# Constantine III of Abkhazia

Constantine III (Georgian: კონსტანტინე III) was King of Abkhazia from c.  894 to 923 AD. He was the son and successor of Bagrat I of the Anchabadze dynasty.

## Life

Constantine's reign is marked as a constant fighting for the hegemony within the Georgian territories. The increasingly expansionist tendencies of the kingdom led to the enlargement of its realm to the east. In 904 he had finally annexed a significant portion of Kartli, bringing his borders close to the Arab-controlled Tiflis (modern-day Tbilisi).
Soon he had to face the alliance of the King Smbat I of Armenia and Adarnase IV of Iberia. The two men collaborated in defeating Constantine III, their common relative, who competed with Adarnase for hegemony in Inner Iberia and with Smbat in Gugark. Adarnase captured Constantine and turned him over to Smbat. Constantine was imprisoned in Ani. Smbat freed his captive in order to make an alliance against the resurgent Muslims. This alliance was facilitated by Constantine's marriage to the Smbat's daughter. This move, however, turned Adarnase against Smbat. In 912, when Emir Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj invaded Armenia, Smbat attempted to take refuge in Abkhazia, but Adarnase did not let him cross his territories and was eventually captured and hanged at Dvin (914). Subsequently, Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj took the opportunity to devastate the Tao-Klarjeti. This campaign was one of the last major attempts on the part of the Abbasid Caliphate to retain its crumbling hold of the Georgian lands, which, at that time, were a patchwork of rival, native states and Muslim holdings. As a result of the campaign, Tao-Klarjeti was weakened. Constantine III used Adarnase's weakness and restored his authority over Kartli. Adarnase was relegated to his portion of the Bagratid hereditary lands in Tao and was forced to recognize himself as a vassal of Constantine III. This was the beginning of almost sixty years of Abkhazian dominance over Tao-Klarjeti. Next year, Constantine forged an alliance with Kvirike I of Kakheti. The allies invaded Hereti (principality in the Georgian-Albanian marchlands) and divided its major strongholds.
Constantine III also tried to extend his influence over Alania by supporting their Christianization.

## Family

Constantine III married a daughter of Adarnase IV of Iberia:

### Issue

* Anonymous daughter, married to Ashot of Klarjeti
* George II, king of the Abkhazia from 916 until 960.
* Bagrat II, co-king of Abkhazia.

## Genealogy

vteGenealogy of the Kings of Abkhazia :
Theodor Archon of Abasgia r. 710's–730
Constantine II Archon of Abasgia r. 730–745Leon I Archon of Abasgia r. 745–767
Leon II Archon of Abasgia r. 767–780 King of Abkhazia r. 780–828
Theodosius II King of Abkhazia r. 811–837Demetrius II King of Abkhazia r. 837–872George I King of Abkhazia r. 872–878
Tinen of ChikhaBagrat I King of Abkhazia r. 887–898
Constantine III King of Abkhazia r. 898–916
Anonymous daughter married to Ashot of KlarjetiGeorge II King of Abkhazia r. 916–960fr:Bagrat Anchabadzé King of Abkhazia r. 923–930
Constantine Duke of Kartli r. 923–926Leon III Duke of Kartli r. 926–957 King of Abkhazia r. 960–969Demetrius III King of Abkhazia r. 969–976Theodosius III King of Abkhazia r. 976–978BagratAnonymous daughter married to Shourta of KakhetiGurandukht married to Gurgen of IberiaAnonymous daughter married to Abas I of Armenia
Bagrat II King of Abkhazia r. 978–1014 :

## Sources.

* Marie-Félicité Brosset, Histoire de la Géorgie..