The Russian commander-in-chief in the Caucasus, General Tormasov, ordered to remove from Imereti all members of the royal family, who might have had "pernicious influence on the people".
General Simonovich, a Russian commander in Imereti, interceded and asked Tormasov to allow Prince David to remain in homeland on account of his being "mentally retarded and not having any influence on the people".
Tormasov refused with contempt and ordered that David be deported to Tiflis, noting that "the Imeretian people are even more retarded and, out of their insanity, can follow anyone.
[2] By July 1820, the Russian army under General Velyaminov was able to contain the revolt in Imereti; David and some other rebels withdrew into the mountains of Racha, where suffered a major defeat at the castle of Kvara.
[4] David's descendants, in the persons of his two sons, Ivan and Teimuraz, were confirmed by the Governing Senate in the dignity of Princes Bagration (Князья Багратион) on 6 December 1850, with the addition of the style "Serene Highness" (Светлейший князь) to Ivan's son Alexander on 15 June 1881.