The Vachnadze Embassy to Russia

The Vachnadze Embassy to Russia (1588–89), was a diplomatic mission of the Kingdom of Kakheti to Russia. The embassy was headed by the diplomat and state figure Qaflan Vachnadze. The monk Kirile and Khurshita the Circassian were also mentioned as the members of the mission.

The Vachnadze Embassy to Russia was a response to the Birkin Embassy (1587–88) to Kakheti, during which King Alexander II received the oath of allegiance to the Russian state. The agreement on protection was to be finalized with a second official document (a Charter of Grace, or Tsar's Charter).

The Russian Tsar, Fyodor Ivanovich, granted the request of the King of Kakheti and announced that he would send his own envoys to Kakheti along with the Charter of Grace.

Literature: ბ ე რ ძ ე ნ ი შ ვ ი ლ ი  ნ., საქართველოს ისტორიის საკითხები, წგ. 4, თბ., 1967; საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, ტ. 4, თბ., 1973; Белокуров С. А., Сношения России с Кавказом, т.1 (1578–1613), М., 1889.

V. Macharadze