May 28, 2021 • Oxford, UK • 161 . SECTION XXXI. HISTORY, ARCHEOLOGY AND CULTUROLOGY DOI 10.36074/logos-28.05.2021.v2.49 THE CAUCASIAN GAMBIT OF WORLD EMPIRES AND EREKLE II Natsvaladze Mamuka Doctorate Sokhumi State University, Tbilisi GEORGIA Abstract. The current study is the first attempt to study the relations between Russian- Georgian relations within the context of international political processes, in particular, the Seven Years' War and the plan for the redistribution of Europe, the “Greek Project”. The world historical process of the second half of the XVIII century is of special importance for the proper assessment of the history of Georgia. Russian and Soviet historiography deliberately distorted the facts and events of the time leading to the improper assessment of the annexation of Georgia and the Caucasus. The European contacts of King Erekle II of Kartli- Kakheti were deliberately erased, and hence the Caucasus was declared a geostrategic space on Russian orbit and was artificially separated from the world historical processes. Therefore, a violent political act, the conquest of Georgia was disguised as an alliance corresponding with the idea of Christian common faith. The article analyzes the reasons the members of the European system of international relations did not like the existence of a powerful state in the Caucasus. The strategic policy directions of the Austrian Empire were also analyzed, making it obvious once again that the only ally of Erekle II was the Emperor of Austria. Introduction Process of the Georgian history can be obviously observed within the world political processes of the second half of the XVIII century. The latter was used by Russia as a basis for full international isolation of the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti and later for the annexation of Georgia and the Caucasus as well. Georgia was not effectively supported by Europe during the referred processes and consequently the Caucasus was left to Russia. The question is frequently posed - why the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti could not maintain the independence? Why should the presence or absence of Georgian kingdoms depend on Russia's will? What measures were taken by Erekle II for the prevention of such development of the country? It is known that Erekle II as the person is emphasized. The king who started an unprecedented fight for the enhancement of the country, for the preparation of economic foundation of the state and implemented a number of reforms as well aimed to establish and develop a state system model. All theses had has some results but were still insufficient to retain the independence of the country. The question is whether the independence of Georgia depended on the will of Russia? We have an unequivocal answer – surely, it did, however, Russia should have abandoned its imperial policy (having not only during the referred period but 162 • Theoretical and empirical scientific research: concept and trends • Volume 2 . even now) in order for Georgia to maintain its independence. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the current study is to find out the roles of the international actors, the great powers in the process of annexation of Georgia, to what extent the Caucasus was within the sphere of their interests and the reasons they could/did not take effective measures to support Georgia. Novelty and Objective of the Study Objective of the current study is to review the annexation and international isolation of Georgia in terms of world historical processes of that time. The product of the world historical process of the XVIII century is the plan for the redistribution of Europe, known as the "Greek Project", aimed to neutralize the Ottoman Empire and redistribute territories of the latter. Current study is the first attempt to review this part of Georgian history in relation to the Greek Project, the precedent of the latter has never been observed in the historiography of Russia, Soviet or independent Georgia. Literature Review Russian and Soviet historiography reviews the issue within a limited point of view - main acting states are Russia, the Ottoman Empire and Iran. This triangle does not extend beyond the judgment and evaluation by historians [54; 32]. This incorrect methodological approach cane be observed in a number of improper assessments, actually separated from the world historical process. Accordingly, the motivations of Russia, Iran and the Ottomans in regard of Georgia are not taken into account due to the world historical process. It is proved and recognized that Georgia and the Caucasus have been the target of almost all world empires throughout the history of the world. Taking into consideration the latter, it seems rather strange that the most important event of the XVIII century - the Seven Years' War- was deliberately ignored by Soviet, Russian and modern Georgian historiography. This is a classic example of the Soviet conjuncture, clearly indicating that the Caucasus is not a part