Solomon II of Imereti
Encyclopedia
Solomon II (1772 - February 7, 1815), of the Bagrationi Dynasty
, was the last King of Imereti (western Georgia
) from 1789 to 1790 and from 1792 until his deposition by the Imperial Russian government in 1810.
He was born as David to Prince Archil, brother of King Solomon I of Imereti
, by his wife Helene, daughter of King Heraclius II of Georgia. Solomon I, who died in 1784 without a male heir, named his nephew David as his successor. However, Solomon's cousin David II
prevented him, and another rival prince
, from being crowned as king and occupied the throne, leading to a civil war. Heraclius II interfered on behalf of his grandson and sent in an army, defeating David II at the Battle of Matkhoji on June 11, 1789. David, son of Archil, was crowned as King of Imereti under the name of Solomon II, but David II continued his efforts to resume the throne until his final defeat in 1792. He ruled under the protection of his maternal grandfather, Heraclius II, and continued Solomon I's policy of restricting the powers of feudal aristocracy. In 1795, he Heraclisu with a small Imeretian force at the Battle of Krtsanisi
with the Persians.
After Heraclius death in 1798, and annexation of Georgia by Russia in 1800, the situation in Imereti became precarious. His refractory vassals, princes of Mingrelia
and Guria
, assumed the Russian protection and put forward territorial claims to the royal domains. Solomon attempted to enlist the Ottoman
and Persian support against the anticipated Russian encroachment. However, the Russian commander in Georgia, Prince Pavel Tsitsianov
, moved his army into Imereti and forced Solomon to succumb to Russian vassalage in the convention of Elaznauri of April 25, 1804. Yet, Solomon's relations with Russia continued to be strained. On February 20, 1810, the Russian administration
removed Solomon from the throne and sent in troops to take control of the kingdom. Solomon retaliated by rallying people against Russia and tried to enlist Turkey, Persia and Napoleonic France in his cause. Outnumbered and defeated, Solomon fled to the Ottoman possessions in Trebizond where he died in 1815. Solomon II may have had a son, Prince Archil, who died in 1840.
The body of Solomon II, the last reigning Georgian king, was moved from Trebizond, Turkey
to Gelati Monastery
, Georgia, in 1990.
and last legitimate pretender to the princely line. Princess Nino is currently the President of the Bagration Society. During the debate on the restoration of the unified Georgian Monarchy
she was reported to favour the claims of Prince Nugzar Bagration-Gruzinsky
, however, her views since the dynastic marriage between the rival Gruzinsky
and Mukhrani
branches of the Bagrationi Dynasty are not known.
Bagrationi Dynasty
The Bagrationi dynasty was the ruling family of Georgia. Their ascendency lasted from the early Middle Ages until the early 19th century. In modern usage, this royal line is frequently referred to as the Georgian Bagratids, a Hellenized form of their dynastic name.The origin of the Bagrationi...
, was the last King of Imereti (western Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
) from 1789 to 1790 and from 1792 until his deposition by the Imperial Russian government in 1810.
He was born as David to Prince Archil, brother of King Solomon I of Imereti
Solomon I of Imereti
Solomon I , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was King of Imereti from 1752 to 1766 and again from 1768 until his death in 1784....
, by his wife Helene, daughter of King Heraclius II of Georgia. Solomon I, who died in 1784 without a male heir, named his nephew David as his successor. However, Solomon's cousin David II
David II of Imereti
David II , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was King of Imereti from 1784 to 1789 and from 1790 to 1791.He was the son of George IX of Imereti, who had briefly ruled in 1741. After the death of his cousin, King Solomon I, he became a regent but prevented the rival princes David and George from being...
prevented him, and another rival prince
George, grandson of Solomon I of Imereti
George was a Georgian prince of the Bagrationi house of Imereti and claimant to the crown of Imereti. He was the ancestor of the Bagration-Imeretinsky, princes of the Russian Empire....
, from being crowned as king and occupied the throne, leading to a civil war. Heraclius II interfered on behalf of his grandson and sent in an army, defeating David II at the Battle of Matkhoji on June 11, 1789. David, son of Archil, was crowned as King of Imereti under the name of Solomon II, but David II continued his efforts to resume the throne until his final defeat in 1792. He ruled under the protection of his maternal grandfather, Heraclius II, and continued Solomon I's policy of restricting the powers of feudal aristocracy. In 1795, he Heraclisu with a small Imeretian force at the Battle of Krtsanisi
Battle of Krtsanisi
The Battle of Krtsanisi was fought between Persian and Georgian armies at the place of Krtsanisi near Tbilisi, Georgia, from September 8 to September 11, 1795, as part of the war intended by the Persian ruler Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar as a reprisal for King Heraclius II of Georgia’s alliance with...
with the Persians.
