The eldest son of the last Kartli-Kakhetian, King George XII by his first wife Ketevan Andronikashvili, he was educated in Russia (1787–1789), and served there as a colonel of the Russian army from 1797 to 1798.

He was proclaimed as Heir Apparent by his father on 22 February 1799 and confirmed by the Russian Tsar Paul I, an official protector of Georgia, on 18 April 1799.

On his father's death in December 1800, David became the head of the Royal House of Bagrationi but was not allowed to ascend the throne of Kartli-Kakheti.

David ruled briefly between the time of his father's death (28 December 1800) and the arrival of General Knorring (24 May 1801).

On 18 January 1801 he was surprised by a decree of Paul I declaring the annexation of the Kingdom to the Russian Empire.