Background
Like his father, King David II (Imam-Quli Khan), and brothers, Ali-Mirza was a convert to Islam.
Like his father, King David II (Imam-Quli Khan), and brothers, Ali-Mirza was a convert to Islam.
As a ruler of Kakheti, he is sometimes known in modern historiography by his Christian name Alexander and ascribed the regnal number "Third". Despite his power being derived from the shah, Ali Mirza followed the established Georgian tradition to style himself as "king of kings". Ali-Mirza was made a viceroy (wali) at Tbilisi, the capital of the kingdom of Kartli, in August 1735, by the Iranian warlord Nader after the victory over the Ottomans.
Ali-Mirza failed to gain foothold in the restive province and ran afoul of Safi Khan.
Unable to gain popularity with the local population and facing an unrest, Ali-Mirza was equally disturbed by the pressure from his Iranian suzerains. In 1736, he even wrote to the Empress Anna of Russia, describing the difficult conditions of his reign and asking her for protection.
Feeling that the shah now favored the more able Teimuraz, Ali-Mirza, under the influence of Prince Abel Andronikashvili, contemplated a revolt in Kakheti. Tamar, through the service of Prince Givi Cholokashvili, secured the loyalty of Kiziki and Pshavi, dissuading Ali-Mirza from his design.
In a state of despair, Ali-Mirza repaired to Nader"s camp in Kandahar, where he took command of the shah"s Georgian regiments and died in a battle in 1737 or 1739.
Ali-Mirza was married to Mariam, daughter of Shanshe II, Duke of Ksani. According to Cyril Toumanoff"s genealogy, Ali-Mirza had two children, who retired and died in the Russian Empire:
Prince Ioane (Ivan Alexandrovich Bagration. 7 November 1730 – 28 September 1795), who had a son named Peter, whose fate is obscure;
Princess Ana.
