Esukan was the fourth and final wife of Georgian King David VII Ulu. She was considered a beauty, but her husband did not love her; he treated her harshly and practically banished Esukan to a separate palace just so he wouldn’t have to see her. And after David died, Esukan was accused of her husband’s death. But let’s examine her biography in more detail.
The image is for illustrative purposes only. No portraits of the real Esukan have survived.
Esukan was born in 1241. Her father was Chormagan Noyan, a Mongol commander and governor of the Caucasus and Persia. Chormagan had once served as a squire (khorchi) to Genghis Khan himself. Esukan’s father fought in many wars. In 1236, his troops invaded Armenia and Georgia. In 1242, Chormagan was struck by paralysis (according to other sources, Chormagan died). His Christian wife, Altana-Khatun, took control of his Caucasian territories.
In 1263, young Esukan’s life changed forever. The Georgian king, David VII Uru, raised a rebellion against the Hulaguid state, founded by Genghis Khan’s grandson, Hulagu. This state existed from 1256 to 1335 and was ruled by Hulagu’s descendants.
A painting depicting David VII Uru on a hunting expedition
At the very beginning, it was a powerful state that was part of the Mongol Empire. David had no chance of standing up to the Mongols, but he managed to avoid capture and thus save his life. David’s family was less fortunate; his relatives were taken captive by the Mongols, and his wife, Gvantsa, was killed, after which her head was sent to David. Thus, Georgia once again came under Mongol control.
Portrait of Hulagu, Persia, 16th century
David VII Ulu was forced to ask Hulagu for forgiveness. To appease him, David sent him lavish gifts. Hulagu forgave the rebellious king and allowed him to continue ruling Georgia. Thus, peace was concluded between the two states. And Esukan, according to one of the terms of this peace, was to become David’s wife. David accepted the terms. Esukan herself had no say in the matter; she obediently set off for Tiflis, as she had been ordered.
David welcomed his future wife with great ceremony. Soon a lavish wedding took place. But this marriage could hardly be called a happy one. David had a fickle nature; he loved to spend his time feasting and hunting. He drank heavily. On top of that, he was twice his wife’s age. Esukan obeyed her husband, meekly enduring his reproaches. David often hurt his wife’s feelings, resenting her because Esukan could not give him an heir. As a result, he banished her to a separate palace, where Esukan lived like a cloistered nun.
Then, in 1264, a major scandal erupted. Esukan was accused of having an affair with the royal advisor and Bishop of Chondidi and Ujarma, Basil. David, known for his impulsiveness, did not bother to verify the truth of the rumors. He ordered Vasili to be arrested and executed. Vasili was hanged in the city center, and his body was visible from the windows of Esukan’s palace. It is unclear whether Vasili was guilty. Modern researchers tend to believe that the royal advisor and bishop fell victim to a conspiracy.
Unfortunately, Esukan’s situation continued to deteriorate. David died in 1270. Rumors spread throughout Tiflis that Esukan had allegedly poisoned her husband, thereby avenging her murdered lover. Esukan’s subsequent fate is unknown. It is possible that the poor woman was executed.