Nugzar I, Duke of Aragvi

Nugzar Aragvis Eristavi (Georgian: ნუგზარ არაგვის ერისთავი) was a Georgian duke (eristavi) of the Duchy of Aragvi from 1600 to 1611. He was the nephew of the previous duke, Avtandil I. Nugzar was a boy when his uncle died, and he was still young as well when he got control over the duchy from his "illegitimate cousins".[1] In his early years as duke, Nugzar managed to force Mtiuleti into submission.[1] In 1578, Simon I of Kartli (Shahnavaz Khan) was released from captivity by his Safavid overlords in order to fight the Ottomans during the Ottoman–Safavid War of 1578–1590.[1] Some months after however, he took revenge on allies of Nugzar – the eristavi of Ksani as well as the Amilakhori family,[1] in retaliation for their behavior during Simon I's first tenure as ruler of Kartli.[1] In 1580, Simon I defeated Alexander II of Kakheti, whom Nugzar was dependent on, but Nugzar himself apparently managed to evade Simon I's wrath.[1] During David I's brief usurpation of the Kakhetian kingdom (1601-1602), Nugzar was defeated by David.[2] Soon after however, Nugzar switched his allegiance to George X of Kartli.[1] The latter had promised Nugzar a daughter in marriage to his eldest son, Baadur (Bahadur).[1] During the Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603–1618, Safavid king Abbas I (r. 1588-1629) summoned George X and Nugzar, but he later sent them both back to Kartli in order to bolster their defences.[3] In 1610, when Nugzar received his son-in-law Giorgi Saakadze (Mūrāv-Beg), he was reportedly the master of all lands situated between the three Aragvi streams.[1] His last appearance in the records is in 1611.[1] Nugzar I had two sons; Baadur and Zurab (Sohrab). Baadur succeeded Nugzar as eristavi of the duchy, who in turn was succeeded by Zurab (1619–1629).[4]