G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ilia State University Observatory of the Caucasus/French Institute for Anatolian Studies International Conference LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD: AN INSIGHT INTO THE IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN THE CAUCASUS Dedicated to the 110th Anniversary of the Founder of the Institute of Oriental Studies Academician Giorgi Tsereteli Programme and Abstracts Tbilisi, October 1-2, 2014 International Conference Looking Back and Ahead: An Insight Into the Iranian Influence in the Caucasus Dedicated to the 110th Anniversary of the Founder of the Institute of Oriental Studies Academician Giorgi Tsereteli Tbilisi, October 1-2, 2014 Organizers: G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ilia State University Observatory of the Caucasus/French Institute for Anatolian Studies-Istanbul Organizational Committee: Adeline Braux, George Sanikidze With the Support of Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation French Institute of Anatolian Studies/Observatory of the Caucasus (Baku) Institut français de Géorgie Cultural Department of the Embassy of Iran in Georgia Service de coopération et d'action culturelle de l'ambassade de France en Arménie Service de coopération et d'action culturelle de l'ambassade de France en Iran Address: 1, Acad. G. Tsereteli St., Ilia State University, Building G, Hall 106 Programme October 1 10.00-12.30 Chair: George Sanikidze Welcome Addresses Academician Thomas V. Gamkrelidze – Head of the Scientific Council of the G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies Giga Zedania – Rector of Ilia State University Tea Shurgaia – The Reception of Persian Literature by Georgian Translators: Tendencies, Challenges, Perspectives (20th -21th c.) Irina Koshoridze - Oriental Buildings in the Caucasus (18th-19th c.) Hossein Razavi Borqei - The First Persian Language Medical Textbook in Tbilisi Grigol Beradze – From Tabriz to Tiflis with an Easel in Hand: On Some Iranian Artists Who Studied in Tbilisi (Late 19th – Early 20th c.) 12.30-13.30 – Lunch 13.30-15.30 Chair: Grigol Beradze Timirlan Aytberov – Dagestani Military Campaigns of Nadir Shah in Dagestani Arabic Sources Irina Natchkebia – The Role of Eastern Georgia in Napoleon’s Persian Policy in Early 19th Century (According to French Archives) Ali Dehbashi – Tbilisi in Persian Itineraries and Through Enlightened Iranians Marina Alexidze – Members of Qajar Family in Tbilisi 15.30-16.00 - Coffee-break 16.00-18.00 Chair: Clément Therme Florence Hellot-Bellier – The Attraction of Georgia for Christian Assyro-Chaldeans of Iran Manana Kvachadze – Tats in Georgia: One Hundred Years of Migration and Settlement Solmaz Tohidi-Rustamova - The Iranian Community in Azerbaijan: A Historical Insight and New Steps in Its Formation Babak Rezvani - Fereydani Georgian Ethnic identity: Emic Coherence, Hegemonic and non-Hegemonic representations of Identity Nikoloz Nakhutsrishvili – Iranians in Post-Soviet Georgia 19.00 -21.00 Reception (For participants of the Conference) October 2 10.00-13.00 Chair: Adeline Braux, Head of the Observatory of the Caucasus (Baku) Bernard Hourcade – The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Caucasus: Looking for Partners and /or Buffer Zones Rudik F. Yaralyan - Ethnopolitical Aspects of Azeri-Kurdish Relations in the Framework of Nowadays’ Regional Developments Clément Therme - Iranian Foreign Policy Towards the South Caucasus: Between Revolutionary Ideals and Realpolitik Ceyhun Mahmudlu - The Role of Iran in the Peace-Building Process in Nagorno Karabakh Conflict George Sanikidze – Iran and Georgia: Challenges for regional Policy in the 21st c. 13.00-14.00 – Lunch (For participants of the Conference) 15.00-18.00 A guided tour of the collection of Iranian art in the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts (For participants of the Conference) 19.00 Dinner (For participants of the Conference) October 3 Excursion (optional) Summaries Marina ALEXIDZE MEMBERS OF THE QAJAR FAMILY IN TBILISI Tbilisi became the place of refuge for several Persian political exiles. The most famous among them was the grandson of Fath-Ali Shah and brother of Mohammad Shah, Prince Bahman Mirzā, who was the governor of Tabriz and administrator of the South Azarbaijan. In 1848, he was involved in an abortive plot against his brother and, fearing for his life, left Iran with his 16 wives and 64 children for the Russian Empire. He settled in Tbilisi where the spent three years. In 1851, he moved to Shusha and died there in 1884. However, many of his descendants stayed in Tbilisi. They received European education in the best universities of the Russian Empire and gradually became fully integrated into the Tbilisi society. In the second half of nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this branch of the Qajar