Bezhan Dadiani

Bezhan Dadiani (; died 1728), of the House of Dadiani, was Prince of Mingrelia from 1715 to 1728. He acceded to power in a coup against his own father, George IV Dadiani, and came to dominate western Georgian politics by asserting tutelage over King Alexander V of Imereti until being murdered by Ottoman agents.

Early life Bezhan was the second of George IV Dadiani by his wife, Princess Sevdia Mikeladze, whom George divorced, in 1701, to marry Princess Tamar Abashidze, daughter of the powerful prince Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze, sometime King of Imereti. In 1704, George made his eldest son, Katsia, prince of Mingrelia and installed Bezhan as lord of Lechkhumi, of which he had dispossessed his younger brother, Jesse. George himself retired to the patrimonial fiefdom of Salipartiano, but continued to wield significant influence on his sons until 1709, when Katsia and Bezhan—who never forgave George for divorcing their mother—forced George into flight to Abkhazia. George returned as prince of Mingrelia after Katsia's death in 1710, but his renewed authority was challenged by Bezhan, who enjoyed support of King George VI of Imereti.

Rise to power In 1715, Bezhan invited George for family reconciliation, but had him disarmed and deposed. George was confined by Bezhan to house arrest and persuaded to remarry Sevdia Mikeladze, with whom George lived until his death later that year. Like his father, Bezhan became involved in incessant intrigues and power struggles in Imereti. In 1720, he made accord with the Ottoman government and helped crown Alexander V, son of the murdered king George VI. Bezhan married his daughter Mariam to the young king Alexander and became the kingdom's most influential nobleman. He also intervened in Guria on several occasions, but eventually made peace with George IV Gurieli. While Bezhan dominated western Georgia, an Ottoman force was stationed in the Imeretian capital of Kutaisi, and Alexander was relegated to managing just his crown estates.

Otia Dadiani (died 1757), Bezhan's successor as Prince of Mingrelia; Beri Dadiani; Katsia (Katso-Giorgi) Dadiani (died 1732), whose daughter, Darejan, was married to the penultimate king of Georgia, Heraclius II; Prince Manuchari Dadiani; Gabriel Dadiani, Bishop of Chqondidi; Grigol Dadiani (died 1777), metropolitan bishop; Mariam (died 1731), wife of King Alexander V of Imereti; Darejan Dadiani, wife of Mamuka of Imereti; Khvaramze Dadiani, who married, successively, Prince Giorgi Nakashidze, Prince George IV Gurieli, and Shoshita III, Duke of Racha.