Vakhushti Batonishvili

Vakhushti Batonishvili (Bagrationi) (1696-1757), Historian, geographer and cartogra pher. He was the son of Vakhtang VI, King of Kartli (East Georgia). Vakhushti was born in Tbilisi. He was educated at his father’s the Royal Court. He spoke several languages. In 1724 he accompanied King Vakhtang VI to Russia; there he settled in Moscow, where he was paid a stipend. In 1745, in Moscow he completed his treatise Survey of the Kingdom of Georgia. Along with Empress Elisabeth, Count Peter Shuvalov, and Mikhail Lomonosov, Vakhushti Batonishvili acted as founding member of Moscow State University. Their names were engraved on a marble board fixed to the wall of the University. The board was preserved till the beginning of the 20th century. The bust of Prince Vakhushti adorned the assembly hall of the University.

Vakhushti Batonishvili died in Moscow; he was buried at the Don Monastery.