 David was a son of King Erekle I of Kakheti and Queen Anna née Cholokashvili.He was born and raised at the shah’s court at Isfahan and installed as wali (viceroy) of Kakheti upon his father’s retirement to Iran in 1703.David resided at Qara Aghach or Qaraghaji in eastern Kakheti, on the borders of Shirvan, but had to move his residence to Telavi after he failed to recover Balakan from the Lesgians of Char and lost Qakh to them in 1706.