entire region having been devastated by centuries of Muslim invasions. According to several historiographic opinions, he was a poor monarch who failed to address the kingdom's immediate crises. British historian Donald Rayfield has theorized that had Heraclius II's successor been more competent in dealing with internal divisions, Georgia would have been reunited within a single, powerful Caucasian state allied with France, Turkey and Russia. George was overweight, gluttonous, lazy, and was often of short temper. Suffering from edemas, he had difficulty moving, which contributed to the lack in his popularity. He was rarely interested in domestic affairs, choosing to focus almost entirely on his diplomatic program with Russia. British historian David Marshall Lang wrote in 1957: His incapacity was noted by foreign observers of the time. British ambassador Sir John Malcolm, based in Tehran, spoke of George XII as a monarch "incapable of centering his power". His lack of positive qualities was seemingly obvious before his ascension: as heir to the throne, he often failed to counter his brothers' powers and during the Battle of Krtsanisi, he remained in his stronghold in Sighnaghi instead of coming to his father's aid, failing to convince his troops to leave their vineyards to defend the kingdom against the Persian invaders, even though his own sons David and Ioane led battalions in Tbilisi. Papuna Orbeliani, a contemporary chronicler, was a lot more generous towards the king, writing: Bibliography References 1746 births 1800 deaths Bagrationi dynasty of the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti Kings of Georgia Burials at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Eastern Orthodox monarchs