Prince Alexander of Kartli (1726–1791)
| Alexander Gruzinsky | |
|---|---|
Darejan-Daria Gruzinsky | |
| Dynasty | Bagrationi dynasty |
| Father | Prince Bakar of Kartli |
| Mother | Ana Eristavi |
| Religion | Georgian Orthodox Church |
Alexander, son of Bakar (
royal dynasty, Alexander is known for his unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the crown of Georgia from his dynastic relatives ruling Eastern Georgia. At the request of Heraclius II, Alexander was deported back to Russia where he was held in confinement by the Russian authorities until his death. In Russia, Alexander bore the surname of Gruzinsky, meaning "Georgian".[1]
Early life and career
Alexander was the son of
Captain-Poruchik.[1]
Claimant to the Georgian throne
After Bakar's death, Alexander renewed his family's claims to the lost throne of Kartli, now held by their cousins from the neighbouring Kakheti. Alexander's unsanctioned attempts to make his way to Georgia, combined with his support of the
Catherine II of Russia. In 1766, the Russian government freed Alexander of his allegiance to Russia, depriving him of his military rank, and arranged his travel to the Caucasus. This came a year after Alexander's half-uncle, Prince Paata
, was executed for plotting a coup against the rule of the Kakhetian Bagrationi.
Alexander first travelled to
Erivan in 1779. The revolt was promptly suppressed and Alexander, accompanied by Prince Alexander Amilakhvari, fled to the mountains of Dagestan
.
Anxious to eliminate the threat to his rule, Heraclius requested that the Russian government arrest Alexander. It was only after Georgia
Fatali Khan of Quba and Derbent was persuaded by the Russian government to surrender the pretender to the Georgian throne. The prince was deported to Smolensk and held there in confinement until his death in 1791. Thus, Heraclius II's last rival for the throne was removed from the scene.[1][2][3]
Family
Daria
Alexander married Princess Daria Aleksandrovna née Menshikova (1747–1817), granddaughter of the once powerful
Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov
. They had three sons and two daughters:
- Prince Ivane (Ivan Aleksandrovich Gruzinsky), of whom almost nothing is known.
- Prince Ana Bagration-Gruzinsky Tolstoy.
- Prince Aleksandre (Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Gruzinsky; c. 1763–1823), Colonel of the Russian army. He died unmarried.
- Princess Ana(Anna Aleksandrovna Gruzinskaya; c. 1763–1842). She was married first to Chevalier Alexander De Litzine (1760–1789), without issue, and then to General Prince Boris Andreyevich Galitzine (1766–1822), with eight children.
- Princess Darejan(Daria Aleksandrovna Gruzinskaya; d. 1796).
References
- ^ a b c (in Russian) Grebelsky, P. Kh., Dumin, S. V., Lapin, V. V. (1993), Дворянские роды Российской империи (Noble families of Russian Empire), vol. 3, p. 48. IPK Vesti
- ISBN 0-312-22990-9
- ISBN 0-7100-6959-6