peers. Rejoice, you who called the time of your reign the golden age. Rejoice, you who have had glory throughout the whole world, are sung and glorified. Rejoice, and you who counted your reign as nothing. Rejoice, adorned with bright vestments from God. Rejoice, you who have the gifts of miracles.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 4
You are invincible from godless unrest, blessed Tamara, desiring to unceasingly work for the Lord, extending your labors to great lengths, leaving the royal throne, and spent time in the cave monastery of Vardzil, chanting to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing, blessed Tamara, about our fleeting life, she placed the monastic image on herself, and we, thinking about it, thus appeal to you:
Rejoice, having attributed your reign to the salvation of souls. Rejoice, and follower of the monastic life. Rejoice, you who built a church for yourself in the cave monastery of Vardzil. Rejoice, cell that had a window with the temple. Rejoice, who offered prayers from the window into the temple during Divine services. Rejoice, you who transform worldly storms, unrest and rebellion into silence. Rejoice, kindly guiding everyone into a saving haven. Rejoice, fierce and pacifying wisdom of the enemies of vacillation. Rejoice, you who receive under your protection and motherly protection.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 5
The epiphany star in the country of Iverste, enlightening many with the rays of its shrine, and instructing many on the path of knowledge of God, seeing this God's will for good, we sing with gratitude to the All-Merciful God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen many, your God-pleasing life, they break their hearts, remembering: “He who comes to Me I will not cast out,” we crown you with the same hymn:
Rejoice, queen, distinguished by her high piety. Rejoice, thou who art the continuator of all the undertakings of King George. Rejoice, promoting the wide spread of faith, art and spiritual culture throughout the country. Rejoice, you who successfully led the Iverskian troops to victory. Rejoice, conqueror of the seven Muslim faiths. Rejoice, you who encourage all Christians with your victories. Rejoice, strengthening all your followers through deeds and fervent prayer to God. Rejoice, you who affirm those who are overcome by resistance with sudden relief. Rejoice, watching over all Christians with a cheerful eye.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 6
We preach and everywhere praise your name, holy and faithful queen, at the end of your earthly life, uncovetous in a closed cave, continued, marveling at your patience, the mortification of your body, giving praise to God with the song: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Vozsia in the Iveron church region, blessed great Tamara, having enclosed herself in a cave, having also illuminated and enlightened the surrounding countries, and having created the hearts of many for good deeds, for this blessing of God, we bring you our singing:
Rejoice, you who still have wise rule over the country as a queen. Rejoice, and in the cell there is grace from God. Rejoice, thou who understandest in the vanity of those who live. Rejoice, stewardship of the good life of beginners. Rejoice, strengthening of those who are weary and shaken by despondency. Rejoice, affirmation of hard work for all. Rejoice, great organizer of Iberia. Rejoice, vigilant guardian of pure and immaculate life. Rejoice, all who want to live a pious and godly life, wise teacher.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 7
Although the all-evil enemy of your good undertaking created an obstacle, sending in 1204 the ruler of the Roman Sultanate to demand that Iberia renounce Christianity and accept Islam, you, good Queen Tamara, rejected this demand, and in the battle near Bassiani, having defeated the cunning and deceit of the enemy, about which you rejoiced, We sing gratefully to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Saint Tamara, the blessed Tamara, took on new work and a new feat in the life of the cave; in the Vardzil prayer temple you built, the most zealous service to Christ God and we, looking with intelligent eyes, constantly cry out to you:
Rejoice, conqueror of the insidious enemy of the Christian. Rejoice, you who have achieved the monastic sojourn in the cave. Rejoice, guardian of monastic abodes. Rejoice, you who built 365 caves and the Vardzil temple. Rejoice, you who have won many legends about your eternal life. Rejoice, faithful performer of God's commandments. Rejoice, unconstrained ascetic in monastic labors. Rejoice, warm prayer book for us.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 8
A strange and sorrowful life, working only for God, for this sake we also sing to God, who taught you and taught you: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All your care, faithful Queen Tamara, resisting the all-evil Christian enemy, and trampling on his proud head, glorifying the common Creator. In the same way, the Glory of God rose from your cell and illuminated all the ends of the earth, so for the sake of such praise we sing to you:
Rejoice, working for the One God. Rejoice, powerfully subduing the enemy of pride. Rejoice, adorned with deep humility and meekness. Rejoice, gifted with wisdom from God. Rejoice, you who spent the last years of your life in unceasing prayer. Rejoice, and peacefully ended your earthly life. Rejoice, numbered among the holy ranks of the faithful.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 9
