Simon I of Kartli
Who was Simon I of Kartli?
Georgian king of Kartli from 1556 to 1569 and again from 1578 to 1599
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Simon I of Kartli (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Simon I of Kartli, also known as Simon the Great, was a Georgian king from the Bagrationi dynasty. He ruled the Kingdom of Kartli in two periods: 1556 to 1569 and 1578 to 1599. Born in 1537, he became king at nineteen, immediately dealing with the challenge of balancing the influence of the Persian and Ottoman empires, both vying for control over Georgian lands. His rule was marked by constant battles and diplomacy as he tried to keep Georgia independent, while also being a vassal to these empires at different times.
During his first reign, Simon I fought against Persian control, leading military campaigns against them and their local allies. Despite his efforts, he was captured by Persian forces in 1569 and had to adopt the name Mahmud Khan under vassalage. His capture led to nine years as a prisoner in Persia, where Persian-appointed governors managed Kartli.
Released in 1578, Simon I resumed his kingship. However, by then, the Ottomans had gained more influence. During this second reign, he was known as Shahnavaz Khan and had to fight against Ottoman expansion into Georgia as a Persian subject. He was trapped between the demands of the Persians and the Ottoman threat.
Simon's second reign ended in 1599 when the Ottomans captured him. They called him 'Deli Simon' or 'Simon the Mad' and imprisoned him in the Yedikule Fortress in Constantinople, where he spent the last twelve years of his life, dying in 1611. His marriage to Nestan-Darejan of Kakheti was an important political alliance between the kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti, highlighting the efforts of Georgian nobles to stay united against foreign domination.
Before Fame
Simon I was born into the Bagrationi dynasty in 1537, a time when Georgia faced growing pressure from the expanding Persian Safavid Empire under Shah Tahmasp I. The Kingdom of Kartli, one of the main Georgian kingdoms, had already become a vassal of Persia, creating a complicated political situation for the young prince.
Simon's rise to power was influenced by the death of his predecessor and the urgent need for strong leadership to resist foreign rule. At nineteen, he took over a kingdom that was officially independent but actually controlled by Persian officials and troops. This set the stage for the struggles that would define his reign.
Key Achievements
- Led sustained military resistance against Persian domination during his first reign from 1556-1569
- Successfully regained his throne after nine years of Persian captivity in 1578
- Maintained Georgian royal authority for over two decades despite constant foreign pressure
- Formed strategic marriage alliance with Kakheti through union with Nestan-Darejan
- Preserved Bagrationi dynastic continuity during one of Georgia's most turbulent periods
Did You Know?
- 01.He was known by three different names during his lifetime: Simon in Georgian, Mahmud Khan during his first reign under Persian vassalage, and Shahnavaz Khan during his second reign
- 02.Spent a total of twenty-one years in captivity - nine years in Persian prisons and twelve years in the Ottoman Yedikule Fortress
- 03.The Ottomans nicknamed him 'Deli Simon' meaning 'Simon the Mad' in Turkish
- 04.His reign was interrupted by nearly a decade of imprisonment, making him one of the few monarchs to rule in two separate periods with such a long gap between them
- 05.He died in the same fortress where many other notable prisoners of the Ottoman Empire were held, including several Byzantine nobles