Erekle I
Erekle I (d. 1709) — King of Kartli (1688–1703) and Kakheti (1703–1709). A representative of the Kakhetian branch of the Bagrationi dynasty, he was the grandson of King Teimuraz I and the younger son of David (Datuna) Batonishvili and Queen Elene (Diasamidze). In Russia, he was known by the name Nikolai, while in Persia he was baptized under the name Nazarali Khan.
In 1653, Teimuraz I sent Erekle to Moscow together with his mother Elene and their entourage, where they were received with great honor. In August 1660, the prince traveled with his mother to Astrakhan, and in 1662 they arrived in Georgia. As the legitimate heir to the throne of Kakheti, Erekle was supported in his claim to the kingdom by the Tush, Pshav, and Khevsur populations, as well as by a number of Kakhetian nobles dissatisfied with the Persian rule. However, he was defeated in the struggle for the throne and in 1666 returned to Russia.
Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich received him with great respect. During the Tsar’s second marriage to Natalia Naryshkina, Erekle I was appointed master of ceremonies and served as the groom’s best man. Some of the nobles of Kartli and Kakheti advised him to return to Georgia, and the Shah of Persia also summoned him to his court. In 1674, Erekle I arrived in Kakheti. The Shah initially intended to confirm him as King of Kartli, but in 1677 he ultimately chose Giorgi XI who had converted to Islam. However, Giorgi’s policies aimed at asserting independence displeased the Persian court; he was deposed, and Erekle I who was forced to convert to Islam was granted the throne of Kartli.
From that moment began a long struggle between Erekle I and Giorgi XI for the throne. Eventually, with the Shah’s support, Erekle succeeded in subjugating all of Kartli, though his ultimate ambition was to reign over Kakheti as well. After reconciling with Giorgi XI and appointing him commander of the Persian army in Afghanistan, the Shah in 1703 granted Erekle I the throne of Kartli and confirmed him as King of Kakheti, bestowing upon him the title of Qollar-aghasi (commander of the royal guard) and summoning him to Persia. Erekle I went there, and at his request his Islamized son, David II (Imām Qulī Khān), was sent to govern Kakheti. Shortly thereafter, Erekle I died in Persia.
During his reign, following the advice of his mother, Queen Elene, Erekle I devoted much attention to churches and monasteries. He restored to them their peasants and estates, repaired many churches and monasteries, organized urban administration, defined the rights and duties of city officials, and established the guild regulations for Tbilisi’s craftsmen, among other reforms.
Sources: გორგიჯანიძე ფ., საქართველოს ისტორია, ს. კაკაბაძის გამოც., «საისტორიო მოამბე», 1925, [ტ.] 2; ვახუშტი, აღწერა სამეფოსა საქართველოსა, წგ.: ქართლის ცხოვრება, ს. ყაუხჩიშვილის გამოც., ტ. 4, თბ., 1973.
Literature: კაკაბაძე ს., საქართველოს ისტორია. ახალი საუკუნეების ეპოქა (1500–1810 წწ.), ტფ., 1922; საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, ტ. 4, თბ., 1973; ტატიშვილი ვ., ქართველები მოსკოვში, თბ., 1975.
G. Narsia