Every human mind, looking at your wretched and humble life, leaving the royal throne and all earthly honors, is a great reward, thanksgiving to the Almighty God, glorifying His goodness, and leading many from the soul-destroying path and instructing them on the path of salvation, teaching them to sing to the Creator and Provider: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
You have trampled everything in this world, and having come to hate this useless humility, you have taught our souls this, holy and faithful Tamara, for such your goodness accept our everlasting veneration:
Rejoice, O valiant despiser of the world and all its sweets, beauties and charms. Rejoice, stewards of meekness and abstinence. Rejoice, you who save yourself by silence and by eliminating yourself from the world. Rejoice, you who do not put soft and light robes on yourself. Rejoice, you who, instead of choosing food, have risen by fasting for many days and by mortification of the body. Rejoice, instead of the royal sweet drink, you have drunk yourself with heartfelt tears.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 10
Although you mercifully expect to save many, all conversion and salvation, the Most Merciful God will show you to the country of Iveron, as a champion of orthodoxy, stirring us with a pure heart to sing to you and to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The wall is solid and a strong fence has appeared, holy blessed Tamara, giving a helping hand to all who zealously come to you, and for such your benevolence we reward you with singing:
Rejoice, ambulance to the needy. Rejoice, O merciful nurse of the hungry. Rejoice, clothing and shelter for those deprived of clothing and shelter. Rejoice, wise healer of those aggravated by illnesses. Rejoice, speedy banisher of all misfortunes and sorrows. Rejoice, warm protector who flows to you with faith.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 11
We bring you singing, holy great blessed Tamara, to glorify your deeds and labors, but we, seeing God’s will, bring you this small prayer of ours from all sins and defilements with your prayers, and every day and hour with a pure heart we sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Filled with God's grace and glorified from the country of Iveron, the great holy and faithful queen, pray to God for us sinners who truly glorify you with love:
Rejoice, performer of all virtues. Rejoice, beautiful and wonderful dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, you are a fertilized receptacle for all Godly deeds. Rejoice, you who have pleased the Creator and God well in your temporary life. Rejoice, you who had national glory during your lifetime. Rejoice, having prepared yourself perfectly for the end of this temporary and difficult life. Rejoice, you who have entered into the heavenly dwelling and are numbered among the saints.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 12
The All-Bountiful God has given you grace from His treasures, for your valiant diligence and deeds, as you have been pleasing and kind to God, and have received endless reward for yourself in the heavenly villages, constantly singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your victory over the Muslim coalition and the silent care of everyday life, we praise your painful labors and exploits, we honor all-night vigils and prayers, chanting:
Rejoice, you who have become like an Angel in heavenly glory. Rejoice, numbered among the faithful. Rejoice, having gained participation and inheritance with all the saints who have pleased God well. Rejoice, you who are filled with the sweet and blessed things of the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, thou who hast righteously merited the ineffable blessings prepared for the righteous from time immemorial.
Rejoice, holy great blessed Tamara, warrior of the Christian faith.
Kontakion 13
Oh, holy great blessed Tamara! Accept this prayer of ours, offered by us, unworthy, out of love. Keep us safe from all enemy slander and attacks and in the long life of us who flow to you with faith and love, deliver us from all troubles, sorrows and misfortunes, so that we may sing gratefully about you to our God and Savior: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1st, kontakion 1st.)
First prayer
Oh, holy, great and faithful Queen Tamara! We are sinners (name) and humble, as if we diligently resort to a warm protector and an ambulance, asking for help and intercession in the abyss of troubles plunged into the abyss of those who befall us every day and hour from wicked people, and those possessed by various illnesses, and through your intercession, since it is great If you have boldness towards God, pray for us in our sorrows, needs and misfortunes, and protect us from all enemies visible and invisible, especially from demonic intrigues and tricks, arrogant attacks and flattering approaches, so that we will not be their reproach and ridicule, and With your strong help, drive them away from us, just as you drove them away from the country of Iveron, and establish true love for God in our hearts and make it worthy.
When our departure from this temporary life and resettlement to eternity is ripe, soon appear to help us, and free us from the violence of the enemy, as if we have eternal life, and lead our hearts to true repentance, so that we too may present ourselves with clean lips and a clear conscience to the Most Holy Trinity , glorifying and singing Yu, with all the saints for endless centuries. Amen.
