Archil II

Archil II (1647-1713), King of Georgia, founder of Georgian township in Moscow, poet. He created Georgian print and published first Georgian printed book. Archil II was born in Tbilisi. At different times he used to hold the throne of the King of Imereti and Kakheti. Archil II was schooled at the Royal Court in Tbilisi. He and his father Vakhtang V were ardent fighters for freedom and integrity of Georgia, but external foes and internal reactionaries obstructed their aspirations. As a result, Archil II arrived at the decision to establish relations with Russia. In 1682 in answer to the invitation by Russian Tzar Fyodor Alekseevich, Archil II left for Russia. In 1685 he arrived in Moscow, where he made close contacts with the members of Russian Royal Court, Russian and foreign politicians and public figures. Archil II was engaged in political and cultural life of Russia.

In 1700, Emperor Peter I presented Archil II and his son Aleksandre Batonishvili (Prince) with the estates in the Nizhny-Novgorod Province. Soon Archil II unfolded wide cultural and economic activities. In 1705 Peter I gave permission to Archil II to print the first Georgian book of Psalms (600 copies) in Moscow. In order to support the Christian faith among the residents of Georgian Township in Russia, Archil II built the Church of Dormition of Our Lord at Don Monastery and founded the Pantheon.

Archil II was actively engaged in literary activity; he prepared the complete text of Georgian Holy Bible for publication. By the request of Russian rulers, Archil II charted the map of Georgia and wrote a short essay Anagraph of Georgia. In Vsesviatskoe he incorporated his diverse poetic pieces in Archiliani, collection of his literary works.

Archil II died in Moscow and was buried at the Donskoy Monastery.