The zenith of Georgia's power and prestige was reached in the reign (1184-1213) of Queen Tamara, whose realm stretched from Azerbaijan to the borders of Cherkessia, from within the Armenia plateau to Ganja (Gäncä), forming a pan-Caucasian empire.
Tamara was born in 1160. With the title Mountain of God, she was her father's chosen successor. She is an accomplished huntress but, during her early reign, was adverse to war. Her husband, a warrior of Kiev, waged war against the Moslems, until she dismissed him from court, giving him lavish gifts to take into exile. He subsequently attempted to revolt against her, but was unsuccessful. The ties of his family to the Tremere of Novgorod are well known to Constantine.
In 1191, when a Russian prince warred against her but was captured, her characteristically magnanimous nature led her to exile him to Byzantium rather than kill him. This prince is known to be seeking aid, and is plotting an overthrow from the City of Constantinople. His agents are about in the land of Georgia.
Internal revolts are endemic, and Tamara often personally leads her soldiers. A contemporary saying has it that, The lioness is known by her claws, Tamara by her deeds.
Georgia is a strong land. She has ties of blood, alliance and trade with the Byzantines, the Crusader states, various Turkish rulers and other small tribal confederations scattered throughout the Caucasus region.
The magical situation in Georgia seems complicated. First, there are signs of tampering by Hermetic magi. And there are signs that the Brethren have been here. Neither seem to be in outright war. The kingdom seems to be put in a position of a buffer zone to the Tremere to the north.