Pietro della Valle, "An Account of Georgia," (1627) - Part 2

Pietro della Valle (1586–1652) was an Italian Renaissance traveler who left detailed accounts of Georgia and the Georgian communities in Persia. He was born into a distinguished noble family in Rome and received a thorough education in the arts and sciences. In 1611, he participated in the Spanish expedition against the pirates on the Barbary coast and later visited the Holy Land in 1614–1616. On his return journey, he decided to continue his travels and joined a caravan traveling to Persia, where he offered his services against the Ottomans to Shah Abbas. He spent the next five years in Persia before returning with his Georgian wife to Italy. Della Vale wrote a series of letters to a friend in Naples, which remains one of the best sources on 17th-century Persia. Besides his descriptions of Persian society and culture, he also left detailed observations on the Georgians living in Persia and seemed to have been impressed by their personal qualities, courage, and civilized courtesy. His notes contain information on the plight of the Georgian royal family in Persia and on the composition and arms of the Georgian forces in battle.

In 1627 Pietro della Valle presented the following account of Georgia to His Holiness Pope Urban VIII. The second part of the letter describes the fates of Kings Teimuraz of Kakheti and Luarsab of Kartli as well as the devastating Persian invasion, led by Shah Abbas I, of Kakheti in 1614-1616 that resulted in more than one hundred thousand Georgians being deported to the Safavid realm. 

For this translation, I used the 18th century English translation and French edition of Voyages de Pietro Della Valle, gentilhomme romain dans la Turquie, l'Egypte, la Palestine, la Perse, les Indes Orientales, et autres lieux (Paris, 1745), VIII, 375ff.

In the present age, either as a punishment for their sins, or otherwise by permission of the Most High, the Georgians have been sorely oppressed; and that, more than to any other cause, owing to their disorganization and feuds: hence, notwithstanding they yet have considerable power, they have lost a great part of that they formerly possessed. For, of the six Princes which I have described, one descended from their ancient [Shah]s, whose dominions bordered on Armenia and Cappadocia in the neighborhood of Tabril and the confines of Media, and who served against his will, at one time in the armies of the Turks, at another in those of Persia, in their continual wars, had his territories by degrees incorporated with those of the Turks, who finally seized upon the whole of them, under the vain pretext of his being the fomenter of these troubles. I am told that there yet exists a young Prince of his family who lives at the court of the Grand Seignior [Ottoman sultan], soliciting there in vain, as an indemnification for the dominions ravished from him, the government of some province.

Shah Abbas of Persia

Of late years, upon a fresh war breaking out between the Persians and Turks, shortly before my travelling into Persia, two other Georgian Princes of the ancient royal house were spoiled of their principalities; and, although not utterly ruined, were reduced to a wretched condition. Possibly, however, some new revolution, which is not unlikely to happen, may reinstate them. These two Sovereigns are the Princes Teimuraz and Luarsab, both whom, their territories lying on the frontiers of Persia, were in measure dependent on that empire. The greater part of the Princes of Georgia even were accustomed to receive their education at the court of that power, and these two latter passed several years of their infancy there. In the war of which I speak, while peace was negotiating between the Persians and Turks whilst yet the armies of either power were in presence of each other, and while, whom these Princes depended on was yet under discussion, each claiming them as his vassals, the [Shah Abbas I] of Persia affirmed to the Turkish ambassador that they constantly owned allegiance to him, and that as a proof they waited on him in his camp as often as required. The ambassador, who would not allow his claim, answered, that if they were thus submissive, it might be proved by his summoning them at the instant.

