Background
Princess Anna was born in 1730 into one of the leading noble houses of Imereti, a kingdom in western Georgia. Her father was Prince Zaal Abashidze.
Princess Anna was born in 1730 into one of the leading noble houses of Imereti, a kingdom in western Georgia. Her father was Prince Zaal Abashidze.
She was the mother of George XII, the last king of Georgia. Anna had two brothers, Ioane and Simon. The former served as a governor (mouravi) of Borchalo and a chief of royal guards (kechikchibashi) from 1769 to 1799 and saw action against the Persians at Krtsanisi in 1795.
The latter was a keeper of the royal seal (mordali).
Her predecessor was either Ketevan Orbeliani, whom Heraclius divorced, or, according to more recent research, Ketevan Pkheidze, who died of a severe illness in 1744. The wedding was first pompously celebrated at Anuka"s house in Kvishkheti and then at the court of Heraclius"s father, Teimuraz II of Kartli, in Tbilisi.
Anna died in Tbilisi at the age of 19 and was interred at the Cathedral of Living Pillar in Mtskheta. Heraclius and Anna had three children:
Prince George (10 November 1746 – 28 December 1800), who succeeded Heraclius II as king of Kartli and Kakheti,
Princess Tamara (12 July 1747 – 4 August 1786), who married Prince David Orbeliani.
An anonymous daughter, who died in infancy.