Bagrat III , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was a King of Imereti from April 1, 1510, to 1565.
Background
He succeeded upon the death of his father, Alexander II, and faced repeated assaults from the Ottoman Turks as well as the conflicts with his ostensible vassal princes of Mingrelia, Guria, and Abkhazia who were frequently joining the enemy.
Career
In 1512, the Ottomans invaded Imereti through its southern neighbor Samtskhe and unexpectedly struck Bagrat’s capital Kutaisi. As a result, Samtskhe wrested of Bagrat’s control, and came under the Ottoman hegemony. In the following years, the principalities of Mingrelia and Guria also asserted their de facto independence from the crown of Imereti, further reducing the royal power.
In 1555, in the Treaty of Amasya, the Ottoman and Persian empires divided Georgia, with Imereti falling into the Ottoman sphere of influence.
Bagrat attempted to disrupt the Turco-Persian deal by pushing claims to the town of Surami which lay in the Persian zone in eastern Georgia. The move brought to nothing, however, and Bagrat was forced to pay tribute to the Ottomans.
Bagrat was married to a certain woman named Elene who died in 1565. George II (died 1585), King of Imereti (1565–1585).
Prince Constantine (died 1587), anti-king of Imereti (1585–1586).
Prince Teimuraz (fl 1514 – 1583), father of King Bagrat IV of Imereti. Prince Vakhtang (fl 1520 – fl 1565). Princess Tamar (died 1556), queen consort of Luarsab I of Kartli.
Anonymous daughter who married Prince Ramaz Bagration-Davitishvili.