Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze
Encyclopedia
Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze (also known by the Christian
name of Giorgi Shervashidze) was a prince of the Principality of Abkhazia
from 1810-21. He was the youngest son of Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze
. After Sefer Ali-Bey’s brother, Aslan-Bey
, killed his father to take over the throne of Abkhazia
, Sefer Ali-Bey was forced to hide out in neighboring Mingrelia under the protection of the Mingrelian Princes. With the help of the Mingrelian nobility, Sefer Ali-Bey tried unsuccessfully, to usurp the throne of Abkhazia. In 1809, Shervashidze asked the Tsarist Russian Empire
to take Abkhazia under its protection, with the condition that Ali-Bey be established as the new ruler of the Principality. After decisive Russian victories during the Second Russo-Turkish War, the Russian forces were able to expel pro-Turkish Abkhazians as well as the remaining Turkish forces from the region. Tsar Alexander I established Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze as the new ruler of Abkhazia on 17 February 1810.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
name of Giorgi Shervashidze) was a prince of the Principality of Abkhazia
Principality of Abkhazia
The Principality of Abkhazia emerged as a separate feudal entity in the 15th-16th centuries, amid the civil wars in the Kingdom of Georgia that concluded with the dissolution of the unified Georgian monarchy...
from 1810-21. He was the youngest son of Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze
Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze
Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze was the head of state of the Principality of Abkhazia from the 1780s to 1808. Kelesh-Bey was the son of Manuchar Shervashidze. In his childhood, Kelesh-Bey was taken to Istanbul, Turkey as a hostage, where he converted to Islam...
. After Sefer Ali-Bey’s brother, Aslan-Bey
Aslan-Bey Shervashidze
Aslan-Bey Shervashidze was a prince of the Principality of Abkhazia from 1808-10. He was the eldest son of Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze. Aslan-Bey was associated with pro-Turkish elements of the region, and was responsible for rebelling against and later killing his father in order to ascend the...
, killed his father to take over the throne of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
, Sefer Ali-Bey was forced to hide out in neighboring Mingrelia under the protection of the Mingrelian Princes. With the help of the Mingrelian nobility, Sefer Ali-Bey tried unsuccessfully, to usurp the throne of Abkhazia. In 1809, Shervashidze asked the Tsarist Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
to take Abkhazia under its protection, with the condition that Ali-Bey be established as the new ruler of the Principality. After decisive Russian victories during the Second Russo-Turkish War, the Russian forces were able to expel pro-Turkish Abkhazians as well as the remaining Turkish forces from the region. Tsar Alexander I established Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze as the new ruler of Abkhazia on 17 February 1810.