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Kingdom of Kartli and Kakheti
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Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Kartli and Kakheti under Erekle II.
The Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti (1762-1798)[1] was created in 1762 by the unification of two eastern Georgian kingdoms, which had existed independently since the disintegration of the united Georgian Kingdom in the 15th century.
Historically, Kartli was the dominant province in Georgia, but at that time, it was weakened by Persian military invasions more than its neighboring kingdom from the east. Therefore, the Kings of Kakheti became the rulers of the new kingdom and Telavi, the capital of Kakheti, the capital of the new state. The unification did not deter the Persian Empire from its aggression towards Georgia and by the end of 18th century the frequently attacked Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti was almost devastated.citation needed
Seeking protection from these attacks, in 1783 King Irakli (Erekle) II concluded the Treaty of Georgievsk with Russia, resulting in the transfer of responsibility for defense and foreign affairs in the eastern kingdom.[1] However, Erekle II was successful in retaining internal autonomy in his kingdom.[1]. In 1799, faced with internal unrest and continued Persian pressure, king Giorgi XII petitioned the Russian Tsar for mediatization [2]. On 18 December 1800, Tsar Paul I declared Kartli-Kakheti annexed to the Russian Empire.[1]. The actual annexation was left in abeyance[1] and Tsar Paul was assassinated in March 1801. On 12 September 1801, the new Tsar Alexander I decreed the abolition of the kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti to its former ally and patron, the Russian Empire.[1]
Kings of Kartli-Kakheti
References
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