Ketevan Pkheidze was born into a
princely family in Imereti, a kingdom in western Georgia, tracing their origin to the 11th century. The branch to which Ketevan belonged had their estate centered at the village of Zedubani. Her father was Prince Zaal Pkheidze. She also had a sister who was married off into the
House of Chkheidze, ruling family of the
Duchy of Racha; her name is not recorded. Ketevan married Heraclius II in 1740, shortly after the prince repudiated his engagement (or actual marriage according to traditional accounts of
Prince Vakhushti,
Marie-Félicité Brosset, and
Cyril Toumanoff) with Princess
Ketevan Orbeliani, who thereafter retired to a monastery. In 1744, Heraclius was crowned king of Kakheti. Whoever was his consort, Heraclius had two children of his first marriage, Princess Rusudan (died in infancy) and Prince
Vakhtang. Ketevan died of a severe illness in
Telavi, being mourned by Heraclius and his father
Teimuraz II,
King of Kartli, who had arrived in Kakheti only to find his daughter-in-law dead. Her remains were taken and rested at the
Alaverdi Monastery. A year later, Heraclus married secondly to Princess
Anna Abashidze. == Ancestry ==