Wagner Moritz

Wagner (Moritz Wagner) (October 3, 1813, Bayreuth – May 30, 1887, Munich) was a German traveler, geographer, and naturalist, an honorary professor at the University of Munich and a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.

Between 1843 and 1846, Wagner traveled through the Black Sea coastal countries, the Caucasus, Kurdistan, and Persia. From 1852 to 1855 he journeyed through North and Central America and the West Indies, and from 1856 to 1860 through South America. He described his travels in several works.

Information about Georgia is found in his book Journey to Colchis and the German Colonies Beyond the Caucasus (Leipzig, 1850), which consists of a preface and ten chapters. The first and second chapters primarily describe Tbilisi — its outward appearance, streets, squares, houses, markets, bathhouses, churches, palaces, and gardens. In his view, “The solemn beauty of the rocky belt surrounding Tiflis, the exotic, colorful diversity of Oriental and European buildings that adorn the high banks of the wild mountain river, and the enchanting views — with their grand decorative splendor — surpass the magnificent Prague, which in some ways resembles Tiflis and has no equal among the cities of the German states.”

Wagner discusses the city’s population in detail — its ethnic composition, the character and occupations of different national groups, their clothing, housing, and prosperity, comparing them to one another. He devotes much attention to Georgian women, writing: “Sometimes one notices the noble figure of a Georgian woman wrapped in a cloak, resembling the statue of a Roman priestess...”

He also touches on religion, worship, and education in Tbilisi, and provides vivid descriptions and characterizations of various historical figures — governors, generals, ordinary citizens, and German colonists. As a German, he takes a rather critical view of the Russian government’s activities in the Caucasus and Tbilisi.

In chapters III–V, Wagner describes the history of the establishment of German colonies in Georgia, their contemporary situation, and their economic and spiritual life. Chapter VI is devoted to his journey from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, including an interesting description of the city; he discusses the activities of the Capuchins in Georgia and their role in the education of the local population.

Chapters VII–IX recount his travels through Imereti and Samegrelo. He gives detailed descriptions of Redut-Kale (Qulevi), the fortress of Poti — its history and its importance to the Russian government — as well as Zugdidi and the Dadiani residence.

The tenth chapter is devoted to Samegrelo and his journey to Lazeti (Lazistan). He describes the port of Batumi and offers a general characterization of the Laz people.

Publications: მორიც ვაგნერი საქართველოს შესახებ. გერმ. ტექსტი თარგმნა, შესავალი, კომენტარები და საძიებლები დაურთო გ. გელაშვილმა, თბ., 2002.

G. Gelashvili