Surameli

Based on similarities in personal names and titles, the 19th-century French Orientalist Marie-Félicité Brosset identified the Surameli of the Georgian annals as possible members of the house of Orbeli.

[2] This hypothesis has been accepted by Cyril Toumanoff, who considers the "Orbelianis of Surami" as the cousins of those Orbeli who, exiled by George III of Georgia in 1177, later established themselves as the princely dynasty of Siunia.

[3] An alternative view, more popular in Georgia and first advanced by Tedo Zhordania in the 1890s, links the Surameli to the family of Pavneli,[4] which first appears in records in a deed given to the Mghvime monastery.

Bega I Surameli (ბეგა სურამელი; also known as Beka or Beshken) was the first known member of the family, serving under George III during the victorious expedition against the Shaddadid dynasty of Ani in 1161.

Bega's wife Khuashak Tsokali was one of the two female dignitaries who negotiated on behalf of George III's successor, Tamar, a peace deal with the rebellious political faction led by Qutlu Arslan c.

[8] Rati I Surameli (რატი სურამელი), the son of Bega, was the first of the family to have attained to the title of eristavi of Kartli, apparently after Liparit Orbeli was dispossessed of the rank following the rebellion against George III in 1177.

[12] Bega II Surameli (ბეგა სურამელი; born c. 1225), son of Grigol, was a close associate of David VI Narin and accompanied him in his travel to the court of the Great Khan to obtain recognition as king of Georgia in 1242.

[12] Hamada Surameli (ჰამადა სურამელი), a son and successor of Bega II, was a loyal courtier and commander of the king David VIII of Georgia.