1801 Accession of Georgia to Russia

215 years ago, on January 30, 1801, the manifesto of Emperor Paul I on the annexation of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti) to Russia was published. It said: “We hereby declare by our imperial word that after the annexation of the Kingdom of Georgia for eternity under our state, not only will it be granted and will be intact ... all rights, advantages and property legally belong to everyone, but that from now on every state of the people the above areas has to enjoy those rights, liberties, benefits and advantages, which the ancient subjects of Russia, by the grace of our ancestors and Ours, enjoy under Our protection.

However, since Pavel was killed already in March 1801, his son Alexander I had to practically annex Georgia. In September 1801, he issued a second manifesto on the annexation of the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom to Russia. In fact, Russian control over Georgia was established only in April 1802.