Kingdom of Imereti
Luarsab was born into the family of Prince Vakhtang, "batoni" of Mukhrani, who was adopted by the childless King Rostom of Kartli and acceded to the throne on Rostom's death in 1658. Around 1675, Luarsab and his elder brother, Archil, departed to the Ottoman-controlled Akhaltsikhe in a bid to acquire the Kingdom of Imereti, which was within the Ottoman sphere of influence. This venture posed a risk of conflict between the Ottomans and the Iranian Safavids, which exercised their suzerainty over the kings of Kartli.