a historical region of Georgia, on the upper courses of the Iori and Alazani rivers, which are tributaries of the Kura. Until the eighth century, Kakhetia was part of Kartli; it became an independent feudal principality in the second half of the eighth century. David the Builder occupied Kakhetia in 1104, with the support of local aznauri (noblemen), and made it part of the unified Georgian state. Kakhetia became an independent kingdom in the second half of the 15th century and from the 16th to 18th centuries waged a continual struggle for independence against Iran and Turkey. In 1762, Kartli and Kakhetia were united into one kingdom, which was then annexed by Russia in 1801.