The Byzantine-Georgian Relations during the "Unification of Georgia" (the Turn of 10th-11th Centuries)

This thesis explores the political relationship between the Byzantine Empire and Kartvelian lands during the unification of the Georgian kingdom in the period from the second half of the 10th century to the first decade of the 11th century. The focus of the research is mainly considers the problems of the activities of the ruler of Tao David III Kuropalates (961-1000) and the first king of the unified Georgian kingdom Bagrat III (978-1014) in the context of their relationship with Byzantium. We investigate the "political ideology" in the Kingdom of Abkhazia and principalities of Tao-Klarjeti in the second half of 10th century, problem of the unification of Georgian lands at the turn of the X-XI centuries, the date of receiving the title of kouropalates by David III from Byzantium, history of the military conflict between David Kuropalates and Bagrat III in 988 in the context of Byzantine’s civil wars in the end of the 10th century and other. The main conclusion of the research is that the creation of the unified Georgian kingdom in the period from 975 to 1014 was occurred with the agreement and approval from Byzantine power and was in line with its strategic interests in Transcaucasia, for example, in the need to had a strong ally to protect the eastern lands of the empire from invasions of the Transcaucasian Muslim dynasties of the Marwanids and Rawadids.