Giorgi Batonishvili (Bagrationi)

Giorgi Batonishvili  (1712–1786), Leader of Georgian colony in the 18th century, General-In-Chief of Russian eader of Georgian colony in the 18th army, son of King Vakhtang VI. In 1724, along with his father and other members of his family he traveled to Russia and settled in Moscow. There, at the Court of Russian Emperor, he studied philosophy, history and Military Art. At the same time he was skilled in writing poems. During the Russian-Swedish War (1741-1743) he headed the Russian fleet. He showed valor in the Rein Campaign (1747-49) and during the Seven-Year War. He was awarded the Orders of Alexander Nevsky and St. Nino. After the death of his brother Baqar in 1750, Giorgi Batonishvili became a factual Head of Georgian Colony in Moscow. He had close and businesslike relations with the management of Moscow University and rendered financial aid to that institution (in 1785 he donated 10 000 roubles to the selfsame University). Prominent Russian and Georgian intellectuals used to gather at his place in Moscow. In the words of his contemporaries, he did his best to promote sciences in Georgia.

Giorgi Batonishvili died in Moscow and was buried at the Don Monastery.