Principality of Georgia Княжество Грузия Knyazhestvo Gruziya (Russian) სასაქართველოს სამთავრო Sakartvelos Samtavro (Georgian) |
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| Motto: "Край виноградников и тепла" Kray vinogradnikov i tepla (Russian) "ვენახების მიწა და სითბო" Venakhebis Mits’a da Sitbo (Georgian) ("Georgia, My Home") |
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| Capital | Tbilisi | |||||
| Official languages | Russian, Georgian | |||||
| Ethnic groups | 80% Georgian 15% Russian 5% Other Caucasians |
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| Leaders | ||||||
| - | Tsar | Ivan I | ||||
| - | Prince | George II Bagration | ||||
| - | Governor-General | Josef Palavandishvili | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | census | 5,400,204 | ||||
The Principality of Georgia (Russian: Княжество Грузия, Knyazhestvo Gruziya; Georgian: საქართველოს სამთავრო, Sakartvelos Samtavro) is an autonomous governorate in Russia. It currently forms part of the larger Grand Duchy of the Caucasus.
The Principality was established on territories of the ethnic Georgians, who at one point, had controlled a large empire before following to the Ottomans, Persians and eventually the Russians. For much of its history, the Georgian rump-state was a territory of the Russian Empire, before achieving a short-lived independence, but re-joined Russia for economic reasons. Under the new tsar, Cyril I, the Principality of Georgie was formed.
In 1941, the seperatists in Georgia overthrew the principality, established the republic, and joined the Turks as part of the Eastern Axis as part of Turkey's war against Russia, to which, being on the losing side, the Georgians would again, find themselves under Russian rule and occupation after the invasion was reversed, and in addition - the Georgian Orthodox Church lose its autocephaly status for siding with the Turks, where the Principality was re-formed. Georgia existed, still exists today as a major wine-producing center of Russia, and an important center of arts and culture for Russia. In 1989, Georgian separatists began an armed struggle for independence, before finally being put down in 1994.
As part of negotiations, the Russian Senate would recognize the Georgian nobility with the establishment of a Principality in place a Governorate, if local Georgian leaders handed over separatists, to which local Georgian leaders agreed to.
It is under the constitutional monarchic rule of the Bagrationis, as the direct ruling aristocracy over Georgia, while Maria I as its monarch, as it is considered Russian territory.
Being part of the Caucasus, Georgia is one of Russia's important economic centers, as it is known for its wine-producing economy. Some of Russia's most prestigious culinary and arts schools are in Georgia. In addition, as Georgia was one of the earliest Christian states, it is home to very conservative religious movements.
History...[]
Russian Civil War[]
After the February Revolution of 1917 and collapse of the tsarist administration in the Caucasus, most powers were held by the Special Transcaucasian Committee (Ozakom, short for Osobyi Zakavkazskii Komitet) of the Russian Provisional Government. All of the soviets in Georgia were firmly controlled by the Georgian Social Democratic Party, who followed the lead of the Petrograd Soviet and supported the Provisional Government. The Bolshevist October Revolution changed the situation drastically. The Caucasian Soviets refused to recognize Vladimir Lenin's regime. Threats from the increasingly Bolshevistic deserting soldiers of the former Caucasus army, ethnic clashes and anarchy in the region forced Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani politicians to create a unified regional authority known as the Transcaucasian Commissariat (November 14, 1917) and later a legislature, the Sejm (January 23, 1918). On April 22, 1918, the Sejm – Nikolay Chkheidze was the president – declared the Transcaucasus an independent democratic federation with an executive Transcaucasian government chaired by Evgeni Gegechkori and later by Akaki Chkhenkeli.
Many Georgians, influenced by the ideas of Ilia Chavchavadze and other intellectuals from the late 19th century, insisted on national independence. A cultural national awakening was further strengthened by the restoration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church (March 12, 1917) and the establishment of a national university in Tbilisi (1918). In contrast, the Georgian Mensheviks regarded independence from Russia as a temporary step against the Bolshevik revolution and considered calls for Georgia's independence chauvinistic and separatist. The union of Transcaucasus was short-lived though. Undermined by increasing internal tensions and by pressure from the German and Ottoman empires, the federation collapsed on May 26, 1918, when Georgia declared independence. Two days later both Armenia and Azerbaijan declared their independence as well.
