Ilia Makarashvili’s Letters to Nino Zhuruli

Abstract

Lieutenant-General Ilia Makarashvili's letters with Nino Zhuruli are housed within the Art Palace of Georgia, specifically in the Museum of Cultural History. The Makarashvili family and Zhuruli archives, including Ilia Makarashvili's letters to his future wife Nino Zhuruli, were previously maintained within the Makarashvili family. Following this, the ownership transitioned to Irina Makarashvili, the daughter of Ilia Makarashvili. Notably, this encompassed the residential property in the village of Arbo and the associated farmland, which were passed to Merab Makarashvili, Ilia Makarashvili's brother Konstantine Makarashvili’s great grandson (deceased 2023), who subsequently donated the extensive archives of the Zhuruli and Makarashvili families, including a wealth of photographic material, to the Art Palace of Georgia. Ilia Makarashvili's military career is marked by notable achievements. As a proficient artillery expert, he underwent comprehensive military training before attaining the rank of general. His affection for his future wife, Nino, the daughter of the prominent public figure Durmishkhan Zhuruli, is evident in the letters he penned to her from various military training bases. Predominantly written prior to their marriage, these letters emanate from locales such as Alexanderpol (now Gyumri) and Jelalogli (now Stefanavani). Beyond detailing the personal bond between these esteemed individuals, Makarashvili's correspondences offer insights into Georgian public figures and military personnel of the era. Furthermore, they provide lesser-known glimpses into the social and cultural milieu of late 19th-century Georgia, enriching the reader's understanding of this period.