Second prayer
Oh, holy Queen Tamara!
Do not forget us, but remember in Your holy prayers the servant of God (name), pray for us, holy queen. Do not give up on us in spirit, save us from the arrows of the enemy, from the charms of demons and the snares of the devil. Ask us time to repent and pass without restraint from earth to heaven through the ordeal of bitter demons, so that through your intercession we will be delivered from eternal torment and be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven along with all the righteous from all eternity who have pleased Christ our Lord. To Him is due all glory, honor and worship, now and to the endless ages of ages. Amen.
Between East and West
The ascension of a woman to the throne in the 12th century is an extraordinary phenomenon both for Georgia and for the whole world. The heirs and the elite, as a rule, prevented such an outcome of events in every possible way. However, Tamara’s father, George III, was not initially going to hand over the reins to his daughter. He was the guardian of David, the son of his older brother, and cherished the idea that the young man would become the next ruler. However, fate decreed otherwise - civil strife broke out, and David disappeared. Either he was killed, or he disappeared under a false name. Historians are still arguing about his fate.
In 1178, George III made Tamara his co-ruler. He decided not to tempt fate by guessing what obstacles the nobility would build in her path after his death. The king did not place any special hopes on his daughter, but in vain. Firstly, she was well educated. Secondly, she had the talent of a diplomat. Considering that Georgia was surrounded by the Muslim world, this was a necessity. Thirdly, Tamara combined seemingly incompatible qualities: mercy, purely feminine gentleness and at the same time the unbending will of a military leader, the desire to go to the victorious end.
Tamara had to fight with her ex-husband
A fragile, shy girl, when necessary, stood her ground to the last. When praising these qualities in poems, the Georgian people often went too far, which makes it difficult to objectively assess Tamara’s personality. Thus, praising the queen, Georgian chroniclers claimed that she prohibited the use of corporal punishment and the death penalty. “During the reign of Tamar, there was not a single person who, with her knowledge, was subjected to violence, and no one who was subjected to punishment, except for cases of application of the old law, which was laid down for robbers - hanging from a tree,” wrote Basili Ezosmodzgvari (XIII century ) in the work “The History of Queen Tamar”. However, this information does not correspond to historical reality. Punishments were applied, although rarely.
Tamara gained fame as a great ruler thanks to her conquests. After her father's death, she was re-crowned. Wasting no time, the queen got down to business: she reformed the army according to the feudal system, introduced a system of military districts and military service; soldiers were trained in their craft before being sent to the battlefield. Particular attention was now paid to reconnaissance.
George III did not want to transfer the throne to his daughter, but the heir disappeared
Tamara understood that a Turkish attack on Georgia was inevitable: the location of the kingdom was too favorable. She chose offensive tactics. This was a bold step, because the number of Turkish troops significantly exceeded the number of Georgian ones. However, strict discipline and experienced military leaders did their job, and the Georgian army defeated the Turks in Southern Armenia. The list of conquests during the 27 years of the reign of the legendary queen is impressive: almost the entire Caucasus, former Byzantine provinces, several Iranian cities. Tamara's troops successfully repelled the attacks of the united Muslim army. The Georgian kingdom has never been so powerful. Alas, not a trace of this power will remain when the most dangerous enemy comes - the Mongols.
Territory of Georgia at the beginning of the 13th century
How Tamara fought with her ex-husband
The queen's first marriage was unsuccessful. Her wife was chosen by the religious elite. Of course, he had to profess Orthodoxy. The choice fell on Georgy (Yuri), the son of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Unlike his father, George did not possess the talent of a commander and politician. He preferred taverns, booze and women (according to some legends, men) to battles. Tamara quickly became disillusioned with her husband and two and a half years later demanded a divorce. You have to understand that divorce was unthinkable back then. However, the church agreed. Perhaps the reason for this was the reforms started by Tamara at the beginning of her reign. She placed people devoted to her at the head of the church, who were not seen in extorting money and abusing their power. In addition, churches were exempt from duties, and generous funds were allocated from the treasury for their existence. The queen also secured the support of the elite - she significantly expanded the powers of the councils of the nobility. The lower strata of the population were also satisfied with their lot; they were freed from heavy taxes.
The Georgian Church canonized Tamara as a saint.
