The directory «Plots»

Chavchavadze Ilia
(1837—1907)

Ilia Chavchavadze was a prominent figure of new Georgian literature, world-renowned writer, famous public benefactor, jurist, poet, novelist, humanist, publisher, philosopher and leader of the Georgia's National-liberation movement in 1861-1907. Along with Akaki Tsereteli and Niko Nikoladze, Ilia is considered as one of the founding fathers of modern Georgia. Ilia Chavchavadze was canonized as Saint Ilia the Righteous by Georgian Orthodox Church.

Ilia's political ideologies consisted of democracy and liberal nationalism and his poltical movement was a Georgian response to the Revolutions of 1848. He was a personal admirer of his contemporary, Guiseppe Garibaldi. He was born in 1837, in Kvareli (Eastern Georgia) into an ancient aristocratic family of Chavchavadze. Sometimes, he is credited as Prince Ilia Chavchavadze In 1857 he graduated from the 1st Classical Gymnasium of Tbilisi. In 1861 Ilia Chavchavadze graduated from the Faculty of Law of the St. Petersburg University (Russia).

He was the author of many outstanding Georgian literary works («The Hermit», «The Ghost», «Is a human a man?!», «The Otar's's Widow», «The Robber Kako», etc.) and important journalistic papers. From 1863 Ilia Chavchavadze was founder and editor-in-chief of Georgian public and political periodicals «Sakartvelos Moambe» (1863-1877) and «Iveria» (1877-1905). He dedicated most of his works to the Georgian nation-building and developing a civil society and preserved Georgian language and culture from Russification. Chavchavadze was killed by the gang of six pro-Russian assassins in Tsitsamuri, outside Mtskheta. Ilia's legacy of national awakening earned his the everlasting admiration of the Georgian people and the title of Uncrowned King of the Nation. Ilia is also known as the founding father of Modern Georgia.

Georgia, 2000, Ilia Chavchavadze

USSR, 1958, Ilia Chavchavadze

USSR, 1987, Ilia Chavchavadze

USSR, 1962.11.27, Tbilisi. 150th Birth anniv of Ilia Chavchavadze

USSR, 1962, Ilia Chavchavadze

USSR, 1975.11.28, Chavchavadze's museum in Kvareli

USSR, 1976.12.31, Chavchavadze monument in Kvareli

USSR, 1979.10.10, Chavchavadze and Tsereteli monument in Tbilisi

USSR, 1981.10.26, Chavchavadze, Tsereteli and Baratashvili monuments in Tbilisi

USSR, 1984.12.25, Chavchavadze and Tsereteli monument in Tbilisi