After Heraclius death in 1798, and annexation of Georgia by Russia in 1800, the situation in Imereti became precarious. His refractory vassals, princes of Mingrelia
Principality of Mingrelia
The Principality of Mingrelia was a historical state in Georgia ruled by the Dadiani dynasty. Established as an independent Principality in 1557 by Levan I Dadiani as a hereditary mtavari , it remained independent until it became subject to Imperial Russia in 1803...
and Guria
Principality of Guria
The Principality of Guria was a historical state in Georgia. Centered on modern-day Guria, a southwestern region in Georgia, it was located between the Black Sea and Lesser Caucasus, and was ruled by a succession of twenty-two princes of the House of Gurieli from the 1460s to 1829. The...
, assumed the Russian protection and put forward territorial claims to the royal domains. Solomon attempted to enlist the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Persian support against the anticipated Russian encroachment. However, the Russian commander in Georgia, Prince Pavel Tsitsianov
Pavel Tsitsianov
Pavel Dmitriyevich Tsitsianov was the Georgian Imperial Russian military commander and infantry general from 1804. A member of the noble Georgian family Tsitsishvili , Tsitsianov participated in suppression of the Kościuszko Uprising and in the Russo-Persian War...
, moved his army into Imereti and forced Solomon to succumb to Russian vassalage in the convention of Elaznauri of April 25, 1804. Yet, Solomon's relations with Russia continued to be strained. On February 20, 1810, the Russian administration
Viceroyalty of the Caucasus
The Viceroyalty of the Caucasus is a term used to denote the Imperial Russian administrative and political authority in the Caucasus region exercised through the offices of glavnoupravlyayushchiy and namestnik...
removed Solomon from the throne and sent in troops to take control of the kingdom. Solomon retaliated by rallying people against Russia and tried to enlist Turkey, Persia and Napoleonic France in his cause. Outnumbered and defeated, Solomon fled to the Ottoman possessions in Trebizond where he died in 1815. Solomon II may have had a son, Prince Archil, who died in 1840.
The body of Solomon II, the last reigning Georgian king, was moved from Trebizond, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to Gelati Monastery
Gelati Monastery
The Monastery of Gelati is a monastic complex near Kutaisi, Imereti, western Georgia. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder in 1106, and the 13th-century churches of St George and St Nicholas....
, Georgia, in 1990.
Dynastic survival after 1810
The current Head of the House of Imereti is Her Serene Highness Princess Nino Bagration (born 1915, married Prince Avtandil Jafaridze 1944, deceased in 2009). Princess Nino is the only daughter of Prince David Bagrationi of Imereti (1894–1937) the last surviving heir male of Alexander V of ImeretiAlexander V of Imereti
Alexander V of Imereti , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was King of Imereti from 1720 to 1741 and again from 1742 until his death in March 1752....
and last legitimate pretender to the princely line. Princess Nino is currently the President of the Bagration Society. During the debate on the restoration of the unified Georgian Monarchy
Monarchism in Georgia
The former Soviet republic of Georgia has a monarchic tradition that traces its origins to the Hellenistic period. The medieval Kingdom of Georgia ruled by the Bagrationi dynasty has left behind a legacy that lasts in Georgia even in modern times...
she was reported to favour the claims of Prince Nugzar Bagration-Gruzinsky
Nugzar Bagration-Gruzinsky
Prince Nugzar Bagration-Gruzinsky is the head of the deposed House of Gruzinsky and represents its claim to the former crown of Georgia.-Biography:...
, however, her views since the dynastic marriage between the rival Gruzinsky
Gruzinsky
Gruzinsky was a title and later the surname of two different princely lines of the Bagrationi dynasty of Georgia, both of which received it as the subjects of the Russian Empire. The name "Gruzinsky" derives from Russian, originally and literally meaning "of Georgia"...
and Mukhrani
Mukhrani
Mukhrani is a historical lowland district in eastern Georgia, currently within the borders of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, north of the town of Mtskheta...
branches of the Bagrationi Dynasty are not known.