Unknown Sensational Episodes of Georgian Diplomacy of 90's of the 18th Century

Abstract

The article refers to a fact hitherto unknown in historiography. In particular, the Ambassade sent to the Emperor of Austria by King Erekle II of Kartli-Kakheti in 1792, which had a certain goal - to resume diplomatic work on the model of European globalization prescribed by the Greek Project. The main outcome of the project was the neutralization of the Ottoman Empire and the redistribution the territory of the latter.

In 1783, the Treaty of Georgievsk was concluded between the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti. The Imperial Court of St. Petersburg undertook the obligation to protect the Georgian Kingdom from external threats. The Russian Empire did not fulfill this obligation and violated the Treaty twice in 1785 and 1787.

Nevertheless, we have a rather unusual reality according to Soviet and post-Soviet historiography, stating that Erekle II, who is carrying out the most important reforms to strengthen his country, remains a prisoner of the Treaty of Georgievsk after the betrayal of Russia and no longer reviews relations with European countries.

It is noteworthy that in Soviet and post-Soviet historiography the date of Erekles’s last attempt to establish alliance with Europe is 1782. Therefore, the Ambassade of 1792, as well as another European Ambassade sent in 1795 revealed throughout our research, clearly indicate that Erekle II was not a hostage of the Treaty of Georgievsk and he considered a prominent Austrian Empire as an ally.

The article presents that the publication of Jacob Reinex’s (agent of the Imperial Court of ST. Petersburg) book in 1793 is associated with the European Ambassade of 1792. Rienex incriminates Erekle II and states that he used to fight against the Austrian Empire on behalf of Prussian Army during his stay in Europe. This is the main message of this book. The Imperial Court of Russia uses the latter to make Erekle’s European Ambassade unsuccessful.