Kingdom of Iberia - 400 BC - 580 AD
In Greco-Roman geography, Iberia (Latin: Hiberia) was an exonym (foreign name) for the Georgian kingdom of Kartli (Georgian: ქართლი), known after its core province, which during Classical Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages was a significant monarchy in the Caucasus, either as an independent state or as a dependent of larger empires, notably the Sassanid and Roman empires. Iberia, centered on present-day Eastern Georgia, was bordered by Colchis in the west, Caucasian Albania in the east and Armenia in the south.
Its population, the Iberians, formed the nucleus of the Georgians (Kartvelians). Iberia, ruled by the Pharnavazid, Arsacid and Chosroid royal dynasties, together with Colchis to its west, would form the nucleus of the unified medieval Kingdom of Georgia under the Bagrationi dynasty.
In the 4th century, after the Christianization of Iberia by Saint Nino during the reign of King Mirian III, Christianity was made the state religion of the kingdom. Starting in the early 6th century AD, the kingdom's position as a Sassanian vassal state was changed into direct Persian rule. In 580, king Hormizd IV (578-590) abolished the monarchy after the death of King Bakur III, and Iberia became a Persian province ruled by a marzpan (governor).
The term "Caucasian Iberia" is also used to distinguish it from the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe.
In earliest times, the area of Caucasian Iberia was inhabited by several related tribes stemming from the Kura-Araxes culture, collectively called Iberians (or Eastern Iberians) in Greco-Roman ethnography.
The Moschi, mentioned by various classic historians, and their possible descendants, the Saspers (who were mentioned by Herodotus), may have played a crucial role in the consolidation of the tribes inhabiting the area. The Moschi had moved slowly to the northeast forming settlements as they traveled. One of these was Mtskheta, the future capital of the Kingdom of Iberia. The Mtskheta tribe was later ruled by a prince locally known as mamasakhlisi (“father of the household” in Georgian).
The written sources for the early periods of Iberia's history are mostly medieval Georgian chronicles, that modern scholarship interpret as a semi-legendary narrative.[6] One such chronicle, Moktsevay Kartlisay (“Conversion of Kartli”) mentions that a ruler named Azo and his people came from Arian-Kartli – the initial home of the proto-Iberians, which had been under Achaemenid rule until the fall of the Persian Empire – and settled on the site where Mtskheta was to be founded. Another Georgian chronicle, Kartlis Tskhovreba (“History of Kartli”) claims Azo to be an officer of Alexander’s, who massacred a local ruling family and conquered the area, until being defeated at the end of the 4th century BC by Prince Pharnavaz, at that time a local chief.
The story of Alexander's invasion of Kartli, although legendary, nevertheless reflects the establishment of Georgian monarchy in the Hellenistic period and the desire of later Georgian literati to connect this event to the celebrated conqueror.
Kings of Iberia
Mythological kings
1) Noah
2) Japeth
3) Gomer
4) Targamos
5) Kartlos
6) Meskhetos (Mtskhetos)
7) Uflos
Historical kings
8) Yaredos (Jaredos)
9) Qekapos
10) Spandiat
11) Baram Ardashir
12) Samara - 355 - 326 BC.
13) Azo - 326 - 302 BC.
Pharnavazid Dynasty
14) Pharnavaz I - 302–237 BC.
15) Saurmag I - 237-162 BC.
16) Mirian I - 162-112 BC.
17) Pharnajom - 112-93 BC.
18) Artaxias I - 93-81 BC.
19) Artoces - 78–63 BC.
20) Pharnavaz II - 63-33 BC.
21) Mirian II - 33-23 BC.
22) Arshak II - 23-2 BC.
23) Pharasmanes I - 1 BC - 58 AD.
24) Mihrdat I - 58–106
25) Amazasp I - 106–116
26) Pharasmanes II - 117–138
27) Ghadam - 132–135
28) Pharasmanes III - 138–161
29) Amazasp II - 185–189
30) Rev I - 189–216
31) Vache - 216–234
32) Bacurius I - 234–249
33) Mihrdat II - 249 to 265
34) Aspacures I - 265–284
35) Mirian III - 284–361
36) Rev II - 345–361
37) Sauromaces II - 361–363
38) Aspacures II - 363–365
39) Mihrdat III - 365–380
40) Aspacures III - 380–394
41) Trdat - 394–406
42) Pharasmanes IV - 406–409
43) Mihrdat IV - 409–411
44) Archil - 411–435
45) Mihrdat V - 435–447
46) Vakhtang I - 447-522
47) Dachi - 522–534
48) Bacurius II - 534–547
49) Pharasmanes V - 547–561
50) Pharasmanes VI - 561–?
51) Bacurius III - ?–580
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