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How did Russia annex eastern Georgia in 1801?

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Snow-covered peaks and ridges of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia stretch across the landscape under a pale sky. — Caucasus Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

The annexation of eastern Georgia (the kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti) by the Russian Empire was a unilateral action that disregarded the protections established by the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk.

While the 1783 treaty had established Russian suzerainty in exchange for guaranteeing Georgia’s territorial integrity and the continuation of the Bagratid dynasty, the situation shifted following the death of King Erekle II in 1798. His successor, Giorgi XII, sought to hand the kingdom over to the Russian emperor Paul due to ongoing regional instability.

Although both rulers died before this transfer could be formally implemented, Emperor Paul issued a manifesto on December 18, 1800, unilaterally declaring the annexation of the region. This determination was formally reaffirmed by his successor, Alexander I, on September 12, 1801. Following the annexation, Russia deposed the Bagratid line, replaced them with military governors, and deported members of the royal house, actions that sparked several popular uprisings.12