ARTICLE: Royal wedding historic day for Georgia

Prince David Bagrationi-Mukhran, 32, and Princess Anna Bagrationi-Gruzinsky, 31, were wed in Tbilisi's Trinity Cathedral in the capital of Georgia, Sunday, joining two strands of the royal house that once ruled over the impoverished and war torn Caucasusnation.

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Slideshow: Head of Georgian Royal Family and princess Anna Gruzinsky tie knots (2)

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by Onnik Krikorian

Yesterday's wedding between two descendants of the Bagrationi dynasty which ruled Georgia for at least 10 centuries has captured the imagination of royal watchers worldwide. However, for those pondering the state of democracy in the post-Soviet country since the November 2007 unrest, the marriage between Prince David Bagrationi-Mukhraneli and Princess Anna Bagrationi-Gruzinsky has also reinvigorated talk of reestablishing the monarchy.

Last August, for example, Gerald Warner wrote on the Daily Telegraph blog that a constitutional monarchy might be the best model for Georgia to follow.

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Head of Georgia's Royal Family to marry in February

Prince David Bagration-Mukhrani, who is the head of the royal house of Georgia, is getting married on February 8 in Tbilisi. His bride is Princess Anna Bagration-Grunzinsky, who is the daughter of a rival claimaint for Georgia's throne. David now lives full time in Tbilsi, having obtained Georgian nationality in 1994. He also has Spanish citizenship.

Anna, who was born in Tbilsi in 1976, is the daughter of Prince Nuzgar and his wife Leila Kipiani. Prince Nuzgar has considered that his line is superior to Prince David's as he descends in the male line from the last king of Georgia, George XII, who died in 1800. This line of succession, which is a senior line to the Bagration branch, would make Nuzgar the king of Georgia, and his elder daughter, as heir. The Georgian succession is based on male primogeniture. Prince Nuzgar has no sons. Thus, a marriage between Anna and David would eliminate dual claims as their son or daughter would represent both lines.

The religious wedding will take place at Tiblisi's Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral.

David, who was born in Madrid in June 1976, succeeded to the headship of the Georgian royal house in January 2008, following the death of his father, Jorge. David's older brother, Prince Irakli, renounced his rights to the throne.

Prince David is related to the Russian Imperial Family as his paternal great aunt Leonide, is the widow of Grand Duke Wladimir of Russia. Their daughter, Grand Duchess Maria, is David's first cousin once removed.