RUSSIFIED “CASANOVA” IN THE KINGDOM OF KARTL-KAKHETI

Abstract

Our goal is to present and analyze the data on the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti and Georgians outlined in the writings by Alexander son of Simeon Pishchevich (1764-1820). These data are mostly accumulated in Pishchevich’s memoirs (published by Nil Popov in 1885). Alexander’s father had been a Serb, who resettled in the Russian Empire; Alexander was already russified. The memoirs composed by the younger Pishchevich pay much attention to his “sex victories”, resembling Giacomo Casanova’s Histoire de ma vie. Hence we nicknamed Alexander Pishchevich a russified “Casanova”. He spent several weeks in the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti in autumn 1784, and participated in the joint Georgian-Russian campaign against the Lezgis. Pishchevich also met some prominent Georgians in the Russian Empire. Therefore, his memoirs (and other works) contain a multitude of data relevant for Georgian Studies. They can be divided into several categories: 1) Cartographic legacy (has already been studied); 2) Information on the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti, based on Pishchevich’s personal impressions; probably the most significant part; 3) Information on Georgians active in the Russian Empire; 4) Information on the internal situation in the Russian Empire, when it became a centre of attraction for Georgian authorities; 5) Reflections of the russification process affecting Pishchevich, and presumably also other immigrants, including Georgians. We have analyzed the aforesaid data in some detail, as well as their reliability; the latter is compromised by author’s preoccupation with presenting his (actual or fictitious) sex victories, as well as egocentrism and flippancy; but endorsed by his candidness and straightforwardness. We concluded that Pishchevich’s data were trustworthy and remarkable.