Principality of Kakheti

The Principality of Kakheti (Georgian: კახეთის სამთავრო, romanized: k'akhetis samtavro), or Chorbishopric of Kakheti (Georgian: კახეთის საქორეპისკოპოსო, romanized: k'akhetis sakorep'isk'op'oso) was an early medieval Georgian principality in eastern Georgia, centered at the province of Kakheti. It emerged in the late 8th century during the weakening of the Arab rule in Georgia. Formed under the leadership of the prince-bishops of the Kakhetian mountains, the principality quickly established itself as one of the leading entities in the Caucasus. It struggled with other principalities to expand its influence, namely, eastwards it faced the emerging Kingdom of Hereti, while westwards it struggled with the Kingdom of the Iberians and Kingdom of Abkhazia over the control of Shida Kartli, the traditional cultural and religious center of Georgians, significantly weakened politically by the Arab domination. While the principality's efforts in the west eventually failed, with the Kingdom of Abkhazia and Kingdom of the Iberians firmly securing Shida Kartli and spearheading the unification of Georgia, in the west, Kakheti managed to absorb the Kingdom of Hereti and establish the unified Kingdom of Kakheti-Hereti, which lasted until the early 12th century when the Georgian King David IV finally incorporated it into the Georgian realm.