1790 წლის ქართველ მეფე-მთავართა ტრაქტატი და პოლიტიკური ვითარება ქართულ სამეფო-სამთავროებში

ანოტაცია

This article explores the political dynamics of late 18th-century Georgia, focusing on the 1780s and 1790s − a pivotal period when the restoration of national unity became a central theme of Georgian statecraft. Following the unification of the kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti under Erekle II in 1762, there arose a significant historical opportunity to incorporate Western Georgia (the Kingdom of Imereti) and the principalities into a single sovereign entity. The study examines the critical events of 1790, when a delegation of Imeretian nobles and clergy formally offered the crown of Western Georgia to Erekle II. Despite the widespread support for unification among the social strata and the military elite, Erekle II ultimately declined the offer. This paper analyzes the multifaceted reasons behind this refusal, ranging from internal dynastic pressures − specifically the influence of Queen Darejan and the interests of the royal princes − to the precarious geopolitical situation. The author highlights that the fear of a new conflict with the Ottoman Empire, which regarded Imereti as its sphere of influence, and the restrictive nature of the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk with the Russian Empire, played decisive roles in this outcome. A central focus of the article is the “Treaty of the Iberians” (1790), orchestrated by the Vice-Chancellor Solomon Lyonidze. The paper argues that while formal legal unification failed, this treaty established a de facto confederation. By analyzing the text of the document, the author demonstrates how the Georgian monarchs and princes utilized the term “Iveria” to emphasize a shared ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity (“Iverianism”), transcending the fragmented provincial identities of the time. The treaty is presented as a sophisticated military-political alliance designed for mutual defense against common enemies and as an attempt to integrate Western Georgia into the protective umbrella of the Russian Empire. In conclusion, the article posits that the 1790 Treaty was the ultimate expression of the Georgian political elite’s desire for survival and unity. Although it did not prevent the eventual loss of independence, it serves as a testament to the advanced political thought of the era and the persistent aspiration for a unified Georgian state.