He was born into the ancient House Sharvashidze, a Georgian princely family that ruled over Abkhazia on behalf of the Kings of Georgia since the Middle-Ages.
[1] He may have maintained good ties with both of his brothers, as evidenced in his decision to gift Kvapu dominion over the Abkhaz noble families of Anchabadze, Emukhvari, Inal-ipa, Maan, Zvanba, Lakyrba and Akirtava.
[1] Moreover, Rostom was recognized as lord of a multitude of clans that ruled over the decentralized regions of Abkhazia, including the Marshans of Tsabal and the Gechbas of Jiketi.
[3] The latter agreed to recognize the Georgian domination over Abkhazia, while returning the Mingrelian hostages captured during their raids and the territories they conquered, while paying a large tribute.
[3] In 1723, Sultan Ahmed III sent a Turkish robe to Rostom, a symbol of his recognition of Abkhazia as a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire.