Alexander IV of Mossyna
| Alexander IV | |
|---|---|
 | |
| King of Khachkoi, Tbeti and Imera-Arkhoti (Moschia) | |
| Reign | 1786 – 16 August 1786 – 16 August 1828 |
| King of Khachkoi | |
| Reign | 1773-1786 |
| Coronation | Ozni Tsaghveri Cathedral 1 October 1745 |
| Predecessor | Teimuraz II |
| Born | 10 March 1764 Vlazselo |
| Died | 5 May 1846 (aged 82) |
| Burial | |
| Issue among others... | Alexander V |
| Dynasty | Mkhargrdzeli |
| Religion | Moschian Episimialist Church |
 | |
Alexander IV (Moschian: ალექსანდრე IV), also known as Sandro IV and The Little Wolf (Moschian: პატარა მგელი p’at’ara mgeli) was a Moschian monarch of the Mkhargrdzeli dynasty, reigning as the king of Khachkoi from 1773 to 1786, and of Khachkoi, Tbeti and Imera-Arkhoti from 1786 until his forced abdication in 1828. In the contemporary Marolev sources he is referred to as Shura (Шура), while Gaullicans knew him affectionately as Sasha Roi. Because of his military acumen, as evidenced in his numerous campaigns throughout Western Euclea, such as the battles of x, y, and z, some contemporaries described him as the Pereramon of the West, Hammer of the Marolevs, or the Second Vakhtang.
From being granted the kingship of Khachkoi by his overlord Tsar j in 1773 at the age of 13 as a reward for his father's loyalty, to becoming the penultimate king of the united kingdoms of Khachkoi, Tbeti and Imera-Arkhoti in modern-day Mossyna, his reign is regarded as the swan song of the Moschian monarchy. Aided by his personal abilities, Alexander established himself as a de facto autonomous ruler, unified Moschia politically for the first time in six centuries, and attempted to modernise the government, economics, and military. His numerous campaigns created a stable naton that, at its greatest extent, encompassed what is now Mossyna, and briefly with parts of Marolevia and Minerva, but his constant military spending had a ruinous effect on the Moschian economy.
Alexander idolised Nestor Pereramon and Vakhtang I. He imitated their military prowess and—especially later in his reign—their ambition. His victories during his four decade campaigns against the Marolevia kept Moschia independent from the expansionist Tsarist regime, but his empire quickly disintegrated after he was decisively defeated in the Battle of Perevalka in 1825. He was forced to abdicate in 1828, with his kingdoms being annexed into Marolevia soon after, and spent the next two decades under house-arrest in Vlazselo. Heraclius died in 1846, leaving the leadership of the Mkhargrdzeli dynasty to his great grandson, George XII.
Early Years
Born in Vlazselo, the capital of the Empire of All-Marolevs, Alexander was the son of Prince David Mkhargrdzeli, a Marolevian General, and his wife Anna, daughter of David XV of Khochkoi. His childhood was spent in the capital, raised as a member of the Marolevic nobility, with Grubalevian as his mother tongue. Despite this his parents instilled in him pride in his Moschian heritage, and educated him in the Moschian tongue and manners.
In his memoirs Alexander did not view his childhood favourably, recounting many instances of discrimination born towards him and his family due to their Moschian heritage. At the time the various Moschian kingdoms, ostensibly under Marolevian suzerainty, were proving difficult to control. This in turn weakened the position of Moschians within Marolevia, particularly the nobility of which there were many due to the policy of deportation and appointments by the Tsars, in the hope they could 'Marolevify' the Moschian elite and integrate their homeland.
At the age of thirteen an opportunity arose which changed Alexander's life considerably. He had initially been set upon a course to follow his father's career within the military, but the untimely death of his childless uncle, Teimuraz II, made him a candidate for the throne of Khachkoi. Sensing the opportunity, the reigning Tsar moved quickly to place Alexander upon the throne and consolidate control over what had been a rebellious client.
King of Khachkoi
Regency
Alexander was quickly enthroned a month after arriving in his new realm. A Grubalevian noble, Ivan Chelyadnin, was initially announced as his regent but these plans were dropped after riots in Ozni. Rostom Svanidze, a local noble and leader of the Marolev faction at court quickly assumed Chelyadnin's place. Chelyadnin remained upon the young king's regency council for several months until his assassination by disgruntled and anti-Marolev nobles. Svanidze used Chelydanin's death to purge the council and the nobility and secure his control of the country.
