Archil (Georgian: არჩილი) (1647 – April 16, 1713), of Bagrationi dynasty, king of Imereti in western Georgia (1661–1663, 1678–1679, 1690–1691, 1695–1696, and 1698) and of Kakheti in eastern Georgia (1664–75). After a series of unsuccessful attempts to establish himself on the throne of Imereti, Archil retired to Russia where he spearheaded the cultural life of a local Georgian community. He was also a lyric poet.
Archil was the son of Vakhtang V Shahnawaz of Kartli, who, under the Persian protection, attempted to reunify a fragmented Kingdom of Georgia under his crown. Having brought the neighboring eastern kingdom of Kakheti under his control, Vakhtang marched into western Georgia in 1661, deposed King Bagrat V of Imereti, and crowned his fourteen-year-old son Archil king at Kutaisi, capital of Imereti. The Ottoman government strongly objected to what it considered a Persian-inspired incursion into the Turkish zone of influence. A Turkish ultimatum was soon received in Isfahan, threatening a declaration of war if Shahnavaz maintained his son on the throne of western Georgia. Shahnavaz was forced to recall Archil from Kutaisi in 1663 and to restore the rightful king, Bagrat. Instead, Vakhtang installed Archil as king of Kakheti in 1664. To gain the shah's consent, Archil was prevailed upon, much against his will, to become a nominal convert to Islam, assuming the title of Shah-Nazar-Khan. In 1664, Archil defeated an attempt by the rival Kakhetian prince and his brother-in-law, Erekle, to regain his father's crown, and achieved a degree of stability and prosperity in Kakheti.
In 1675, however, due largely to the intrigues by the Persian grand vizierShaykh' Ali Khan, Archil abandoned Kakheti and, with his brother Luarsab, defected to the Turkish frontier pasha of Akhaltsikhe who promised him the crown of Imereti. He was soon reestablished in Kutaisi with the aid of the pasha of Akhaltiskhe, though without the consent of the Sublime Porte. The Ottoman agents had the pasha executed, and deposed Archil in 1679. He fled to Russia, but was not allowed to Moscow until 1686. Encouraged by his brother, King George XI of Kartli, Archil returned to Georgia in 1690 and succeeded in regaining the Imeretian throne, only to be deposed again by the local nobility in 1691. During the next few years, he made several attempts to seize the crown, waging a guerrilla war against the Turks and the aristocratic opposition led by Prince Abashidze. Eventually Archil gave up hope of reestablishing himself in Imereti and, in 1699, crossed the Caucasus Mountains once more into Russia where he settled in Vsesviatskoye near Moscow.
Life in Russia
An illuminated charter issued in Archil's name
He was on friendly terms with Peter I of Russia who gave orders to prepare an expedition to restore Archil to the throne of Imereti. However, the plan was rendered abortive on account of the defeat inflicted by the Swedes on the Russian army at Narva in 1700. This, in addition to frustrating Archil's hopes of regaining his throne, brought tragedy into his family life. Alexander, son of Archil, who commanded Russian artillery at Narva, was taken prisoner by the Swedes, and had to spend ten years in captivity. Archil attempted to achieve the release of his son through the Austrian mediation, and later sent a personal letter to Charles XII of Sweden. It was not until 1710, however, that Alexander was released. Severely ill, he died on his way back to Russia. The death of Alexander was a bitter blow to Archil, who did not long survive his son. He died in 1713 and was buried in the Donskoy Monastery at Moscow.
Most of Archil's Russian years were devoted to poetry and cultural activities. He was responsible for setting up the first printing press in the Georgian language in Russia and published The Psalms in 1705. Archil's poetry, remarkable for its diversity, heralded the beginning of the period of Revival in Georgian literature. His chief poems – The Dialogue between Teimuraz and Rustveli (გაბაასება თეიმურაზისა და რუსთველისა), The Manners of Georgia (საქართველოს ზნეობანი), and The Lay of Archil (Archiliani; არჩილიანი) are dedicated to the 17th-century misfortunes of Georgia. He strongly objected to the contemporary Persian literary influences, and called for the revival of Shota Rustaveli's traditions of Georgian poetry. Thus, Archil's poems were closer to traditional Georgian metre, and his idioms closer to Georgian speech.[1][2] However, despite his efforts to "stem the tide of Persianization", Archil's poems included "conceits, forms, and themes inspired by Persia", and his own version of the Alexander romance was modeled on the versions of Nizami Ganjavi and Jami.[1][3]
Family
Archil was married twice. His first wife was a daughter of Prince Nodar Tsitsishvili. He married secondly to Ketevan, daughter of Prince David of Kakheti, in 1668. The couple one daughter and three sons:
Princess Darejan, known in Russia as Darya Archilovna (c. 1670 – 1740); she died unmarried and was buried at the Donskoy Monastery.
