Jikur

Jikur (Georgian: ჯიქური) (died c. 1252–1259) was a courtier of King David VII of Georgia, who exerted a considerable influence on the internal politics of Georgia until being executed on charges of treason.

Rise to power

The rise and fall of Jikur is documented in the 14th-century Georgian Chronicle of A Hundred Years, which provides no information regarding his origin, but reports that Jikur, otherwise not particularly gifted and holding a relatively minor office of Master of Ceremonies (mestumre), rose to prominence thanks to his undaunted loyalty to David VII, whose troubled reign (1247–1270) was marred by the Mongol dominance. When David had to repair for the court of Batu Khan, he left his wife Jigda-Khatun as a regent and placed her under protection of Jikur. He was instrumental in reducing brigandage in the country, helped the construction of the royal palace at Isani in Tbilisi and levied tribute upon the fiercely independent mountaineers of Pkhovi. Considerable opposition to the authority of Jigda-Khatun and Jikur came from Torghva of Pankisi, the governor of Kakheti, who usurped the power in this region. Upon the king's return to Georgia, Torghva's courage began to fail and he retired to his fief of Pankisi. Jikur lured him out with the promise of security and had him murdered at the instigation of Jigda-Khatun.