Research Notes:

K'art'losid nephew of Samar, mamasaxlisi of Mts'khet'a. Age 3 when Alexander invaded Iberia, he became first King of Iberia at the age of 27 and reigned for 65 years. — Alexander's invasion of Iberia, remembered not only by the Iberian historical tradition, but also by Pliny the Elder and Solinus, appears to be memory of some Macedonian interference in that country, which must have taken place in connection with the expedition mentioned by Strabo sent by Alexander in 323 to the confines of Iberia, in search of gold mines. It may therefore be assumed that Pharnabazus was born c. 326, became King c. 299, and died c. 234. — ... [He] became King of Iberia under the suzerainty and with the assistance of Antiochus 'of Syria' (asorestanisa), i.e., the Seleucid. — Actually, 'Antiochus' is used here as the Seleucid royal name par excellence, a practice often met with in the early Georgian historical works with regard to foreign monarchs. It will be remembered that the first Seleucid King, Seleucus I, imposed in 301 his overlordship on Orontes III of Armenia. Now, Seleucid control of Armenia seems to have hinged on holding it within the pincers of the combined pressure, Seleucid from the south and vassal Iberian from the north. Accordingly, the imposition of it in 301 may well have necessitated the setting up — within some two years — of the vassal Iberian kingdom. ¹