Saakadze, Georgii

Saakadze, Georgii 

(also known as the Great Mouravi). Born circa 1580, in the village of Peli; died Oct. 3 (13), 1629. Georgian political figure and military commander.

Saakadze was descended from the royal aznauri (nobility). In 1608 he became mouravi (guardian) of Tbilisi. In 1612, because of court intrigues, he emigrated to Persia. In 1620 the shah of Persia, Abbas I, appointed him vekil (guardian) for the young king of Kartli, Simon II, and Saakadze became de facto ruler of Kartli. However, when Persian troops began slaughtering the population of Kartli in an effort to subjugate the country completely, the population of Kartli and Kakhetia rose in rebellion. The revolt was led by Saakadze. After being defeated on July 1, 1625, in the battle of Marabda, the rebels began guerrilla warfare. The Persians were forced to accept the rule of King Taim-uraz I in Kartli-Kakhetia. Saakadze revolted against Taimuraz I but was defeated in 1628 in the battle of Bazaleti, after which he fled to Turkey. There, suspected of treason, he was killed.

REFERENCE

Dzhamburiia, G. Velikii Mouravi. In Gruziisyny, Moscow, 1961.