Treaty of Georgievsk

The Treaty of Georgiyevsk (Russian Георгиевский трактат, georgian გეორგიევსკის ტრაქტატი ) to East Georgia presented ( Kartli - Kakheti ) on 24 July 1783 the supremacy and protection of the Russian Empire. The contract was negotiated on the fortress Georgiyevsk in the northern Caucasus and later signed by the Georgian King Erekle II and Catherine II of Russia.

Prehistory

The contract went back to the Georgian king Erekle II initiative. He figured after the Russo - Ottoman war with an invasion of Georgia by the Ottoman, possibly also by the Persian Empire. Irakli tried to set up a powerful Georgian army, but lacked the money needed for this. Requests for assistance by the states of Western Europe failed. Therefore, he suggested Russia before a protection treaty. An important reason for the adoption of this proposal was the same Christian Orthodox religion of the Georgians and Russians.

Content

In the treaty Russia guaranteed the territorial integrity of the Georgian Kingdom and promised military assistance. Georgia Russia secured in return the control of its foreign policy. The agreement guaranteed the same time the royal status of the Georgian Bagratidendynastie. Georgia's internal administration, case law, statutes and tax collection should remain untouched. The Russian military and the Russian civil administration should not interfere in the internal affairs of Georgia.

Consequences and effects

Economically, the contract was successful. Georgians were allowed to freely settle in Russia and cross the border unimpeded. Also, merchants could trade freely across the border.

In foreign policy, the Treaty Georgia brought little security. When the Shah of Iran in 1795 invaded Georgia, Russia Georgia did nothing to protect. Tbilisi was occupied and destroyed. Georgia had to hit three battles before the Russian Empire intervened and drove the Persian army from the country.

Erekles son Georgi XII. feared a renewed Persian invasion, beating Russia, the inclusion of Georgia in Russia. He demanded, however, to leave the Georgian royal house the crown. On November 19, 1800 a corresponding diplomatic note was present, which had been negotiated by the Georgian envoy Prince Chavchavadze, Avalishvili and Palawalidischwili with the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Fedor Vasilevich Rostopchin in Saint Petersburg. Even before the note was ratified by both sides, decreed Tsar Paul I on January 18, 1801 in a unilateral decree the annexation of Georgia. Georgian monarchy was abolished, spent the 1803 Bagratidendynastie into exile. The Treaty of Georgiyevsk was so broken.