Two Archival Documents on the History of the Study of the Treaty of Georgievsk in Georgian Scholarship

Abstract

One of the significant topics in Georgian historical scholarship is the study and evaluation of the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk between the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti and the Russian Empire. Due to its continuing relevance, analyses of the treaty often extend beyond strictly academic circles and provoke discussions among various social groups. Historiographical assessments of the Treaty of Georgievsk have been ongoing for over two centuries, with interpretations varying across different periods and emphasizing distinct aspects. The Soviet era represents a particularly important phase, during which the study and teaching of history underwent unprecedented politicization and ideological framing. During the Soviet period, research on the Treaty can be divided into several stages. A key moment was 1983, when Soviet Georgia marked the 200th anniversary of the treaty with largescale commemorations. This included the publication of numerous scholarly and popular works, the production of documentary and feature films, and the organization of various academic and educational events. Special attention during the bicentennial celebrations was given to research institutions, notably the Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography of the Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences. This institute held a leading role in historical research across Georgia, and its activities were accorded exceptional importance and visibility. This publication presents two significant documents preserved in the archives of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, which illuminate the institute’s role in these commemorative and scholarly processes. These archival materials are published here for the first time in the academic literature, presented verbatim to the reader. The author’s style has been preserved, with only punctuation corrected and missing words restored in square brackets where necessary. The publication is accompanied by our editorial notes.