In 1776 Alexander began assuming more responsibilities and announced his intentions to dissolve the regency council. Worried about the possibility of reprimands for his illegal actions, and his subsequent corruption and embezzlement, Svanidze hastily planned a coup. Hearing of this, Alexander fled Ozni for Mukhuri where he gathered forces loyal to him. Rostom declared himself king and gained the support of the nobility through promising anti-Marolev policies and declaring Alexander a 'puppet king'.
Alexander's small force was quickly routed at the Battle of Sachino, and he fled to Marolevia to request assistance. The Tsar sent Alexander back at the head of a small army. The news of the invasion scared the nobility, and in the chaos Rostom was murdered with little to no resistance in Ozni when the king returned.
Client King
Alexander spent the next eight years as a loose vassal of Marolevia, sending tribute and men when required and aiding Marolevia's policies in Moschia. This made he unpopular among the other Moschian monarchs, who saw him as a foreign puppet, and relatively unpopular with the people and nobility of Khachkoi who saw him as a foreigner.
Recognising his weak position, Alexander took a bride from the powerful Chachkhiani family, Helen, and began to ingratiate himself with the aristocracy. Though he had initially introduced Marolevic customs, art and fashion into the court, he soon embraced the Gaullican culture which was prevailing among the elite. Gaullica was seen as the high-point of civilisation, and pragmatically it was a key ally the Moschian kings and nobility sought to win over.
Break with Vlazselo
By 1784 Alexander's position had become untenable. New treaties with Marolevia promised only a significant reduction in autonomy, and he suspected that his newfound support among the nobility would qualify him for replacement by the Tsar, by someone more loyal to Marolevia. Rumours of a Marolevic invasion spread, and quickly expanded into panic as several regions experienced revolts. Peter Chachkhiani, Alexander's brother-in-law, was tasked with quelling the revolts, but he and his army sided with the rebels and marched on Ozni, demanding an end to Marolevic suzerainty.
Faced with a rapidly deteriorating situation he considered fleeing again, though the lack of response from Vlazselo and his wife's refusal to live in exile changed his mind. Alexander repudiated the new treaties and expelled the Marolevian Residents, pardoning the rebels and Peter Chachkhiani. During this tense period he survived several assassination attempts, as well as a botched revolt by the Chkheidze family.
The Lightning War
News of Khachkoi's revolt against Marolevia's hegemony spread through Moschia. Many of the Moschian kings and princes had been appointed by and took orders from Vlazselo. This unpopularity coupled with a wave of revolt and rebelliousness, both popular and noble, toppled their support and drove most into exile. Alexander took advantage of this to annex several principalities, doubling his realm in several months. Word reached Alexander that the king of Imera-Arkhoti, David VI, had fled into exile and the nobility now offered him the throne. Within the month Alexander entered Khoni and enjoyed his second coronation.
King Dmitry II of Tbeti approached Alexander, hoping to secure an alliance with him to secure his own throne. In their infamous meeting at Kvaisi Church Dmitry and his party were killed, though the sources differ as to what occurred and why. Avto Jorjadze, a historian patronised by Alexander, wrote in his King of Kings that Dmitry had intended to murder Alexander at the meeting, to prove his loyalty to Marolevia, but that word of the plot had reached Alexander. Alexander and his party then ambushed Dmitry, secured a confession from him, and then executed him and his men.
Other sources tell a different story, with Artyom Davituliani's Moschicronicon stating that fighting between the two parties, both customarily armed, had broken out after a disagreement between the two monarchs became heated. Marolevian sources allege that Alexander planned to murder the unarmed Dmitry to gain his throne, the path to it now hampered by Dmitry's willingness to enter an anti-Marolev alliance with him.
Alexander pressed his claim to Dmitry's throne via a confession, allegedly signed by Dmitry before his 'execution'. Dmity's heir, Vladimer III, fled the capital upon Alexander's approach, but soon returned at the head of a Marolevian army. Alexander abandoned Shkmeri and began a retreat back to Khoni. Vladimer's army pursued him and caught him near the town of Tsesi. The Battle of Tsesi was the first display of Alexander's military brilliance, with Vladimer captured and his army broken. Alexander returned to Shkmeri, where he undertook his third coronation, as king of Tbeti. Three days later riots broke out in the city over Alexander's conduct and his murder of Dmitry, the rebels intending to restore Vladimer to the throne. Alexander sacked the city, killing and deporting most of its populace. Vladimer died during the sacking, though it is unclear if he was murdered.