LUARSAB I. King of Kartli in 1527–1556. The son of King David X, Luarsab’s reign coincided with the rise of the Safavid dynasty in Persia, whose rulers continuously raided Georgia. Shah Tahmasp alone led four major invasions in 1541,1547, 1551 and 1554. Luarsab lost his capital city of Tbilisi in 1541 but succeeded in retaining his throne. In 1545, he supported his neighbor King Bagrat III of Imereti against the Ottomans but suffered a major defeat at the battle of Sokhoistas. Seeking foreign help, Luarsab appealed in vain to Pope Paul III and European monarchs. Despite setbacks, Luarsab resolutely pursued his policy of preserving control over the Georgian lands. In the late 1540s, he waged a guerilla war against the Persians and succeeded in extending his domain to Samtskhe and Kola-Artaani, although he eventually lost these regions to Shah Tahmasp between 1551–1554 and was forced to flee to Imereti. Following the Persian-Ottoman treaty of Amassia of 1555, Luarsab returned to Kartli and continued his resistance. In 1556, during the battle of Garisi, the aged king was mortally wounded but lived long enough to see the victory in the battle. He was succeeded by his son Simon I.

ALM