Russian imperialism
English geological scientist, Sir Roderick Impi Murchinson: “Even if Russia expands its possessions at the expense of neighboring colonies, unlike other colonial powers, it gives these new acquisitions more than it takes from them. The initial aspirations of all empires differ little, but where a Russian person appears, everything miraculously gets a completely different direction.
Therefore, no matter how victorious the Russian weapon is, in a purely mercantile sense, Russia always remains the loser. Those defeated by it or taken under its protection usually win in the end by keeping their way of life and spiritual institutions intact, despite their obvious insufficiency for progress.
Illustrative examples of this are, for example, Estonia and the Caucasus, which for centuries have been despised and raped by their neighbors, but have taken an honorable place among the peoples and have achieved an incomparable prosperity under the auspices of Russia, while the position of the Russian people, that is, the indigenous population, is from the acquisition of Estland and the Caucasus. metropolis has not improved at all."
The initial territory of Georgia, annexed in 1801.
To be or not to be?
Relations between Georgia and Russia, like all states of that time, were predetermined by common belief. Muslim expansion in waves from all sides rolled over the ancient Georgians, trying to impose their religion by force.
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After a relatively short period in the 12-13 centuries, when Georgia was truly united and independent, by 1490 it finally disintegrated into three kingdoms: Kartli, Kakheti, Imereti and one principality of Samtskhe. Since then, up to the entry of Georgia into the Russian Empire, a unified Georgia did not exist. Samtskhe was captured by the Turks, Kakheti was captured by either the Turks or the Persians.
Russia, rescuing its fellow believers, has entered wars with Persia and Turkey more than once, suffering human and financial losses. As General Mikhail Skobelev said: "Only Russians allow themselves this luxury - to fight out of compassion."
Taking Erivan.
Even being under a Russian protectorate, Georgia was subject to constant raids by mountain tribes (Chechens, Dagestanis, Alans), not to mention the threat of complete extermination from the Persian and Ottoman empires. It was this real threat of the disappearance of Georgians as a nation that pushed Russia to sign the famous Georgievsk treatise in 1783 in the Georgievsk fortress between Russia and the Kartli-Kakhetian kingdom.
According to it, the Georgian Kartli-Kakhetian king recognized his vassal position in relation to the Russian emperor, pledging not to enter into any international treaties without his permission. But the kindness of the Russian emperors often pushed the vassal kings to betray their suzerain. So it was this time.
The Georgian tsar Heraclius II signed (behind the back of the Russian emperor) in 1786 an agreement with Suleiman Pasha, with whom Russia was at war. Thus, the Georgievsky treatise (treacherously) was denounced by the Georgians themselves, freeing Russia from fulfilling allied obligations.
Storming of Lankaran.
Under the canopy of friendly bayonets
Eight years after the betrayal of the Georgian tsar and the withdrawal of two Russian infantry battalions from Tiflis, the Persian Shah with a huge army attacked Georgia, utterly defeating their army, captured Tiflis and swept away cities and villages, cutting out the population to zero, marched across the Caucasus.
Despite the Georgian treachery, Catherine II decided to help the Georgians and the Russian army invaded the Persian possessions, taking over the blow. In the course of this short victorious war, Catherine died and Pavel the First, who replaced her, soberly judged not to sacrifice Russian blood for the treacherous allies (the ruler was greatly underestimated) - he stopped military operations.
And again the prayers and groans of the Georgian kings rushed to Moscow, on their knees (literal historical address) begging to accept Georgia into the Russian Empire. As a result, the sweet-tongued Georgians persuaded Paul and in 1800 the annexation took place. But as soon as another Georgian tsar died, squabbles began again and the Russians were recognized as "occupiers".
Taking of Kars.
The Emperor Alexander I, who ascended the Russian throne, decided to end this orgy and assumed the title of Tsar of Georgia. Members of the former ruling Georgian dynasty were taken to Russia.
Pavel Potemkin founded the Vladikavkaz fortress and turned the caravan trail in the Darial Gorge into a "kind of road", which in 1883 was turned into a Georgian military road by the forces and means of the Russian treasury. It had only one purpose - a quick transfer of Russian troops to help the "oppressed" Georgians.
Georgian military road.
Without a king in your head
In addition to prominent representatives of the Georgian aristocracy, a nationalist, anti-Russian stratum was formed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the Georgian prince P. I. Bagration in 1812 bravely defended Russia from the Napoleonic invasion, another Bagration, Tsarevich Alexander, stabbed Russia in the back. In the spring of 1812 in Kakheti, Tsarevich Alexander, who lived in Persia, and representatives of the Georgian aristocracy revolted against Russia.
All the time while Napoleon went to Moscow, while Moscow was on fire, while the Russian army was driving the invaders back, Russia was forced to keep selected units in Georgia to suppress the rebellion.
In their hatred of Russia, Georgian “freedom fighters” were ready to rely on the help of their mortal enemies - the Persians. Only the complete defeat of the Persian army by the Russians did not allow the rebels to unite with the Persians in a united front against Russia.
The entry of Russian troops into Tiflis is the salvation of fellow believers.
Riots broke out in Georgia in 1817, and in 1819, and in the 1820s. And then throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the nationalist Georgian intelligentsia cherished the dream of overthrowing the “Russian yoke”. At the same time, naturally, this intelligentsia did not forget to enjoy all the benefits of the Russian Empire.
And of course, a special (not deserved) heyday took place with the coming to power, already in the country of the Soviets - Joseph Dzhugashvili (Stalin).
PS At the time of accession, Georgia did not include either Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Ossetia became part of the Russian Empire earlier than Georgia - in 1774. Abkhazia, from 1864 to 1918, was directly controlled by the Russian administration and was not part of Georgia either.
Continuation: "Colonial Backbones of Russia: The Baltic States"