Liparit IV, Duke of Kldekari
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Liparit IV, Duke of Kldekari, of the Baghvashi House, was a Grand Duke (eristavt-eristavi) of Kldekari, Georgia, in 1021-1059.
He succeeded on the death of his father, Liparit III, who was killed in battle against the Byzantines in 1021. One of the most powerful nobles of the realm, Liparit IV was appointed a regent to the underage King Bagrat IV of Georgia, alongside with Ioane Abazasdze. In 1028, he was put in command of the army which successfully secured Georgian borders by resisting to a Byzantine invasion army, and by forcing Emir Fadlon of Ganja, formerly a Georgian subject, into submission. Then he focused on reconquering of the Arab-held Tbilisi, a long-time dream of Georgians. In 1032, he captured an emir of Tbilisi, but King Bagrat IV, advised by Liparit’s opponents, released him on terms of vassalage. However, in 1037, Liparit managed to organize another campaign against Tbilisi. Allied with the Kakhetians, Liparit and Bagrat put the city under siege. After the two years of unsuccessful battles, Bagrat made peace with the emir finally offending Baghvashi. Liparit left Georgia, and soon returned with a Byzantine force to put a pretender, Demetre, on the Georgian throne. He invested the Ateni fortress, but finally had to make peace with the king. Liparit was granted a title of Grand Duke of Kartli, but he had to give his son John (Ioane) as hostage. Afterwards, he revolted again, released his son and, enjoying financial and military support from the Byzantine Empire, defeated a royal army at the Battle of Sasireti (1042) and occupied most of eastern Georgia. The same year, he marched to reinforce the Byzantines in their unsuccessful war against the Seljuk Turks and was captured by the enemy at the Battle of Pasinler (1048). Released in 1051, he declared himself a regent to Bagrat’s son George (the future King George II of Georgia) and became a virtual ruler of the country. In 1059, the nobles revolted and surrendered him to King Bagrat, who forced Liparit into exile in Constantinople where he died as a monk. Later he was reburied in Katskhi Monastery, Georgia.