So, no one interfered with Tamara’s divorce. And here the most interesting thing begins: the queen sent George into exile, providing him with a large sum of money. The act is noble. The rejected husband went to Constantinople, and then returned with the army to Georgia for revenge. Tamara had to fight with her ex-husband. True, the army loyal to her quickly expelled the unlucky husband from the borders of the kingdom.
The queen carried out a military reform, making the army more effective
Legends attribute numerous lovers to the beautiful Tamara. But this is nothing more than artistic fiction, a kind of attribute of a romantic image. One thing is certain: the young widow was looking for a husband on her own. Her chosen one was the Ossetian prince David-Soslan. There were no disagreements with the second spouse; in addition, he was a talented military leader.
"Cultural Revolution" in feudal Georgia
Tamara, among other achievements, was a patron of the arts, literature and science. It should be noted that the cultural heritage of Georgia in the 12th century was unique. The kingdom was located at the intersection of trade routes, and the culture amazingly combined Christian and Persian traditions. However, after numerous enemy raids, the vast property was seriously damaged.
During Tamara's reign, monasteries and churches were built in all corners of the country, their walls were painted by the best masters. The ruler surrounded herself with poets and writers, who in the process of their creativity formed the norms of the Georgian language.
Many legends tell about the romantic relationship between Tamara and the outstanding poet Shota Rustaveli
Shota Rustaveli
And indeed, between the lines of his poem “The Knight in the Skin of a Tiger” one can read reckless love. Tamara clearly favored the poet and appointed him state treasurer. But researchers say that there was no romantic connection between the queen and the poet. In general, information about Rustaveli’s biography is scanty and contradictory. There are several versions of the last years of his life, ranging from monastic tonsure and ending with marriage to a beautiful Georgian woman.
Poets attributed numerous lovers to Tamara
The great ruler died between 1209 and 1213. The place of her burial is unknown. Tamara still remains a favorite heroine of Georgian folklore, and not only Georgian folklore. Every nation of the Caucasus has a couple of stories about Tamara, a fair and brave queen.
From her living image, little was left to her descendants - time turned the vices and virtues of the legendary queen into myths and legends, the dates were mixed up, and historical sources contradict each other. And yet, if today in Georgia they decided to conduct a survey to determine the most popular person in the country, then, without a doubt, it would be Tamara. All the ancient castles, bridges spanning chasms, towers and monasteries, according to local residents, were erected by this particular queen, as if no one else in Georgia was capable of creation except her, as if, along with her life, the golden age in the country had raged and faded and never won't come back again. Or maybe the great Tamara has become a symbol of the creative forces that lie hidden in the Georgian people, and therefore rumor, just in case, attributes any achievements to the queen, so as not to inadvertently make a mistake in authorship.
Tamara not only created a powerful empire stretching from the Caspian to the Black Seas - neither before nor after Georgia had such a strong state - but also became the “godmother” of Georgian culture. There are women rulers - strong, powerful, who subordinated the course of history to their desires, but there are very few individuals who managed to form an entire nation. Under Queen Tamara, all the main signs of the Georgian mentality were generated; under her, brilliant poets, great architects, and famous theologians were born. Under her, the authority of Georgians in the eyes of the world community rose to unattainable heights - Tamara’s compatriots traveling to holy places were freed from tribute, the Turkish Sultan and the Egyptian Sultan considered it a blessing to invite mountaineers to their elite guard troops, the chastity and endurance of Georgian women were discussed in Asia Minor songs.
The era of Tamara began not entirely cloudless and completely lawless. Although her great-grandfather was David the Builder himself, Tamara had no right to the throne. Her grandfather Dmitry Bagration (namely, the great Tamara belonged to this dynasty) had two sons - the younger George and the elder David, to whom he transferred power in his declining years, having safely died in the circle of loving relatives. However, six months later, David unexpectedly died, allegedly from natural causes, which can be doubted, knowing the further course of events. The successor of the last Georgian king was his young son Dmitry, whose guardianship, of course, was taken by Uncle George. When the young ruler grew up, he, understandably, tried to displace the guardian who was comfortably seated there on the throne, but that was not the case. George III, as he was now called, refused to give up power without a twinge of conscience. An ordinary war began, feudal, civil - some supported the young applicant, some supported the seasoned ruler. Experience won. George III snatched the scepter of power from the senior branch of the Bagrationi, while Dmitry disappeared into oblivion. According to some sources, he was hanged, according to others, he was blinded, mutilated and expelled from the country. Georgian bookworms treat this fact with healthy historical cynicism. They say that’s where he belongs. Some, however, are trying to provide a scientific basis - this Dmitry was a backward man, a retrograde, progress swept him off the face of history, nothing can be done. There is only one consolation - human justice does not always coincide with divine truth, and not always what seems good to us turns out to be truly good.
