Katramide, queen of Armenia

"Queen Katramide is notable for commissioning the construction of the Cathedral of Ani. There is an inscription on the south side of the cathedral which reads:

"During the glorious reign of Shahanshah Gagik of the Sargis and the Armenians and the Georgians, honored by God and the Catholics, the spiritual leaders of the Armenians, I. Katranide, the daughter of Syunik King Vasak, the Queen of the Armenians, by committing myself to the grace of God, had this sacred cathedral, of which the Great Smbat laid the foundation, built on the orders of my husband Gagik." Ani in Every Aspect, by Prof. Dr. Oktay Belli, page 154

Note: "The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that the mother of Yovhanes was “la reine Gadramidtkh…fille du roi de Géorgie, Kourke.” This is thought to refer to Gurgen I, King of Iberia-Kartli

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/GEORGIA.htm#KatramideMGagikIArmenia

GURGEN [I], son of [BAGRAT [II] "the Simple" King of Kartli & his wife ---] (-1008 or after). The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) names "son fils aîné Gourgen" as successor of "Bagrat Régouen roi des Karthles", adding he was "titré rois des rois"[243]. His parentage is uncorroborated by earlier sources. Zonaras records that "Georgium Davidis fratrem interioris Iberiæ principem" was defeated by Byzantine forces after the death of "Davide curopalata"[244], providing another perspective on Gurgen´s possible parentage. Zonaras records that "Nicephorus Bardæ Phoca filius" won a military victory "in Abasgiam" and that "Abasgorumque princeps Georgius" fled "in Iberiæ interiora"[245]. The History of Aristakes Lastivertc'l records that "the king of Abkhazia Bagarat and his father Gurgen" met Emperor Basileios I who awarded "the honour of Curopalate" to Bagrat and "that of Magister" to his father[246]. The accession of his son Bagrat as king of Abkhazia, during his father's lifetime, would be better explained if Gurgen was not directly related to the previous princes of Kartli other than by marriage. In addition, the adoption of his son Bagrat by Davit kouropalates (who died in 1001, see above) would be more easily understandable if Gurgen had married Davit's sister. Prince of Kartli. The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) records that "Gourgen roi des rois, père de…Bagrat" died in 1008[247].

m [--- of Abkhazia, daughter of LEON King of Abkhazia & his wife ---]. The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) records that the mother of "Bagrat" was "une sœur de Démétré et de Thewdos [rois des Apkhaz]"[248]. This origin is not confirmed in other earlier sources, and the question remains whether this parentage of Gurgen's wife was a later invention to explain her son's elevation as king of Abkhazia.

Gurgen & his wife had [two] children:

1. BAGRAT [III] (-[Phanascert 7 May] 1014, bur [Bedia]). The Georgian Chronicle (13th century) records that "David Curopalate king of Tayk raised Gurgen's son the lad Bagrat" and that they "sought him as king of Abkhazia"[249]. The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) names "Bagrat" as son of "Gourgen"[250]. He succeeded as King of Abkhazia. The History of Aristakes Lastivertc'l records that "the king of Abkhazia Bagarat and his father Gurgen" met Emperor Basileios I who awarded "the honour of Curopalate" to Bagrat and "that of Magister" to his father[251]. He expelled the Turks from the eastern provinces, renounced his allegiance to the Byzantine emperor, and established his rule over Abkhazia, Kartli, Rania, Kakhetia and Armenia. He assumed the title "King of Kings [Mepe-Mepeta] and Master of all the East and West". King of Kartli 1008-1014. The Georgian Chronicle (13th century) records that "Bagrat king of Abkhazia" built monasteries and churches for 36 years and died in 1014[252]. The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) records that "le roi Bagrat" died "dans la citadelle de Phanascert" 7 May 1014 and was buried at Bedia[253]. m ---. The name of Bagrat's wife is not known. Bagrat & his wife had one child:

a) GIORGI [I] ([995/96]-[Mqinwarni or Itaroni 16 Aug] [1025/27], bur Kothathis). The Georgian Chronicle (13th century) records that "his son Georgi" succeeded "Bagrat king of Abkhazia" and ruled for 16 years[254]. He succeeded his father in 1014 as King of Abkhazia.

- see below, Chapter 2.A KINGS of GEORGIA 1014-1213.

2. [KATRAMIDE . The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that the mother of Yovhanes was “la reine Gadramidtkh…fille du roi de Géorgie, Kourke”[255]. It is assumed that this is intended to mean that she was the daughter of Gurgen [I] Prince of Kartli. The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that Yovhanes received support from “le chef Géorgien” in his dispute with his brother over their father´s succession, dated to after [1017/20]. It is unclear from the context of the passage whether “le chef Géorgien” in question refers to Yovhanes´s maternal grandfather, although the reference by Matthew to this “chef Géorgien” being “Aph´khaz de naissance” [256] suggests that this might be the case. If the passage indicates the same person, this alleged parentage is cast in doubt, as the death of Prince Gurgen is dated to 1008 in the Georgian Chronicle (18th Century) (see above). Alternatively, “le chef Géorgien” may refer to Katramide´s supposed nephew King Giorgi [I], who is recorded as ruling Abkhazia at the time of the death of Yovhanes´s father. This explanation has the advantage of elucidating why the passage in Matthew´s Chronicle avoids referring to “le chef” explicitly as Yovhanes´s grandfather. The contradictions in the early passages of the Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa, combined with the extreme unreliability of the various editions of the Georgian Chronicle as discussed in detail in the Introduction to this document, suggest that it is unwise to conclude anything more precise about the parentage of Katramide other than the likelihood of her father being of Georgian origin. It should be noted that this is not the only parentage proposed for Katramide as, according to Vardan, she was the daughter of Vasak [VI] prince of Siunik[257]. m GAGIK I "the Great" King of Armenia, son of ASHOT III "Voghormadz/the Merciful" King of Armenia & his wife --- (-[1017/20]).]

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Siounie-1