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Maria was born the princess Mart'a, daughter of Bagrat IV, king of Georgia, and his second wife Borena. Bagrat succeeded his father on the Georgian throne in 1027 and ruled down to 1072. Maria's mother, Borena, was the sister of Dorgholeli, the ruler of Ovset'i (Alania) in northern Caucasia. Maria had two siblings: the future Giorgi II and Mariam. Prior to Maria's birth there had been fairly close contact between the Georgian and Byzantine courts, with Georgia as the subservient partner. Her father Bagrat had himself been sent to Constantinople as a hostage in 1023 when five years of age; he was released in 1025 just prior to the death of Basil II. When his father, Giorgi I, died in 1027, Bagrat was a nine-year old boy and it is probable that his mother, Queen Mariam, served as regent during his minority. |
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