Tamara was apparently born during this bloody division of power. According to specialist research, she was born between 1164 and 1169. Little is known about her childhood - mostly sweet stories telling about obedience and holiness. For example, how the poor girl, tirelessly, wove shrouds for Christian churches, or how she shared the last crust with the poor. What is known for certain is that the girl lost her mother early, who came from an Ossetian princely family, and her father, busy with “his own showdowns,” entrusted Tamara to a relative of Rusudan. This Rusudan also emerges from the historical fog as a very vague blur: either she is Tamara’s aunt, or someone else, or she was married to the Sultan, or to a Russian prince, or she is a widow, or a “divorcee” (then this is also happened). But no matter who the teacher of the future queen was, she was an extraordinary woman - she managed to polish the diamond that fate gave her. Tamara received an excellent education, and, apparently, her character was suitable - even in the most difficult moments, mental composure and endurance never failed the ruler. And Tamara had to prove herself at a very tender age. We do not risk giving dates (they are different in different sources), but, apparently, the father crowned his daughter, feeling that he did not have long to live. The dignitaries of the Darbazi (the so-called assembly of the highest spiritual and secular nobility, which represented a kind of parliament of ancient Georgia) were probably so afraid of George III that they did not dare to say a word when he proposed a female being as his successor. “The offspring of a lion is the same, whether male or female,” they flattered the tyrant, but one can imagine how the officials sought to take revenge on the girl when she was left alone. It is known that Tamara became the sole ruler at the age of 15 to 20 years. How such a young woman was able to curb a barbaric feudal country and hot eastern men remains a mystery behind seven seals. One thing is clear, for this it was necessary to have extraordinary qualities and, in addition to strength of character, also have cunning, cunning, and intelligence. Tamara began her first state councils with tough “personnel changes.” As an assistant, she called from Jerusalem the smartest learned theologian, Catholicos Nikolai Gulabridze, and, although she was not yet able to cope with the hated Patriarch Michele, who also held many government posts, Tamara carefully, gradually steered the ship of her rule in the direction she needed. . She was not particularly fierce, she knew when to stop, but when necessary, she knew how to show toughness - she mercilessly deprived the guilty, obstinate nobles of titles and privileges, confiscated property and transferred estates. She was young and lonely and was looking for faithful people to rely on. In such a situation, the most precious thing should have been the union of loving hearts. But Tamara was unlucky with her first husband. Judging by the great lines of Shota Rustaveli, who was probably passionately in love with the ruler, our heroine was a perfect example of female beauty. “Tamara’s eyes are beads, her figure is a slender lens, her gaze is worse than God’s punishment... her gait, the elegance of all her movements, are graceful, like a lioness, like a true queen.” And don’t let the power of Tamara’s gaze (it was not the physical ugliness of the queen that the poet had in mind) of Tamara confuse you, but many rulers coveted her hand - she was a tasty morsel for any crowned groom.
Why did she choose the unlucky Russian prince? Now it is difficult to establish the truth. According to one version, Tamara’s marriage was dictated by political considerations, according to another, by the anger of Michele, who dreamed of harming the hated queen and insisted on this marriage. One thing is not clear: what benefits could be derived from an alliance with the disgraced and stupid prince? Yuri was the son of the famous Vladimir-Suzdal prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who ended his life under the knife of his own subjects, not without the help of his young wife. After his death, the usual fight for power began between relatives. Tamara’s chosen one was not among the favorites in this fight; the villainous fate sent him on long wanderings and runs through foreign lands. So, Yuri, with a small squad and faithful servants, ended up with the Kipchak nomads on the shores of the Pontus (Black Sea), where the queen’s matchmakers found him. According to the chronicles, Tamara was in no hurry to marry a stranger, but gave in to the insistence of state advisers.
