Imeretian Kingdom

Imeretian Kingdom 

one of the three independent feudal kingdoms of Georgia (together with Kartli and Kakhetia) that formed at the end of the 15th century. Its capital was the city of Kutaisi. At the end of the 16th century it was limited to the territory of Imereti. By a Turkish-Iranian treaty of 1555 it was subjugated to Ottoman Turkey and paid a tribute in the form of slaves or money and kind.

The history of the kingdom is marked by constant feudal discord and the flourishing of the slave trade. Feudal internecine strife became particularly strong in the 17th century. Only King Solomon I (1752–84), who prohibited the slave trade and sought the unification of Western Georgia, succeeded in strengthening royal authority. His long-lasting war with the Turks was marked by the victory of 1757 at Khressili and the military alliance in 1758 with Erekle II of Kartli. In the 18th century, on more than one occasion, the Imeretian Kingdom turned for help to Russia, which failed to respond in order to. avert complications in its relations with Turkey. By the Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji of 1774 between Russia and Turkey, the tribute that the kingdom had been paying Turkey was abolished. In 1804, Solomon II accepted the protection of Russia. In 1811 the kingdom became the Imeretian province of Russia.