This treaty ended a two-year Byzantine-Georgian war, forcing Georgia to cede key southwestern territories and hand over a royal hostage to Constantinople.
Key Facts
- Year signed
- 1022
- Georgian signatory
- King George I of Georgia
- Byzantine signatory
- Emperor Basil II
- Territories ceded by Georgia
- Tao, Phasiane, Kola, Artaan, Javakheti
- Hostage sent to Constantinople
- Bagrat IV, aged three
- Duration of war preceding treaty
- Approximately two years (1021–1022)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Georgian prince David III of Tao had agreed to cede his lands to Byzantium upon his death following a failed rebellion in the 990s. Subsequent Georgian rulers, including Bagrat III, failed to prevent annexation. George I, seeking to reclaim these territories, occupied Tao in 1014–1016, prompting Emperor Basil II to lead a military campaign against Georgia in 1021.
After approximately two years of exhausting warfare that ended in a decisive Byzantine victory, Georgian King George I and Byzantine Emperor Basil II concluded a peace treaty in 1022. Under its terms, Georgia formally surrendered the southwestern territories of Tao, Phasiane, Kola, Artaan, and Javakheti to the Byzantine Empire.
Georgia lost extensive southwestern territories to Byzantium, significantly reducing its territorial holdings. Additionally, George I was compelled to send his three-year-old son and heir, Bagrat IV, to Constantinople as a hostage, underscoring the depth of Georgia's defeat and its subordinated position relative to the Byzantine Empire following the conflict.
Political Outcome
Decisive Byzantine victory; Georgia ceded southwestern territories and provided a royal hostage to Constantinople.
Georgia held Tao and other southwestern territories contested with Byzantium.
Byzantium gained formal control of Tao, Phasiane, Kola, Artaan, and Javakheti; Georgia weakened.