Upon this the [Shah] summoned them, but these Princes, seeing the Turkish army so close upon them, were fearful of declaring themselves, and prevaricated first with one then with the other, excusing themselves handsomely towards the Persians, but refusing to enter their camp. This piqued the Persian exceedingly, and brought him into a degree of disrepute among the Turks; he, however, dissembled his resentment at the instant, as he could do no other; but after the Peace was concluded and the Ottoman army withdrawn, he, by his usual intrigues, managed to effect a disunion between Luarsab and Teimuraz, such even as almost to engage them to resort to arms, notwithstanding their affinity, for Teimuraz had espoused as a second wife the sister of Luarsab; extremities, however, were prevented, while their two armies were on foot, by the interposition of certain noblemen, their vassals, who represented to and satisfied them of the division being fomented by the [Shah] of Persia, for the purpose of ruining both. Upon looking into the intrigue, they discovered that this [Shah] had secretly conveyed a letter or order to either, couched in the selfsame terms, exhorting each to attack, make away with the other, and seize upon his dominions, in which attempt he pledged to succor him, and maintain him in possession of the territories he should conquer: professing to each he addressed the strongest friendship and the greatest aversion to his adversary, on many accounts which he suggested. Notwithstanding this elucidation, so easy of deception is this nation, it failed to put them on their guard, or teach them wisdom.

In addition to this, the [Shah] fomented discord between Teimuraz and his mother, or at least excited mistrust. This princess, called Ketevan Dedopali, or Queen Ketevan, possessed great abilities, was of exemplary conduct, related to Luarsab, and being a widow, had governed the state for years during the minority of Teimuraz, and had valiantly defended it against her cousin Constantine Mensa, a Mahometan  [Muslim] Prince, who, upon the death of her husband, Daud, the brother of Constantine, had mercilessly and cruelly massacred her old father Alexander [King of Kakhetia in 1605 at Dzegami]. After him another brother attempted an invasion of the state, and would have succeeded but for her giving him battle, defeating him, and putting him to death, together with a number of persons who supported him. Upon these several accounts she was exceedingly esteemed and loved by the people. The [Shah] of Persia, to excite mistrust in the mind of Teimuraz, insinuated that his mother intended to marry a certain officer, whom, for his valour and prudence, she had employed in different departments of the government; and that in such case, she would contrive the ruin of Teimuraz for the purpose of securing the principality to the children she might have by her second husband.

Teimuraz nourishing this idea, and ignorant of the snare laid for him, put this officer, the best stay of his country, to death, and withdrew all authority from his mother; afterwards this young man, unexperienced and not beloved by his nobility, found himself encircled with trouble. For the [Shah] of Persia excited fresh discontent in the state, and rendered him contemptible in the eyes of the nobles on account of his being a child, treating them on their visits to Persia with the greatest distinction and familiarity, making them considerable presents, and in everything which regarded their religion, admitting perfect toleration; so that by degrees they became attached to this monarch, weaned of their affection for their natural sovereign, and esteemed as the height of felicity their having him for lord.

Teimuraz I and his wife Khoreshan.
A sketch from the album
of Roman Catholic missionary
Cristoforo Castelli

After employing such artifices for some time, the [Shah] of Persia, in 1613, fell all at once upon Georgia with a large army, under pretense of Teimuraz having married the Princess Chaurascian [Khoreshan], sister of Luarsab [King of Kartli], who had previously been promised to him. Wherefore, on his arrival upon the frontiers of the dominions of Luarsab and Teimuraz, he ordered these two Princes to come to his camp, to render account of this and bring him the bride, stating his firm resolution of possessing her, and insisting on the dissolution of her marriage with Teimuraz, which already had been consummated; as if such a practice were allowable with the Christians as with the Mahometans [Muslims].

The Georgian Princes were astonished at this unexpected summons, and what augmented their confusion was the treachery of a number of noblemen, who afforded a free passage to the troops of Persia, and introduced them into the heart of the country; into which, without this perfidy, from the natural fortifications which surround it, and its difficult passes, it would have been impossible for him to have penetrated. These Princes, exceedingly perplexed, knew not what measures to adopt, and Luarsab, resolving on obedience, surrendered himself, and was sent by the Persian [shah] into the province of Astarabad [Gorgan], on the Caspian Sea, a considerable distance from Georgia, where he was placed under the care of the khan of that province, and treated rather as a guest than a prisoner, being allowed to go wherever he chose. The [Shah] of Persia did not cause any devastation upon entering the territories of Luarsab, but established there as a governor a certain Riarei, or Bagrat Mirza [son of King David XI], either an uncle or cousin of Luarsab, who had some years before turned Muslim in Persia. He had a son [Simon II/Semayun Khan] who was a Muslem as well as his father, but born in this religion, who governed in that country when I was there, not indeed as a sovereign prince, but as a khan and vassal of the [Shah] of Persia, the better part of whose forces were commanded by officers of the Christian faith, which likewise was the religion of the chief part of his subjects.

