David XI

David XI (Georgian: დავით XI, Davit XI; also known as Dāūd Khan in Persian sources; died 1579), was a Georgian monarch who ruled the Kingdom of Kartli from 1569 to 1578. He was a son of David X of Kartli and was raised as a Muslim during his captivity at the Safavid court in Persia.

David XI's reign was marked by internal instability and external pressure from the Safavid Empire and the Ottoman Empire, both vying for control of the Caucasus region. Upon his accession, he reaffirmed his allegiance to the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I and embraced Islam, earning him the sobriquet Dāūd Khan.

David's rule was challenged by the Georgian nobility who resented his pro-Persian policies and Islamic faith. He faced several uprisings and plots against his life, largely orchestrated by members of the Bagrationi dynasty. The rivalry between David XI and his relatives, particularly Simon I of Kartli, a staunch opponent of Persian influence, dominated much of his reign. Simon I, a popular figure among the Georgian people, waged a persistent guerrilla war against David and the Safavid forces, aiming to restore Kartli's independence.

Ultimately, David XI's position became untenable. His dependence on the Safavids alienated his subjects, while Simon I's resistance grew stronger. In 1578, Shah Mohammad Khodabanda of Persia replaced David XI with Simon I, effectively ending David's rule. David died in Persia in 1579. His reign represented a period of significant foreign interference in Kartli and marked a decline in the kingdom's autonomy.