Garsevan Chavchavadze facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garsevan Chavchavadze
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| გარსევან ჭავჭავაძე | |
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| Born | July 20, 1757 |
| Died | April 7, 1811 (aged 53) |
| Nationality | Georgian |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Known for | Georgian royal envoy to the Russian Empire |
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Prince Garsevan Chavchavadze (Georgian: გარსევან ჭავჭავაძე) was an important Georgian nobleman and diplomat. He was born on July 20, 1757, and passed away on April 7, 1811. He is best known for being Georgia's ambassador to Imperial Russia.
Garsevan came from a respected noble family in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti. For many years, he worked as a top assistant to Heraclius II of Georgia, who was the king of Kartli and Kakheti.
Contents
A Georgian Diplomat's Story
Garsevan Chavchavadze played a big part in talks that led to the Treaty of Georgievsk in 1783. This treaty placed the Georgian kingdom under the protection of Tsarina Catherine the Great of Russia.
Becoming an Ambassador
In 1784, Prince Chavchavadze became Georgia's ambassador to St Petersburg, Russia. An ambassador is someone who represents their country in another nation. He was well-received in Russia. Empress Catherine even became the godmother to his son, Alexander, who was born in St. Petersburg. Alexander later became a famous poet and general.
During his time as ambassador, Garsevan often asked the Russian government to keep its promise of protection. However, Georgia was left without help in 1795. This happened when Persia attacked and badly damaged the country. This attack came after King Erekle refused to end his ties with Russia.
Standing by the Alliance
Even though many Georgian leaders lost faith in Russia, Garsevan Chavchavadze still believed in the alliance. He felt Georgia and Russia were connected by their shared Christian faith. He supported King George XII when he again sought Russia's protection in 1799.
Georgia's Future and Russian Rule
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After King George XII of Georgia died in 1800, Russia decided to take over Georgia completely. They officially announced this takeover, called an annexation, in 1801. This meant removing the Georgian Bagrationi dynasty from the throne.
A Strong Protest
Prince Chavchavadze was very shocked by this decision. He wrote to his family in Tbilisi, saying that the Russians "had not fulfilled even one of King Giorgi's requirements. They have abolished our kingdom... No country has ever been so humiliated as Georgia." In September 1801, he officially protested the annexation to the Russian Vice Chancellor, Prince Alexander Kurakin.
Life in Opposition
Back in Georgia, Garsevan tried hard to keep some self-rule for his homeland, but he was not successful. He continued to oppose Russian rule in the years that followed. Because of this, the new Russian administration in Georgia sent him away to Russia in 1805.
Garsevan Chavchavadze was not allowed to return to Georgia. He settled in St. Petersburg, Russia. He passed away there in 1811 and was buried at Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
See also
- Georgia under the Russian Empire
- Russians in Georgia
