1804 Mtiuleti rebellion

The 1804 rebellion in Mtiuleti was a conflict in the former Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti (eastern Georgia), at that time part of the Georgia Governorate of the Russian Empire. It was the first major Georgian rebellion directed against the Russian administration.[1]

Background

In 1801, the Russians capitalized on the moment, and annexed the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti. The entity was then reduced to the status of a Russian region (Georgia Governorate). Though the Russian administration brought some peace, Kartli-Kakheti remained troubled.[2][3]

Rebellion

It broke out at a vulnerable spot, to the west of the Darial Pass.[1] A number of local Ossetians had complained about the grain and meat demands of Cossacks stationed in the area.[1] They were thrown into a pit.[1] The Cossacks then proceeded to punish more locals; peasants were put to forced labour, two men were killed by whip lashing, women were mistreated, and cattle was worked to death.[1]

The people of the Aragvi valley then attacked the troops of Dmitri Mikhailovich Volkonsky, killing several of them.[1] They then proceeded to occupy several of the forts on the nearby main road.[1] In the summer of 1804, 4,000 Georgian and Ossetian rebels requested Prince Parnaoz to lead them.[1] On 3 August 1804, the rebels and Russian forces clashed at Lomisi; the Russian forces reportedly only escaped defeat due to the "timidity" of the Kakhetian nobles and the return of Russian General Pavel Tsitsianov, who had just unsuccessfully besieged Erivan.[1] The rebellion was eventually crushed; hundreds of highlanders were bayoneted or imprisoned.[1] It would take eight years before more anti-Russian violence erupted.[1][4]

A part of the Georgian nobles participated in the 1804 Mtiuleti rebellion.[4]

References
  1. Rayfield 2012, p. 263.
  2. Suny 1994, pp. 68-70.
  3. Rayfield 2012, pp. 263-264.
  4. Suny 1994, p. 70.

Sources
  • Rayfield, Donald (2012). Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1780230702.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Suny, Ronald Grigor (1994). The Making of the Georgian Nation. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0253209153.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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