Prince Aleksandre, known in Russia as Aleksandr Archilovich (1674 – 20 February 1711), a Russian army artillery commander. He was married, with one daughter.
Prince Mamuka, known in Russia as Matfey Archilovich (1676 – 23 March 1693); he died unmarried and was buried at the Donskoy Monastery.
Prince Davit, known in Russia as David Archilovich (2 July 1682 – 24 October 1688); he died unmarried, buried at the Novodevichy Convent, and reburied in 1711 at the Donskoy Monastery.
Gould, Rebecca Ruth (2018). "Sweetening the Heavy Georgian Tongue: Jāmī in the Georgian-Persianate World". In d'Hubert, Thibaut; Papas, Alexandre (eds.). Jāmī in Regional Contexts: The Reception of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Jāmī's Works in the Islamicate World, ca. 9th/15th-14th/20th Century. Brill. ISBN978-9004386600.
Rota, Giorgio (2017). "Conversion to Islam (and sometimes a return to Christianity) in Safavid Persia in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries". In Norton, Claire (ed.). Conversion and Islam in the Early Modern Mediterranean: The Lure of the Other. Routledge. ISBN978-1317159797.
archil, imereti, archil, georgian, არჩილი, 1647, april, 1713, bagrationi, dynasty, king, imereti, western, georgia, 1661, 1663, 1678, 1679, 1690, 1691, 1695, 1696, 1698, kakheti, eastern, georgia, 1664, after, series, unsuccessful, attempts, establish, himself. Archil Georgian არჩილი 1647 April 16 1713 of Bagrationi dynasty king of Imereti in western Georgia 1661 1663 1678 1679 1690 1691 1695 1696 and 1698 and of Kakheti in eastern Georgia 1664 75 After a series of unsuccessful attempts to establish himself on the throne of Imereti Archil retired to Russia where he spearheaded the cultural life of a local Georgian community He was also a lyric poet ArchilKing Archil by Nicolaes WitsenKing of Imereti more Reign1661 1663 1678 1679 1690 1691 1695 1698King of KakhetiReign1664 1675SuccessorHeraclius I of KakhetiBorn1647Died16 April 1713 1713 04 16 aged 65 66 MoscowBurialDonskoy MonasteryIssuePrince Alexander of Imereti 1674 1711 DynastyBagrationi dynastyFatherVakhtang V of KartliMotherRodam Kaplanishvili OrbelianiReligionGeorgian Orthodox ChurchKhelrtva Contents 1 Political career 2 Life in Russia 3 Family 4 References 5 SourcesPolitical career EditArchil was the son of Vakhtang V Shahnawaz of Kartli who under the Persian protection attempted to reunify a fragmented Kingdom of Georgia under his crown Having brought the neighboring eastern kingdom of Kakheti under his control Vakhtang marched into western Georgia in 1661 deposed King Bagrat V of Imereti and crowned his fourteen year old son Archil king at Kutaisi capital of Imereti The Ottoman government strongly objected to what it considered a Persian inspired incursion into the Turkish zone of influence A Turkish ultimatum was soon received in Isfahan threatening a declaration of war if Shahnavaz maintained his son on the throne of western Georgia Shahnavaz was forced to recall Archil from Kutaisi in 1663 and to restore the rightful king Bagrat Instead Vakhtang installed Archil as king of Kakheti in 1664 To gain the shah s consent Archil was prevailed upon much against his will to become a nominal convert to Islam assuming the title of Shah Nazar Khan In 1664 Archil defeated an attempt by the rival Kakhetian prince and his brother in law Erekle to regain his father s crown and achieved a degree of stability and prosperity in Kakheti In 1675 however due largely to the intrigues by the Persian grand vizier Shaykh Ali Khan Archil abandoned Kakheti and with his brother Luarsab defected to the Turkish frontier pasha of Akhaltsikhe who promised him the crown of Imereti He was soon reestablished in Kutaisi with the aid of the pasha of Akhaltiskhe though without the consent of the Sublime Porte The Ottoman agents had the pasha executed and deposed Archil in 1679 He fled to Russia but was not allowed to Moscow until 1686 Encouraged by his brother King George XI of Kartli Archil returned to Georgia in 1690 and succeeded in regaining the Imeretian throne only to be deposed again by the local nobility in 1691 During the next few years he made several attempts to seize the crown waging a guerrilla war against the Turks and the aristocratic opposition led by Prince Abashidze Eventually Archil gave up hope of reestablishing himself in Imereti and in 1699 crossed the Caucasus Mountains once more into Russia where he settled in