Rostom Shervashidze (

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

: როსტომ შერვაშიძე) was a ruler of the

Principality of Abkhazia The Principality of Abkhazia ( ka, აფხაზეთის სამთავრო, tr) emerged as a separate feudal entity in the 15th-16th centuries, amid the civil wars in the Kingdom of Georgia that concluded with the Triarchy and coll ...

of the

18th century The 18th century lasted from January 1, 1701 ( MDCCI) to December 31, 1800 ( MDCCC). During the 18th century, elements of Enlightenment thinking culminated in the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. During the century, slave trad ...

, who ruled c. 1700-

1730 Events January–March * January 30 (January 19 O.S.) – At dawn, Emperor Peter II of Russia dies of smallpox, aged 14 in Moscow, on the eve of his projected marriage. * February 26 (February 15 O.S.) – Anna of Russia (Ann ...

. A member of House Shervashidze, he governed only a third of the principality, the rest of

Abkhazia Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...

being divided amongst his two brothers. During his reign, he had to face an increasing Ottoman influence, while engaging in a losing struggle against

Samegrelo Mingrelia ( ka, სამეგრელო, tr; xmf, სამარგალო, samargalo; ab, Агырны, Agirni) is a historic province in the western part of Georgia, formerly known as Odishi. It is primarily inhabited by the Mingrelians ...

and a war against

Imereti Imereti ( Georgian: იმერეთი) is a region of Georgia situated in the central-western part of the republic along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni River. Imereti is the most populous region in Georgia. It consists of 11 munic ...

Biography

Rostom Shervashidze was the oldest son of Prince Zegnak of Abkhazia. Born in the second half of the

17th century The 17th century lasted from January 1, 1601 ( MDCI), to December 31, 1700 ( MDCC). It falls into the early modern period of Europe and in that continent (whose impact on the world was increasing) was characterized by the Baroque cultural moveme ...

, little information is known on the life of Rostom, contemporary Abkhaz sources being scarce. He was born into the ancient House Shervashidze, a Georgian princely family that ruled over

on behalf of the

Kings of Georgia This is a list of kings and queens regnant of the kingdoms of Georgia before Russian annexation in 1801–1810. For more comprehensive lists, and family trees, of Georgian monarchs and rulers see Lists of Georgian monarchs. Kings of Iberia ...

since the Middle-Ages. Around 1700, he acceded the Abkhaz throne after his father's death, but was forced to divide his territories with his two younger brothers, Jikeshia and Kvapu. Jikeshia was granted the lands of northern Abkhazia, between the rivers Kodori and

Ghalidzga Ghalidzga ( xmf, Ghalish Dzga - Gheli bank) - river in Ochamchire Municipality ( Abkhazia). It originates on the southern slope of the Kodori Range, near the ( elevation 3,313 m ).

, while Kvapu took over the southern region of the principality till the

Enguri river The Enguri ( ka, ენგური, tr, xmf, ინგირი, ingiri, ab, Егры, ''Egry'' russian: Ингури, ''Inguri'') is a river in western Georgia. It is long, and has a drainage basin of . Rostom only controlled the territories of the Bzyb Valley, including

Sokhumi Sukhumi (russian: Суху́м(и), ) or Sokhumi ( ka, სოხუმი, ), also known by its Abkhaz name Aqwa ( ab, Аҟәа, ''Aqwa''), is a city in a wide bay on the Black Sea's eastern coast. It is both the capital and largest city of ...

, but was recognized suzerain of the entire principality, as the elder brother. He may have maintained good ties with both of his brothers, as evidenced in his decision to gift Kvapu dominion over the Georgian noble families of

Anchabadze Anchabadze ( ka, ანჩაბაძე), also known as Achba ( ab, А́чба), is a Georgian and Abkhazian family, and the oldest surviving noble house originating in Abkhazia. History The Anchabadze family is supposed to have its roots in ...

, Emukhvari, Inalishvili, Margania, Zvanibaia, Lakerbaia and Akirtava. Moreover, Rostom was recognized as lord of a multitude of clans that ruled over the decentralized regions of Abkhazia, including the Marshanias of Tzabaldal and the Gechbas of Jiketi. He spent his reign seeking to balance the influences of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

and the Principality of Samegrelo, both considering themselves the suzerains of Abkhazia. In 1701, Sokhumi was formally annexed by the Ottomans, who built a fortress there, while Rostom moved to

Lykhny Lykhny ( ka, ლიხნი, Abkhaz and Russian: Лыхны) is a village in the Gudauta District of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. History In medieval Georgian sources the village is also known as ''Zupu'' (''ზუფ� ...

. In the winter of 1702, probably at the instigation of Istanbul, he launched an assault of Samegrelo with his brother Kvapu. The Abkhazians ravaged the region, killing and capturing several Georgians and occupying the border marches. In response, King

George VI of Imereti Giorgi-Malakia Abashidze ( ka, გიორგი-მალაქია აბაშიძე, died October 15, 1722) was a Georgian nobleman and King of Imereti as George VI (or George V) from 1702 to 1707. He was a member of the prominent Abash ...

agreed to help Prince George IV of Samegrelo and invaded Abkhazia, defeating Rostom's weak troops. The latter agreed to recognize the Georgian domination over Abkhazia, while returning the Mingrelian hostages captured during their raids and the territories they conquered, while paying a large tribute. Before leaving Abkhazia, King George VI made sure to formalize a peace agreement between Rostom and George of Samegrelo. In

1723 Events January–March * January 25 – British pirate Edward Low intercepts the Portuguese ship ''Nostra Signiora de Victoria''. After the Portuguese captain throws his treasure of 11,000 gold coins into the sea rather than s ...

, Sultan

Ahmed III Ahmed III ( ota, احمد ثالث, ''Aḥmed-i sālis'') was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and a son of Sultan Mehmed IV (r. 1648–1687). His mother was Gülnuş Sultan, originally named Evmania Voria, who was an ethnic Greek. He was born at H ...

sent a Turkish robe to Rostom, a symbol of his recognition of Abkhazia as a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. The

Sublime Porte The Sublime Porte, also known as the Ottoman Porte or High Porte ( ota, باب عالی, Bāb-ı Ālī or ''Babıali'', from ar, باب, bāb, gate and , , ), was a synecdoche for the central government of the Ottoman Empire. History The nam ...

also dispatched a large amount of salt to the subjects of Rostom, solidifying the Empire's influence over Abkhazia. However, this did not prevent two anti-Ottoman revolts in 1725 and 1728 that led to the destruction of the Turkish fortress of Sokhumi. Following his death c.

, he was replaced as Prince of Abkhazia by his nephew Hamid Bey Shervashidze, a son of Jikeshia.

Bibliography

* * {{Cite book , title=Abkhazia in Russia-Ottoman Relations , last=Tsurtsumia , first=Zaza , publisher=State University of Sokhumi , year=2009 , location=Tbilisi , url=http://www.nplg.gov.ge/dlibrary/collect/0002/000389/Zaza%20Tsurtsumia.%20Avtoreferati%20inglisuri.pdf

References

Princes of Abkhazia