Bagrat III of Georgia

Bagrat III ბაგრატ III
King of Georgia
Bagrat III, a fresco from the Bedia Cathedral
King of Georgia (more...)
Reign	1008–1014
Predecessor	Unification of the Georgian realm
Successor	George I
King of Abkhazia
Reign	978–1008
Predecessor	Theodosius III
Successor	Unification of the Georgian realm
Duke of Kartli
Reign	975–978
Predecessor	Gurgen
Successor	Gurandukht
Born	c. 960 Kutaisi
Died	7 May 1014(1014-05-07) (aged 53–54) Panaskerti Castle, Tao
Burial	Bedia Cathedral
Spouse	Martha
Issue	George I of Georgia Basil of Khakhuli?
Dynasty	Bagrationi
Father	Gurgen of Iberia
Mother	Gurandukht of Abkhazia
Religion	Georgian Orthodox Church

Bagrat III (Georgian: ბაგრატ III) (c. 960 – 7 May 1014), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the king (mepe) of the Kingdom of Abkhazia from 978 on (as Bagrat II of Abkhazia) and king of Georgia from 1008 on. He united these two titles by dynastic inheritance and, through conquest and diplomacy, added more lands to his realm, effectively becoming the first king of the Kingdom of Georgia. Before Bagrat was crowned as king, he had also reigned in Kartli as co-ruler with his father Gurgen from 976 to 978.