Vsesviatskoye near Moscow Life in Russia Edit An illuminated charter issued in Archil s name He was on friendly terms with Peter I of Russia who gave orders to prepare an expedition to restore Archil to the throne of Imereti However the plan was rendered abortive on account of the defeat inflicted by the Swedes on the Russian army at Narva in 1700 This in addition to frustrating Archil s hopes of regaining his throne brought tragedy into his family life Alexander son of Archil who commanded Russian artillery at Narva was taken prisoner by the Swedes and had to spend ten years in captivity Archil attempted to achieve the release of his son through the Austrian mediation and later sent a personal letter to Charles XII of Sweden It was not until 1710 however that Alexander was released Severely ill he died on his way back to Russia The death of Alexander was a bitter blow to Archil who did not long survive his son He died in 1713 and was buried in the Donskoy Monastery at Moscow Most of Archil s Russian years were devoted to poetry and cultural activities He was responsible for setting up the first printing press in the Georgian language in Russia and published The Psalms in 1705 Archil s poetry remarkable for its diversity heralded the beginning of the period of Revival in Georgian literature His chief poems The Dialogue between Teimuraz and Rustveli გაბაასება თეიმურაზისა და რუსთველისა The Manners of Georgia საქართველოს ზნეობანი and The Lay of Archil Archiliani არჩილიანი are dedicated to the 17th century misfortunes of Georgia He strongly objected to the contemporary Persian literary influences and called for the revival of Shota Rustaveli s traditions of Georgian poetry Thus Archil s poems were closer to traditional Georgian metre and his idioms closer to Georgian speech 1 2 However despite his efforts to stem the tide of Persianization Archil s poems included conceits forms and themes inspired by Persia and his own version of the Alexander romance was modeled on the versions of Nizami Ganjavi and Jami 1 3 Family EditArchil was married twice His first wife was a daughter of Prince Nodar Tsitsishvili He married secondly to Ketevan daughter of Prince David of Kakheti in 1668 The couple one daughter and three sons Princess Darejan known in Russia as Darya Archilovna c 1670 1740 she died unmarried and was buried at the Donskoy Monastery Prince Aleksandre known in Russia as Aleksandr Archilovich 1674 20 February 1711 a Russian army artillery commander He was married with one daughter Prince Mamuka known in Russia as Matfey Archilovich 1676 23 March 1693 he died unmarried and was buried at the Donskoy Monastery Prince Davit known in Russia as David Archilovich 2 July 1682 24 October 1688 he died unmarried buried at the Novodevichy Convent and reburied in 1711 at the Donskoy Monastery References Edit a b Rota 2017 p 65 note 38 Gould 2018 p 822 Gould 2018 p 823 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archil of Imereti Sources Edit in Russian Vahushti Bagrationi Vakhushti Bagrationi 1745 Istoriya Carstva Gruzinskogo Zhizn Imereti Gould Rebecca Ruth 2018 Sweetening the Heavy Georgian Tongue Jami in the Georgian Persianate World In d Hubert Thibaut Papas Alexandre eds Jami in Regional Contexts The Reception of ʿAbd al Raḥman Jami s Works in the Islamicate World ca 9th 15th 14th 20th Century Brill ISBN 978 9004386600 David Marshall Lang The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy 1658 1832 New York Columbia University Press 1957 Rayfield Donald 2000 The Literature of Georgia A History Routledge ISBN 0 7007 1163 5 Rota Giorgio 2017 Conversion to Islam and sometimes a return to Christianity in Safavid Persia in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries In Norton Claire ed Conversion and Islam in the Early Modern Mediterranean The Lure of the Other Routledge ISBN 978 1317159797 Preceded byVameq III King of Imereti1661 1663 Succeeded byDemetrePreceded byPersian governorate King of Kakheti1664 1675 Succeeded byErekle IPreceded byBagrat V King of Imereti1678 1679 Succeeded byBagrat V restored Preceded byAlexander IV King of Imereti1690 1691 Succeeded byAlexander IV restored Preceded byAlexander IV King of Imereti1695 1696 Succeeded byGeorge VPreceded byGeorge V King of Imereti1698 Succeeded bySimon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Archil of Imereti amp oldid 1118501211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