family was a small but prominent part of the society of the city. Their residences in Tbilisi at 17 and 19 Gorgasali Street and 14/21 Qazbegi St reet are still known as the Qajars’ houses. Timirlan AYTBEROV DAGESTANI MILITARY CAMPAIGNS OF NADIR SHAH IN DAGESTANI ARABIC SOURCES 1) Military campaigns Nadir Afshar and his generals, who were held in the areas of aboriginal settlement of ethnic Dagestani (RD, AR) were reflected in the historical sources, the Dagestani composed in Arabic. This is, firstly, a very valuable memorabilia (chronographic) recording the accession of Iranian troops on certain Dagestani territory, in certain localities. Secondly, records and small volume historical descriptions of battles that took place between the Iranians and the Dagestani. Third, private letters and official character. Fourth, writing stories about the mountain of individual contemporaries Nadir, belonged to the Dagestani Sunni religious leaders - in the context of their participation in the events of 1734-1742 years. 2) Military campaigns 1734 and 1735's, as a relatively successful for the Iranians got decent lighting in Persian, Georgian and other sources of the XVIII century. Dagestani sources, written in Arabic, given here, however, valuable additions and clarifications. Identifies specific ways in which Iranian forces were, and called the place of fights between them and the Dagestani. About the campaign Iranian forces against the Transcaucasian Avars, who conducted (1738) Ibrahim Khan Afshar, brother of Nadir Shah, well described by Georgians, Persians (Muhammad Kazim) and Dagestani sources provide valuable corrections and additions. For example, they describe exactly the way Ibrahim Khan, on Zakatalsky area (AR). The battle between him and the Avars, and finally, indicate exactly the place of his death. There is an eyewitness to this event. About hostilities Nadir Shah in Dagestan, which took place in 1742, Dagestan sources provide valuable additions to what we already know from the Iranian authors of the XVIII century. The way the Shah in the mountains and foothills, space battles and their results. Moreover, they point out very objectively - without explicitly boasting and attempts humiliation Iranians. 3) During a military campaign in Dagestan, carried out by Nadir Shah in 1741, it has not been foreigners (for example Russian), and ended this campaign of the Iranian army defeat. For this reason, in the most prestigious works of XVIII-XX centuries. Written in the East and in Europe about the deeds of Nadir Shah, regarding title campaign in Dagestan, said very little, and in the most general terms. Dagestani chronicles, official letters and other sources, written in the XVIII century. Allowed me to make such a clear description of the campaign and Nadir Shah in Dagestan in 1741, which ended in his defeat. 4) After the campaign of Nadir Shah in Dagestan, undertaken in the following 1742, when Dagestan decided to give him the opportunity to go back without the express shame, Iran's policy has been changed. Nadir Shah, according Dagestani sources, invite Dagestani military leaders at the ceremony, held in the South Caucasus. Part of Dagestan took these invitations and gifts, but most of the Avars and refused to continue the war - mainly on the territory of Georgia. 5) Camping Nadir Shah in Dagestan, although devastated by the time of the Dagestani land and caused terrible famine, but they contributed to the development in Dagestani, especially among the Avars, interest in the native language (religious and secular poetry), and native history. They have increased self-esteem, they were even more respect and fear their neighbors in the Caucasus. Dagestanis XVIII century, especially the 2nd half of it, as if turned to the Swiss South Caucasus, ie mercenaries, who fight for anyone. This situation persisted until the beginning of the XIX century, when Russian military force established in the Caucasus. Grigol BERADZE FROM TABRIZ TO TIFLIS WITH AN EASEL IN HAND: ON SOME IRANIAN ARTISTS WHO STUDIED IN TBILISI (LATE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENT.) The paper discusses the ‘Tbilisi period’ in the biography of three representatives of the Arzhangi family of artists from Tabriz (Iran). Reference is to Sayyed Ebrahim Aqa Mir (he was one of the court painters of the Qajar Crown Prince Mozaffar ad-Din Mirza), and his sons – Sayyed Hosayn (known as Hosayn Mir Mosavvar Arzhangi) and Sayyed ‘Abbas (known as ‘Abbas Rassam Arzhangi). According to the memoirs, biographical notices and other written sources, the above three artists acquired their first skills in traditional Iranian painting and calligraphy in Tabriz, from where they travelled to Southern Caucasus several times, visiting Baku and Tbilisi. In the city of Tbilisi (then Tiflis) they spent a couple of years (Sayyed Ebrahim Aqa Mir in the 1880s-1890s,