Ashot II () (died 954) was a
Georgian prince of the
Bagratid dynasty of
Tao-Klarjeti with the
Byzantine title of
curopalates.
Ashot was the second son of
Adarnase I, king of
Iberia/
Kartli and younger brother of
David II (r. 923–937). David succeeded Adarnase as titular king of Iberia, but not as curopalates, this honorific being granted by the Byzantine emperor to Ashot. Ashot’s original holding was the duchy of
Lower Tao to which he added Upper Tao obtained following the death of his relative
Gurgen II of Tao in 941. Ashot II also ed and received from the emperor, c. 952, the Armenian canton of Phasiane.
Toumanoff, Cyril (1967).
Studies in Christian Caucasian History, pp. 493-493.
Georgetown University Press.
During Ashot’s tenure, the
Vita of Saint Grigol Khandzteli was composed by
Giorgi Merchule. Ashot actively supported the development of
monasticism in
Tao-Klarjeti and rebuilt the main church of the monastery at
Opiza. Ashot died without heir and his lands and titles passed to his brother King
Sumbat I.
According to the art historian
W. Djobadze, the bas-relief from
Opiza which was brought to
Georgia at the end of
World War I and which is now on display at the State Museum of Fine Arts in
Tbilisi, does not render
Ashot I Kuropalates (died 830) and the
Biblical King David as it has been sometimes assumed, but the 10th century re-builders of the monastery, Ashot II and David...
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