Apolon Tabuashvili
Associate Professor in History at Faculty of Humanities, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Giorgi Zhuzhunashvili
Associate Professor in History at Faculty of Humanities, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Abstract
After abolishment of Kartl-Kakheti kingdom by the Russian Empire, it was decided to exile the members of the Bagrationi royal family from Georgia, as they continued fight for independence. Among them was Yulon Bagrationi, son of Erekle, who was considered as one of the main candidates to the throne of Kartl-Kakheti kingdom. Yulon Bagrationi was very active against the Russians. Then he went to Solomon II, king of Imereti, and with his assistance he tried to fight back the throne. In 1804 Yulon returned to Kartli to join the rebellion of Mtiuleti. He was arrested and exiled to Russia. There he was under strict control. One document transferred to the National Centre of Manuscripts (Tbilisi) in the beginning of 2013, a secret letter of emperor Alexander I, deals with this issue.The letter written in St. Petersburg is dated by April 11, 1805. The letter has emperor’s signature. The recipient is Ivanov, state counsellor, civil governor of Tula. Emperor informs the governor that soon prince Yulon will be in Tula and gives him respective orders:I. to declare to prince Yulon that his dwelling place will be Tula until the next order and they prohibit him to leave the city;II. to give him monthly salary of three hundred rubles;III. the local police authorities are ordered not to restrict freedom of the prince. However, they have to watch him and report the emperor about his lifestyle and behavior once every two weeks.So, prince Yulon was so important that the emperor himself imposed control on his daily life. This document clearly shows general attitude of the Russian imperial court towards the Georgian princes.
