1804 Mtiuleti rebellion

The 1804 Mtiuleti rebellion (Georgian: 1804 მთიულეთის აჯანყება, romanized: 1804 mtiuletis ajanq'eba) was a conflict in Mtiuleti region of 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]

Mtiuleti rebellion
Date1804
Location
Result Decisive Russian army victory
Belligerents
Georgian and Ossetian rebels Russia Imperial Russian Army
Strength
4,000 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Hundreds of killed civilians

Background

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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

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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 [ru], 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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rayfield 2012, p. 263.
  2. ^ Suny 1994, pp. 68–70.
  3. ^ Rayfield 2012, pp. 263–264.
  4. ^ a b Suny 1994, p. 70.

Sources

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