ALEXANDER I (1454–1511). King of Kakheti in 1476–1511. He was the son of Giorgi VIII, the last king of the united Kingdom of Georgia. He always pursued diplomatic solutions to any conflict and was prepared to make concessions and pay tribute to avoid open confrontation. In 1477, when Uzun Hasan of Aq-Qoyunlu ravaged Kartli and threatened to invade Kakheti, King Alexander agreed to recognize his supremacy and paid a small tribute, saving his realm from destruction. In 1501, he acquiesced to Shah Ismail of Persia, once again saving Kakheti from destruction. In 1483 and 1491, King Alexander dispatched two embassies to Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow that established long-lasting relations between Russia and the Georgian principalities. He was assassinated by his son Prince Giorgi (Avgiorgi) in 1511

ALM