Rusudani (b. 1195)

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Rusudani (b. 1195)

Queen of Georgia. Name variations: Russudan or Rusudan. Born 1195 in Georgia (Russia); dau. of Queen Tamara (1160–1212) and David Soslan or Sosland; sister of Giorgi (b. 1194), later George IV, king of Georgia; children: son David Narin.

Inherited the throne of Georgia (1223); from 1225, battled off and on for years with a prince of the Khwarizmians, whose armies had claimed part of southern Georgia and occupied and sacked the capital city of Tiflis; ruled from the city of Kutais until the Khwarizmian prince beat a retreat from the approach of a Mongol army; reoccupied Tiflis; was forced to flee again (1236) as the Mongols returned.

See also Women in World History.

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