Zakarid-Mxargrzeli
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Zakarids or Zacharids, later known also as Mxargrdzeli by their Georgian moniker or Erkainabazook (Երկայնաբազուկ) in Armenian, were a noble Armenian family prominent in medieval Armenia and Georgia. Early Armenian sources say they were either of Kurdish origin or came from the region of Korduk (in South-Western Armenia) and later emigrated in Northern Armenia, namely in Tashir Kingdom where they attained to a noble rank. When the Georgian King David IV the Restorer liberated these lands from the Salcukid grasp, the Zakarid family became the loyal vassals of the Georgian Bagratids and subsequently gained more prominenece as military commanders and sponsors of cultural activities in both Armenian and Georgian lands. Zakaria and Iwane were the most brilliant representatives of the family, who succeded in liberating several Armenian districts from the Muslim overlords and were responsible for Georgian-Armenian military victories during the era of Tamara of Georgia (1184-1212/3). Around the same time, Iwane converted into Georgian Orthodox Christianity, while Zakare remained Armenian in faith. Both brothers left several bilingual inscriptions across the Armeno-Georgian marchlands and built churches and forts. The Mongols occupied their domains and both Zakaria's and Iwane's lines went extinct. Minor cadet branches survived into the 19th century, however; eg, Argutov/Argutashvili-Dolgoruky.
