In 1440s Qvarqvare rebelled against his brother, Aghbugha II, but his revolts were suppressed by Georgian nobles.
In 1465 he defeated Georgian King George VIII at the battle near Paravani lake.
Qvarqvare's independent reign was marked by warfare with the powerful Muslim states that surrounded the principality.
The Ağ Qoyunlu launched major attacks in 1466, 1476-1477 and 1485 and from 1479 the Ottoman Empire started to encroach on the territories.
Armenian sources record that in 1479 he ravaged the land around Erzurum, reducing the city to tributary status.