Georgia between France, Russia and Iran Seen by French Diplomats

Abstract

At the turn of the 19th century in order to include Persia in the plan of the Indian expedition Napoleon inserted the issue of Eastern Georgia which was annexed by Russia in 1801. According to the Franco-Persian Treaty (4.05.1807), Napoleon recognized Georgia as a legal property of Fath-Ali Shah (Art. 3), charged himself to force the Russians to leave the territories of Georgia (Art. 4). What information did the Emperor of France have about Georgia that he promised to Shah? Some manuscripts dealing with this theme are kept in the Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France. Their authors were J.-F. Rousseau – the General Consul in Bassora (Basra), G. Olivier – French naturalist, P. Fourcade – the Consul in Synop, Joseph Rousseau – the Consul in Alepo (Aleppo), Napoleon’s envoys the General Romieu and orientalist Jaubert. The mentioning of the former kingdom of Kartli and Kakheti as the “Georgia of Persia” reinforced in the mind of the French the idea that Georgia was a country which belonged to Persia, taken away by Russia by force. In some manuscripts the aspiration of Russia is noted to establish itself on the territories from the port of Trabizond to the port of Astarabad because of their advantageous military and commercial locations. During all negotiations (1807-1809) the Tehran court demanded from the French Ambassador General Gardane the liberation of Georgia in favor of Persia. Unlike the mentioned diplomats, from the Aide-de-camp of Gardane, Lieutenant Trézel’s report it is clear, that he has a positive attitude towards the Russian Empire’s policy in Georgia and the Caucasus.