After Luarsab had resided in this manner for some years in Astarabad, that he might be more secure of his person, the [Shah] of Persia caused him to be removed to Farsistan, or Persia Proper, one of the provinces the most distant from Georgia, where he was closely confined for some time in a fortress, at a short distance from the capital, called Shiraz. At last in 1621, or about that time, when his subjects had the greatest hopes of his liberation, and the [Shah] appeared most anxious to see and be favourable to him, exactly the reverse occurred. For this sovereign [Shah Abbas] all at once was disgusted with the Prince, in consequence of the revengeful insinuations of one Maura [Mouravi Giorgi Sakadze], a man of highest consideration among the Georgians, and very powerful, whose sister Luarsab had either promised to marry, or after marrying had repudiated, who persuaded the [Shah], with whom he was high in savour, that he never could maintain a secure and peaceable possession of the dominions of Luarsab as long as he lived; for being so well beloved by his people, they would constantly nourish hopes of seeing him again their sovereign, as long as he existed, their hearts and good-will being wholly his. Instigated by this motive, or else from the discovery of a conspiracy about this time among the Georgians to destroy him, [Shah Abbas] resolved on quashing their hopes, which, in case of any insurrection, might cause these people to appear in array against him, and caused Luarsab to be strangled in prison with the bow-string.

Teimuraz was more caudous, never trusting himself to the custody of the [Shah] of Persia, declaring when called upon, that he was apprehensive of his anger, as he was  offended; that it was impossible for him to part with his wife, as neither the Christian religion nor his own honour allowed him to give her up to another; but in order to satisfy [the shah] of his submission, he sent to him his own mother with his two unmarried sisters, and two young children, his offspring by the lady contested. This measure was adopted by Teimuraz under expectation that Princess [Queen] Ketevan, his mother, a woman of consummate ability, and who had several times before negotiated different affairs in Persia with the [Shah], with whose manner and disposition she was perfectly acquainted, would be able to appease that Monarch, and procure him peace. The measure, however, was fruitless, the [Shah] being inexorable, and appearing to be passionately attached to the Princess Chaurascian [Khoreshan] and well knowing that Teimuraz neither could nor would listen to the insolent proposal made to him of giving her up, he insisted on Teimuraz appearing before him. But as the Prince refused obedience, the [Shah] retained [Queen] Ketevan, and sent her, together with her children and grandchildren, to the city of Shiraz, where, when I was there, she was maintained with the respect due to her rank. After this the [Shah] of Persia entered Georgia with his army, that is to say the province of Kakheti, the realm of Teimuraz, which was made accessible by the treason of several nobles who sided with [the shah] in hopes of great rewards and opened to him the most difficult passages through the mountains.

Teimuraz perceiving his enemies all at once in the midst of his country, without any army on foot to oppose them, or time to raise one, was fearful of trusting himself to subjects whose fidelity he had full reason to suspect, and having no other resource, he, with his wife and a number of Georgians, who faithfully adhered to him, betook themselves to flight; first taking refuge in the more interior and strongest part of the country of Imereti, where this Prince first reigned, and afterwards flying to Odisci [Mingrelia], that is [the realm of the] Dadian.

