David II of Iberia

Who was David II of Iberia?

David II was a member of the Georgian Bagratid dynasty of Tao-Klarjeti and titular king of Iberia/Kartli from 923 until his death.

The eldest son and ultimate successor of Adarnase IV of Iberia as king of Iberia, David’s control was limited to the duchies of Q'ueli-Javakheti, and Lower Tao as the core lands of Inner Iberia were under the Abasgian control. In spite of his royal title and unlike his father, David did not bear the traditional high Byzantine title of curopalates which was bestowed by the emperor upon David's younger brother Ashot II. As a result, David's influence and prestige were overshadowed by those of his younger brother, Ashot II. As evidenced by Constantine Porphyrogenitus's De Administrando Imperio, David only had the title of magistros which he shared with his relative Gurgen II of Tao. Both Gurgen and David resolutely opposed the Byzantine takeover of the Bagratid town of Artanuji, a fief of Gurgen's father-in-law, Ashot the Swift. During the dispute, David even arrested the Byzantine plenipotentiary, the patrikios Constans, who was dispatched to create Gurgen magistros and bring David's brother Ashot for investiture as curopalates.