Editing Tamar of Georgia (section)

== Early life and ascent to the throne ==
Tamar was born in circa 1160 to [[George III of Georgia|George III]], [[King of Georgia]], and his consort [[Burdukhan of Alania|Burdukhan]], a daughter of the king of [[Alania]]. While it is possible that Tamar had a younger sister, [[Rusudan, daughter of George III of Georgia|Rusudan]], she is only mentioned once in all contemporary accounts of Tamar's reign.<ref>{{harvnb|Eastmond|1998|p=108 (Footnote #49)}}.</ref> The [[Tamar (name)|name Tamar]] is of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] origin and, like other [[Bible|biblical]] names, was favored by the Georgian Bagrationi dynasty because of [[Origin of the Bagratid dynasties|their claim to be descended from David]], the second king of [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|Israel]].<ref>{{harvnb|Toumanoff|1940|p=299 (Footnote #4)}}.</ref>

Tamar's youth coincided with a major upheaval in Georgia; in 1177, her father, George III, was confronted by a rebellious faction of nobles. The rebels intended to dethrone George in favor of the king's fraternal nephew, [[Demna of Georgia|Demna]], who was considered by many to be a legitimate royal heir of his murdered father, [[David V of Georgia|David V]]. Demna's cause was little but a pretext for the nobles, led by the pretender's father-in-law, the ''[[amirspasalar]]'' ("high constable") [[Ivane II Orbeli]], to weaken the crown.<ref>{{harvnb|Khazanov|Wink|2001|pp=48–49}}.</ref> George III was able to crush the revolt and embarked on a crackdown campaign on the defiant aristocratic clans; Ivane Orbeli was put to death and the surviving members of his family were driven out of Georgia. Demna, castrated and blinded on his uncle's order, did not survive the mutilation and soon died in prison.<ref>{{harvnb|Eastmond|1998|pp=106–107}}.</ref> Once the rebellion was suppressed and the pretender eliminated, George went ahead to co-opt Tamar into government with him and crowned her as co-ruler in 1178. By doing so, the king attempted to preempt any dispute after his death and legitimize his line on the throne of Georgia.<ref name="Eastmond-108">{{harvnb|Eastmond|1998|p=108}}.</ref> At the same time, he raised men from the [[Kipchaks]] as well as from the gentry and unranked classes to keep the dynastic aristocracy away from the center of power.<ref name="Khazanov-49">{{harvnb|Khazanov|Wink|2001|p=49}}.</ref>