Many noblemen under false hopes voluntarily submitted to the [Shah] of Persia, and apostatizing enrolled themselves under his banners. Others of more generous disposition, but who had no time to flee, were overcome by force. Thus the whole people, in immense numbers, became the prey of the the conqueror. The [Shah], upon his entrance into Georgia, after observing the natural strength of its fortifications, and reflecting on the injury to which he would be exposed from the inhabitants provided they should become united and under a good government, was not only undesirous of retaining the country, but conceived it best to withdraw thence the whole of his army as soon as possible. He was, however, unwilling to miss the advantage he obtained by the subjugation of such a numerous people, of infinitely greater value than the country itself; and duly weighing the desolation which would follow the entire depopulation of a whole province, he caused all the inhabitants, males as well as females, to leave their houses, noblemen as well as commoners [roturiers], young and old of all descriptions, causing them to take with them their most valuable effects, as many as they could, and placing them in front of his army, he marched them rapidly into his own dominions, afterwards distributing them among those provinces that farthest from Georgia and less populated. Hence the provinces of Kerman or Caramania, Mazanderan, on the Caspian Sea, and several others of that empire, are now principally inhabited by Georgians and Circassians, for a number of Circassians but a short time before, from a dearth of provisions in their own country, passed into that of Teimuraz, and became the vassals of this Prince in common with the Georgians, living and intermarrying with them. These, therefore, were treated in the same manner as the Georgians, and, alike dispersed over the different provinces of Persia, enjoy equal liberty with the other subjects of the crown. Although they are found in many other provinces, in Farsistan and Mazanderan, they are in such numbers that throughout whole cities and districts there are no other inhabitants. For their subsistence the [Shah] grants them lands, for which they pay, in common with the Mahometan [Muslim] subjects, an inconsiderable tax [tribut]. These people, who form the chief of the inhabitants of these provinces, preserve their religion, which, however, is rather unrefined [fort grossier] Christianity, owing to their having no priests or ministers to instruct them, or at least so small a number as to be insufficient for the tuition of such a multitude of people variously dispersed; and even such as these [priests] are so ignorant themselves, as to be of little utility. Many noblemen, however, impatient of hardships, and most of the soldiers, with several among the people, moved by ambition and avarice, in order to participate the bounty of the [Shah] largely dealt out to those who change their religion, and some induced by necessity, have turned Mahometans, and still continue to do so. By means of these the army of Abbas has been frequently augmented; he employing these slaves [esclaves], as they are called, as a counterpoise against and to restrain the insolence of the Qizilbash. The number of these [Georgian] renegades in his service, exclusive of Armenians and Circassians, reaches 30,000. Some of them hold commands in the army, have governing positions, and have risen to various dignities, even to those of sultans and khans.

Distinct from these Georgians, who are free in Persia, there is moreover an infinite number not only of the common people, but of the nobility who in the disorder consequent on the invasion of the Persians into their country, were made slaves by the Persians. So many are there of this description, that there is not a house of any consequence in Persia that is not full of men and women of this country. Not a satrap but has his wives entirely of the Georgian nation, the women of that country being famous for beauty, and even the [Shah] has scarcely any other for his attendants, his palaces swarming with them, as well females as men. All of these nearly have abjured their religion, either in fact or in semblance, under the impression common among them that God knowing the secrets of the heart, it is enough they should remain faithful internally to their religion, and that it matters not what profession they outwardly make.

This unfortunate measure of transporting the inhabitants of Georgia was attended by the most dreadful disorders and excesses. Murders, people dying of starvation, robberies, rapes, children stifled in despair by their own parents, or thrown by them into rivers, Others massacred by the Persians for want of good complexions, others again torn from their mothers' breasts, and thrown into the streets and highways, to become the prey of wild beasts, or be trodden to death by the horses and camels belonging to the army, which for a whole day together trampled upon carcasses: such is the picture of this shocking expedient; and afterwards, how agonizing the separation of parents from their children, husbands from their wives, brothers from their sisters, divided from each other, and forwarded to different provinces! So numerous were these wretched ruined people on this occasion that they were publicly sold at a cheaper rate even than cattle [bêtes]. But let us draw a veil over this frightful scene, and proceed to speak of Teimuraz….