of world civilization, but a geostrategic segment moving around the Russian orbit. Discussing the issue from such viewpoint does not answer several key questions proving that the problem should be considered through a different methodology, within the historical context of the world. It is with this methodology that we study the Greek project. Excerpts from our research have been published in various scientific publications in Melbourne [49], Moscow [46], Tokyo [48], Cambridge [47], Rome [45], Vienna [44], Warsaw [37; 38], Boston [36], San Francisco [40], Sheffield [39], Las Palmas [43], Tbilisi [41], Telavi [42]. It is undisputed that the process of the world history has been properly reflected on the Caucasus at all times. Russian and Soviet historiography do not use it in regard of the Seven Years' War for some reasons. However, it is the most important event that actually turned the geostrategic policy of the world states upside down and was recognized by Churchill as the First World War, when the world was actually shifted to other rails. It turned out a deadlock for Russian and Soviet historiography. The strategy of our research of the chosen issue is based on a very simple assumption - the Caucasus is an organic and integral part of the international system of the world, it is a fact - whether anyone likes it or not ... Study of the historical process of the referred period should be based on this postulate. It is from this point of view that the Seven Years' War determined the fate of Georgia's history, provided the grounds for many May 28, 2021 • Oxford, UK • 163 . important processes that made Russia turn from Europe to Turkey. It is worth noting that no study (monography or even an article) has been conducted of Georgian history in relation to the Seven Years' War. The current study is a fragment of a monographic study of the stated issue. Research methods We rely on the methodological principles of objectivity, historicism, determinism, alternativeness, reconstruction, developed in the theoretical studies by the following scientists: Charles-Victor Langlois, Charles Seignobos; Robin George Collingwood [6]; Marc Léopold Benjamin Bloch [5]; Peter Lambert and Phillipp Schofield [27]; Abrams Lynn [1]; Brundage Anthony [4]; Gregory Ian, Ell Paul [11]; Hughes- Warrington [14]; Iggers George, Wang Qiang Edward [16]; Akira Iriye [17]; Kaldellis Anthony [19]; Koselleck Reinhart [23; 24]; Lukacs John [25] ; Munro Doug, Reid John [35]; Quigley Carroll [53]; Raaflaub Kurt [55]. Sources There are important primary sources for the research of The Caucasian Gambit of World Empires and Erekle II: The international treaties of Russia-Austria, published by Martens [30; 31] and on the correspondence of Joseph II, the Emperor of Austria and Catherine II, the Empress of Russia [2, p. 143-157; 28, p 281-291; 51, p 1-4] Italian translation of Erekle II letters, addressed to the European Monarchs of his time, preserved in the archives of several European countries, is the most important source to study the issue. The most important part of this source is preserved in the State Archive of Austria (Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Haus-Hof- und Staatsarchiv, 1010 Wien, I, Minoritenplatz I). Two letters were published by Mikheil Tamarashvili [61, p 402-404; 62], afterwards invaluable epistolary material was found in the archives of the Vatican, Vienna, Venice by Ilia Tabaghua, who attached these documents to a monograph published in 1979 [63]. Agreement concluded between France and Persia in 1807 published by Gardan [10]. The letter written by King Teimuraz II of Kartli to the daughter of the Russian Empress Elizaveta (daughter of Peter) on April 28, 1761, preserved in the Archives of Russian Foreign Affairs, Russian-Georgian Relations Foundation, 1761, Case 1, Part 2, pp. 398-399. The referred letter was published by Valerian Macharadze [33, p 453-455]. In order to clarify the referred problem, the state official or unofficial documents of the respective period, collected and published in three volumes by Alexander Tsagareli in 1891-1902 are of inestimable importance [65; 66; 67]. Nino Doborjginidze published quite actual articles based on the Georgian materials recorded in the historical archive of Propaganda Fide in Vatican, general archive of Capuchins in Rome and archive of Theatines [8, p 235-244; 9, p 197-211]. Maia Damenia, who studies the History of Catholic Missions in Georgia, published the description of the first volume of Georgian Materials recorded in the archive of Propaganda Fide. [7] British sources on Georgia are also important. They were published in two parts by Giorgi Kalandia [21; 22]. Giorgi Kalandia also published materials existing in British and Irish press on King Erekle [20]. Research Results The Caucasus has been the target of various empires from the very beginning of history due to its particularly important geostrategic location. Prior to the discovery 164 • Theoretical and empirical scientific research: concept and trends • Volume 2 .