David IV

David IV (Georgian: დავით IV, Davit' IV), also known as David the Builder (დავით აღმაშენებელი, Davit' Aghmashenebeli; 1073 – 24 January 1125), reigned as King of Georgia from 1089 until his death in 1125. He is considered the greatest and most successful Georgian ruler in history.

David ascended the throne at the age of 16, inheriting a kingdom in a state of decline due to internal strife and external pressures from the Seljuk Turks. He initiated comprehensive military, administrative, economic, educational, and religious reforms that revitalized the Georgian state and laid the foundation for a "Golden Age" of Georgian culture and power.

His military reforms included the creation of a standing army and the mobilization of the peasantry, enabling him to wage a series of successful campaigns against the Seljuk Turks. His most decisive victory came at the Battle of Didgori in 1121, where he decisively defeated a much larger Seljuk coalition, effectively expelling them from Georgian territory.

David also reformed the legal system and encouraged trade and agriculture, leading to increased prosperity. He built churches and monasteries, promoting religious and cultural revival. He founded the Gelati Academy, which became a major center of learning in the region.

His reign is characterized by a strong central authority, military expansion, and cultural flourishing. David IV is revered as a national hero and is often canonized as a saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church. He is remembered for his piety, statesmanship, and military prowess, and his legacy continues to inspire Georgians today.