Dadiani

Dadiani (დადიანი in Georgian) was a Georgian family of nobles, and a ruling dynasty of the western Georgian province of Mingrelia.

The House of Dadiani

The first data about the family dates back to 1046. Presumably, the Dadiani descended from a certain Dadi. Appointed as hereditary eristavi (dukes) of Odishi (Mingrelia) in reward for their military services, the family had become the most powerful feudal house in western Georgia by the 1280s. At that time, the branches of the family governed also Svaneti and Guria.

In 1557, Duke Levan I Dadiani became hereditary Prince (mtavari) of Mingrelia and established himself as an independent ruler. His descendant Prince Levan III Dadiani was forced to abdicate in 1691 and Dadiani’s relatives from the Chikovani (ჩიქოვანი in Georgian) family inherited the title of Princes of Mingrelia and the surname of Dadiani. Accepting Russian sovereignty in 1802, the Dadiani were elevated to the dignity of Prince of the Russian Empire and enjoyed significant independence in their home affairs. Niko Dadiani, the last Prince of Mingrelia was deposed and his principality was abolished by the Russian government on January 4 1857. Prince Niko Dadiani officially renounced his rights to the throne in 1868.

Dukes (eristavi) and Princes (mtavari) of Mingrelia

• Vardan I Dadiani (ca 1180ss-1190s)

• Shergil Dadiani (ca 1220s-1240s)

• Vardan II Dadiani (ca 1240s-1250s)

• Tsotne Dadiani (ca 1260s)

• Bedan Dadiani (ca 1270s-ca 1290s)

• Giorgi I Dadiani (ca 1293-1323)

• Mamia I Dadiani (1323-1345)

• Giorgi II Dadiani (1345-1384)

• Vameq I Dadiani (1384-1396)

• Mamia II Dadiani (1396-1414)

• Liparit I Dadiani (1414-1470)

• Shamandavle Dadiani (1470-1473)

• Vameq II Dadiani (1474-1482)

• Liparit II Dadiani (1482-1512)

• Mamia III Dadiani (1512-1533)

• Levan I Dadiani (1533-1546)

• Giorgi III Dadiani (1546-1573, 1574-1582)

• Mamia IV Dadiani (1574, 1582-1590)

• Manuchar I Dadiani (1590-1611)

• Levan II Dadiani (1611-1657)

• Liparit III Dadiani (1657-1658)

• Vameq III Dadiani (1658-1661)

• Levan III Dadiani (1661-1681)

• Levan IV Dadiani (1681-1691)

• Giorgi IV Dadiani (Lipartiani) (1700-1704, 1710-1714)

• Katsia I Dadiani (1704-1710)

• Bezhan I Dadiani (1714-1728)

• Otia I Dadiani (1728-1758)

• Katsia II Dadiani (1758-1788)

• Grigol I Dadiani (1788-1791, 1794-1802, 1802-1804)

• Manuchar II Dadiani (1791-1793)

• Tariel Dadiani (1793-1794, 1802)

• Levan V Dadiani (1804-1840)

• David I Dadiani (1840-1853)

• Niko Dadiani (1853-1857)

Other members of the family

• Constantine Dadiani, poet and general of Russian army

• Andria Dadiani, chess player and tournament patron

• Ekaterina Dadiani, Princess of Mingrelia

• Salome Dadiani, wife of Prince A. Murat

• Shalva Dadiani, prominent writer and dramatist

External Link

• http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Georgia/mingrelia.htm
• http://www.princedadianov.com/