Post-independence[]
The year 1920 was marked by increased threats from the Russian SFSR, or at least the remnants of it as retreating Bolshevik forces offered Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan an alliance against the White armies in South Russia and the Caucasus. The Government of the DRG refused to enter any military alliance, referring to its policy of neutrality and noninterference, but suggested negotiations towards a political settlement of the relations between two countries in the hope that this might lead to recognition of Georgia's independence by Moscow. link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:International_II_leaders_in_Tiflis.jpg|right|thumb|The leaders of the Second International visiting Tbilisi, 1918 In April 1920, the 11th Red Army established a Soviet regime in Azerbaijan, and the Georgian Bolshevik Sergo Orjonikidze requested permission from Mikhail Frunze, the new leader of the Bolsheviks after the deaths of Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky, to advance into Georgia. The White Russians, seeing this as an oppurtunity to keep Georgia, did not willfully send help, and allowed the Bolsheviks to cause havoc in order to pressure Georgian leaders to submit to Russian rule. Local Bolsheviks attempted to seize the Military School of Tbilisi as a preliminary to a coup d'état on May 3, 1920, but were successfully repelled by General Kvinitadze. The Georgian government began mobilization and appointed Giorgi Kvinitadze commander-in-chief. In the meantime, in response to Georgia's alleged provision of assistance to the Azeri nationalist rebellion in Ganja, Soviet forces attempted to penetrate Georgian territory, but were repelled by Kvinitadze in brief border clashes at the Red Bridge. Within a few days, peace talks resumed in Moscow. Under the terms of the controversial Moscow Peace Treaty of May 7, Georgian autonomy was recognized, as long as it considers the Tsar as the Emperor, and officiates Russian alongside Georgian as a lingua franca with non-Georgians, in addition to helping the Whites retain control over Azerbaijan.
After Azerbaijan had been re-conquered by the Russians, Georgia found itself surrounded by Russian territory or pro-Russian territory (namely Armenia). Moreover, as the British had already evacuated the Caucasus, the country was left without any foreign support.
Formation of the Principality[]
Therefore, the Georgian republican government dissoluted once-more, and allowed itself to become an autonomous principality under the local rule of the Bagrationis, to agreed to accept more of a constitutional role. To encourage autonomy, the Tsar allowed Georgian nationalists to control local politics as a gesture to his trust towards democracy.
Georgia emerged as a center of textile production and wine production in the country, where Georgian wine became prized by the nobility and royalty. Wine-producers in Georgia accumulated wealth via these means.
World War II[]
During the Second World War, the Armies of Georgia were part of the Southeastern Front of the Russian military, and the Caucasus was invaded by Turkey, an Axis member. Many Georgian ultranationalists used this a an opportunity to gain independence from Russia, seeing how quickly Azerbaijan fell due to the mutinees and deserters in the Russian Army.
Local Georgian military deserters met with the invading Turkish generals, and the Yuce promised the Georgians their own state, and would also recognized an autocephalous patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Therefore in 1942, Georgian rebels stormed the government buildings, and chase the Bagrationis out of the former principality. The State of Georgia (საქართველოს სახელმწიფო/Gürcistan Eyaleti) was formed as a Turkish puppet state, as part of the broader United Caucasian State. In addition, a puppet Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church was recognized, though neither the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople or the Patriarch of Moscow recognized this and deemed it illegal.
The military forces of Georgia wrought significant damage to the Russian force's Southeastern Front, encircling entire pockets of Russian Armies still loyal to Moscow. Turkish replaced Russian as the new second language of lingua franca.
In 1943, the reinforced Southeastern Front, accompanied by those from the Volga, Ural, Baltic and Central Asian Fronts finally began to lift the Turkish siege. Generals Vsevolod Starosselsky and Georgi Alexandrovich Bagration-Mukhranski held no mercy towards the Georgian puppet state, and stated that a pro-Russian principality will be installed. The Georgia offensive was successful, the puppet State of Georgia vanquished and a principality placed in its place.
General Bagration-Mukhranski himself, was crowned as the new Prince of all Georgia, or George I Alexandrovich, Prince of all Georgia.
Politics[]
Although Georgia is titled as Principality, its representation in Russian politics of Governorate-level, and is represented by a Governor-General and Head Minister like a regular Governorate.
Political Administrations[]
The Kingdom is currently divided into Princedoms, in Georgian known as samtavros (სამთავრო), and in Russian as Royal Oblasts, or Korolevskiye oblasti (Королевские области), equatable to provinces. Each Princedom is traditionally ruled by a different Georgian nobility, however - their influence is limited to economics and social life, and true civil power is vested within an elected figure.
However, political gerrymandering is very rampant in Georgia, as most "elected figures" are often-not, favorable to the ruling dynasty of a province.
The Kingdom is represented by a Royal Minister, an elected position, who bears the same civil powers as a Governor of a U.S. state.
Economy[]
Georgia is Russia's wine and grape breadbasket, wine-making is a cultural tradition of Georgia that long-predates its formation as an entity. The Annual Tbilisi Wine Fest takes place every year in Tbilisi, Georgia is known for its rich vineyard and fancy bars. The Tbilisi National Wine Museum is located in Georgia.
Georgia's excellent weather conditions have made it one of Russia's popular tourist destinations.
Education[]
Education in Georgia is unique in that there are two types of schools, one that caters to the general mixed Georgian population, which offers both Georgian and Russian-language curriculum, and one, known as Vserossiyskaya shkola, meaning "All-Russian School" offers exclusively Russian education, which mostly caters to ethnic Russians living in Georgia.
As per the autonomy laws within Georgia, Georgian is a required curriculum in all standard educational institutions, with Russian reserved as a secondary requirement.
Georgia is home to many of Russia's most prestigious culinary, winery and agricultural schools. The Velikaya shkola Tbilisi is one of Russia's most prestigious culinary schools, as well as the Royal School of Agriculture, owned conjointly between the Petrovich-Romanovs and the Bagrationis.
The Royal Georgian Institute of the Arts is another prestigious school.
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