Two and a half years of marriage brought shame and suffering to the queen. Yuri, in addition to drunkenness and revelry, was also struck by the sin of sodomy, which forced Tamara to break up with her unlucky husband. “I should not rest under the shade of a desecrated tree,” she said and expelled Yuri from the empire. The persecuted Russian prince decided to take revenge on his obstinate wife. He went to Constantinople and gathered an army for a campaign against Georgia. As the war broke out, Tamara’s enemies joined her ex-husband - local feudal lords who wanted to take revenge on the queen for the taken away privileges, but the courageous woman was able to win this dispute. In memory of the unsuccessful marriage, she pardoned Yuri and again sent him outside the country, but the loss did not teach the prince anything, but only fueled his ambitions. He undertook a second campaign, which also ended in failure for him. Then his name is lost in the historical jungle. Perhaps Tamara was tired of him with his stupidity and importunity and she found a way to deal with him.
Our heroine did not experiment with marriage anymore. She connected her life with a trusted person she knew from early childhood. Tamara and David were raised together by Aunt Rusudan. Some sources even consider David to be the son of Rusudan. Other historians claim that our heroine was in love with her playmate from infancy. One way or another, their marriage turned out to be extremely happy and constructive. All of Tamara’s loudest victories, all of her great deeds are connected with the name of David. How much is the battle of Shamkhory won by the queen worth? Several centuries later, during the capture of Kazan, Ivan the Terrible recalled the brilliant battle as an example to follow.
The Persian king Abubakar gave the campaign a religious character, overshadowing his large army with the sacred Muslim banner. Tamara, as a wise ruler, did not rely on her own military talents, but she was able to create a perfect Georgian army. The whole country was divided into 9 districts. Each district had an eristav (governor) and a spaslar (military leader). At the queen's court, a well-trained, permanent army of sixty thousand was maintained at a decent salary. So, if necessary, the militias united with professionals and the queen had one of the most powerful armies of that time at her disposal. And if we add to this the strict discipline that Tamara established in the troops, and the fact that the queen herself acted as the inspirer and organizer of victories, then such an armada can be considered invincible. She herself, as already mentioned, did not participate in the battles - the battles were led by the faithful Field Marshal Zachary and her beloved husband David, but all the glory of the victories rightfully went to the ruler beloved by the people.
Abubakar suffered a crushing defeat. Tamara brought the destroyed Muslim shrine as a gift to the heavenly queen, the icon of the Khakhul Mother of God, and placed it in the Gelati Monastery. War spoils and huge tribute made Georgia the richest country in the medieval world. But Tamara did not succumb to the temptation of luxury; she turned the resulting treasures into new fortresses, roads, bridges, temples, ships, and schools. The queen took special care of education - she simultaneously supported 60 scholarship students from the Athos monastery. The quality of teaching in Georgian schools was unusually high. Just the list of compulsory subjects that the students studied evokes respect and admiration - theology, philosophy, history, Greek, Hebrew, interpretation of poetic texts, the study of polite conversation, arithmetic, astrology, writing poetry.
The queen's court was not a traditional gathering of secular gossips, empty beauties and insidious intriguers, but a firmament strewn with the “stars” of poetry, architecture, and philosophy. Tamara derived pleasure not from night balls, not from knightly fights, but from the rivalry of the best poets, from long philosophical debates. The queen took the outstanding poet Sargis Tmogveli as her secretary, and the monk poet Shavteli accompanied Tamara on all military campaigns. But the best pearl in this necklace was, of course, the brilliant Shota Rustaveli. Apparently, he loved the queen, but did not want to be part of a love triangle. Shota left Georgia and became a monk.
Tamara died as a young woman, as chronicles testify, from some serious and long-term illness. Until now, Georgians from different regions show visiting guests the grave of the great Tamara. But historians consider the Bagrationi family crypt in Gelati to be a more likely resting place for the queen. And according to documents from the Vatican archives, it turns out that Tamara was buried in the ancient Georgian monastery of Jerusalem. A fresco depicting an elderly man, Shota Rustaveli, was also found there. Apparently, the poet decided that the one whose life always belonged to the world, to the bustle of state affairs, should unite in another dimension with his Muse.
I’ll sing about love, but you won’t listen.
The stars will play with rays.
And the desert is like a tender mother,
He will open his arms to me!
I'm leaving - sorry!
No offensive rewards
I will complete my creation:
But it will be confirmed
Our grandchildren will be grandchildren -
May your name be glorified!
This is what the Russian poet Ya. Polonsky wrote about the love of Tamara and Shota Rustaveli.