Kakheti Rebellion of 1812–13
The Kakheti Rebellion of 1812–13 was a de facto Russia-Georgian war that lasted for more than a year and claimed the lives of over 5,000 people.
The rebellion began on January 31, 1812, in Akhmeta. The immediate pretext was the insult of a local woman (according to some versions, a priest) by Russian soldiers. However, the underlying cause was far more global and entirely rooted in politics. Commander-in-Chief F. Paulucci considered the uprising to be a powerful political manifestation of the Georgian people, noting that "the Russian army came very close to being completely wiped out in Georgia" and that "Russia was entirely losing the Caucasus."
The rebellion broke out under the background of a highly complex international situation. Its leadership maintained ties with the governments of Iran and Turkey, as well as British and French diplomats. Armed demonstrations began simultaneously in several locations and spread throughout Kakheti. The detachments of princes: Simon and Adam Beburishvili, Ninia Andronikashvili, Otar Kartvelishvili, Ioseb Sidamonishvili, Ivane Makashvili, Paata Jandieri, and Davit Kartvelishvili occupied every important city, fortress, and strategic point. The communication lines connecting the Russians were blocked. The losses of the occupiers numbered in the hundreds.
In the second half of February, the rebels proclaimed Prince (Batonishvili) Grigol Bagrationi (grandson of George XII) as King of Georgia.
Georgian warriors approached Tbilisi. The flames of war spread to the Aragvi Valley, Pshavi, and Khevsureti. A danger of an all-Caucasian war emerged. Large detachments of Lezgins, Ossetians, Kists, and Circassians joined the rebellion; armed uprisings also broke out in Dagestan, Shirvan, and Kazakh.
The occupiers were assisted by a segment of the Georgian nobility; through their aid, the Dariali pass was opened, allowing new reinforcement forces to join the Russians. Prince Grigol was captured. From April 15, the war was renewed in the Telavi district and Kiziki after news spread concerning the possible return of Prince Aleksandre, who had fled to Iran, back to Georgia.
On September 1, 1812, Aleksandre infiltrated into Georgia, which served as a catalyst for unleashing the war with renewed energy. Unrest increased in Kartli Kakheti and Pshav-Khevsureti regions as well, and reports circulated regarding the presence of the King of Imereti Solomon II in the Atskuri Fortress.
The Russian Commander-in-Chief deployed Dragoon and Jäger, as well as regiments stationed in Nizhni-Novgorod and Imereti into the war. Generals F. Simonovich, A. Tikhanovksy, D. Orbeliani, F. Ushakov, and others attempted to neutralize Aleksandre with numerous forces, but because the prince operated in small detachments, Russians were unable to carry out large-scale combat operations. Then, under the pretext that the rebels benefited from the support of the Georgian village populations, the Russians carried out mass repressions of peaceful residents, resulting in heavy casualties.
To halt this process, Aleksandre engaged the enemy face-to-face, first near Sighnaghi and later near Melaani. The decisive battle took place on November 23 near Chalaubani. In this clash, the Russians lost up to 300 men. The prince retreated toward Sagarejo and fortified himself in the Manavi Fortress. On November 28, Generals D. Orbeliani and A. Tikhanovksy, with 2,000 warriors and several cannons, advanced toward the fortress. Aleksandre anticipated them and broke into the enemy's ranks with a cavalry detachment of Georgians and Lezgins. More than 200 Russians were killed in the battle. Alarmed by the alliance between the Lezgins and Georgians, the Russians managed to bribe the Lezgins after which they succeeded in defeating the insurgents.
Aleksandre had no intention of surrendering. He crossed the Gombori Range and ascended to Tianeti, where surviving Kakhetian and Kartlian nobles and gentry joined him. Napoleon's defeat in his Russian campaign and the lack of expected foreign assistance convinced Aleksandre that continuing the war was useless; therefore, while awaiting a favorable moment, he temporarily took refuge in Khevsureti. The Russians unleashed a massive army and artillery upon Pshav-Khevsureti. The local population, with the help of the Kists and under the command of the prince, inflicted significant damage on the enemy. After 36 hours of unequal combat, they retreated toward Shatili. The Russian army completely destroyed 20 Khevsur and 9 Kist villages, including the "rebel nest" of Akhmeta. A similar fate befell Sabue, Tianeti, Matani, and others.
Punitive detachments overran Kakheti. Repressions, alongside the cutting down of vineyards and orchards, took on a mass character. Thousands of people died in battle, and many of them fled their homeland out of fear of punishment.
The repressions after the rebellion were exceptionally severe. Hundreds of peasants were hanged. Dozens of villages were burned and devastated, part of the population perished, and the remainder was burdened with enormous monetary and in-kind taxes. Clergymen were punished with particular brutality, as their participation gave the struggle the character of a holy war.
Property, estates, and titles were confiscated from all participants of the rebellion. Among them, 62 individuals were exiled to Siberia.
The 1812 rebellion "brought to the country not only material devastation and damage, but also name and glory." According to M. Tsereteli, the Georgians proved that "back then, we still had courage and dignity. We fought as best as we could. Even in defeat, we achieved an eternal clear conscience before posterity."
Literature: გელაშვილი ა., კახეთის 1812 წ. აჯანყება, თბ., 2003; კიკვიძე ა., გლეხთა აჯანყება კახეთში 1812 წ., თბ., 1971; ორჯონიკიძე ე., ალექსანდრე ბატონიშვილის ბრძოლა რუსული ხელისუფლების წინააღმდეგ, თბ., 1999; ფრონელი ალ., ამბოხება კახეთისა 1812 წ., თბ., 1907; ხანთაძე შ., დოკუმენტები კახეთის 1812 წლის აჯანყების ისტორიისათვის, თბ., 1999; Маркова О. П., Восстание в Кахети 1812 г., М., 1951.
A. Gelashvili
