David IV the Builder

King of Georgia, the unifier

1073–1125

David IV came to the throne in 1089 and in three decades gathered a fragmented country: he reformed the army and the church, crushed the Seljuks at Didgori (1121) and retook Tbilisi (1122).

He founded the Gelati academy and willed to be buried under the monastery gate, so that everyone entering would step on his slab. The Church canonised him.