“An Iron Door of Georgia”: (the image of King Erekle in several of Akaki’s and Ilia’s unknown and forgotten letters)

Abstract

The year 1898 marked 100 years since the death of King Erekle II. Ilia and Akaki dedicated several letters to the hero king on the anniversary of the king's death. This date was solemnly celebrated by the Georgian society.

In his "Collection" Akaki Tsereteli published an article "February 22" which in connection with the Treaty of Georgievsk puts forward the most important political issue through the mouth of Erekle II – “"Are they jus­tified ?!" and he himself answered: jus-ti-fied! Why did Akaki raise this ques­tion? He knew that the part of society took the king’s decision ambi­guously. Already in 1901, after the so-called celebration of the incorporation of Georgia into the Russian Empire, the poet wrote the letter “The Truth”, which, due to the acute national-political nature, became a victim of censorship of all eras and which has not been published to this day. And this should not be surprising, since Akaki sharply and without embarrassment threw the hard truth of a centuries-old Russification policy to everybody – the nation, the clergy and the enemy. In the article, Akaki once again answered the question of the distressed king – Are they justified? The author, as an experienced publicist, correctly assessed the steps taken by Erekle II and Solomon I regarding Russia, their contribution, all the reasons that made the King to put Georgia under the protection of Russia. These were: the treacherous policy of the Tsarist government, to which were added the endless invasions of external enemies, the domestic rift, the di­sorder, betrayal, an old age of Erekle and his disease. The "Truth" justly states that the “treaty” envisaged quite different conditions, and what we see today was not Erekle's wish. He wanted the kingdom to be independent and subordinate to Russia only in foreign policy, but as soon as she entered Georgia, she violated all conditions and turned to violence. When evaluating the king, Akaki states that Erekle II restored Georgia, which was on the verge of decline, and listed the titles held by the king, which in itself indicate the success of the then Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti.

In connection with the mentioned date, Ilia Chavchavadze published two editorials in the Iveria (No. 8 and No. 39): “Liturgy and memorial service for commemoration of the soul of King Erekle” and “On the 100th anniversary of King Erekle’s death”. According to an unpublished material stored in the Literary Museum (№859-1) after the 100th anniversary of Georgia’s annexation to Russia, the writer stated that the incorporation of Georgia with Russia meant the death of the Georgian nation itself. In both of these editorials, the author of this statement greatly appreciated the hero king’s contribution and also quoted G. Orbeliani’s words that Georgia had been entombed together with king’s death. In addition, Ilia used the quotes from folk verses and concluded that “King Erekle II was an iron door for Georgia”, his death made his country accessible to the enemies.

Ilia's letters are full of gratitude for the merits of the king and the demand to take practical steps to immortalize his name. Ilia’s and Akaki's letters answered many important political issues both on Georgian-Russian relations and the activities of Erekle II.