694 
for part of Georgia has been lately trans- 
formed into a province, and many of the 
nations in the vicinity of Mount Cau- 
casus, have been constrained to yield 
their fierce independence, in consequence 
of the victorious incursions of a people 
but a single degree less rude than them- 
‘selves. : 
Georgia, in Russian called Gorusia, 
and in Turkish and Persian, Giurdgis/an, 
was formerly termed [beria, by which 
name it is invariably mentioned by the 
Byzantine historians. Plutarch describes 
the government that prevailed there in 
ancient times; and the facts adduced 
by him, appear to have been correctly 
stated. The princes of the blood royal 
composed a very numerous tribe, or 
cast; and the eldest branch, always ex- 
ercised the rights of sovereignty. When 
attacked by Pompey the Great, their 
king was called Artoces or Artchir ; and 
they opposed him with numerous but 
undisciplined armies, unable to contend 
inethe open country against the veteran 
fegions of ancient Rome. They must, 
however, have been, even at that remote 
period, rather more civilized, perhaps, 
than at present; for according to Strabo, 
they built towns, manufactured the grape 
into wine, and cultivated corn: all of 
which presuppose a certain degree of 
polity. 
So much for their ancient state: as to 
their modern annals, we learn that the 
Czar, or Tzar, Wachtang I. laid the 
foundation of Tefilis, the capital, in the 
year 311 of the Christian era. After 
changing their religion, from heathenism 
to christianity, they began to distinguish 
theniselves among their neighbours. 
Their conversion, as usual, was produced 
by afemale. ‘This pious woman, called 
Nonria if we are to credit the testimony 
of one of their kings, gravely confirmed 
by Rafinus, wrought many great miracles, 
-and these are, ¢ at the same time, amply 
atrested by the collateral proofs of 
several religious books, which minately 
describe all the particulars. Such a 
favourite, indeed, has this good lady been, 
for ages past, that the natives were care- 
ful, amidst all their feuds ‘and wars, to 
preserve, for scveral centuries, a -cross 
formed out of the trunks of two vines, 
and tied together with her hair. ~ In 
consequence of a-successful invasion of 
the Turks, it was carried, however, into 
Russia, where it remained until within 
these few years; when the present Em- 
peror, with a most becoming respect for 
the religious prejucices of his new sub- 
Retrospect of French Literature—Historg. 
jects, sent back this palludivm of the 
nation, to the shrine whence it was fore, 
merly taken. 
After subjugating many of their neigh- 
bours, the [berians themselves were at 
length overcome by the Persians. On 
this, many of the chiefs entered into the 
service of their conquerors; but Prince ~ 
Tornikia, who bad tarned Monk, leaving 
his convent, assumed the dress of a war- 
rior, and distinguished himself by “his 
exploits. What is still more wonderful, 
after defeating the enemy, he calmly re- 
sumed the habit of Ins order, and built a 
convent on Mount Athos, where his ars 
mour is still exhibited. 
At length, Georgia, having regained 
her independence, was enabled, by the 
wisdam of her princes, to withstand the 
efforts of the surroufding nations, here 
termed barbarians. David UI. who as- 
cended the throne, in 809, rebuilt several 
towns, which had fallen into decay, while 
George ILI. who commenced his reignsin 
1150, carried“his victorious arms into 
Persia, and thus avenged his country for - 
the many wrongs experienced from that 
quarter. 
But Tamar, who may be considered 
as the Iberian Catharine, deserves the 
greatest portion of notice, as she eclipsed 
the glory of all her predecessors, and has 
not since been equalled by any of the, 
succeeding princes. . This illustrious 
female commenced her reign in 11714, 
and filled the throne during a period of 
twenty-seven years. She commanded © 
her armies in person, at the head. of 
which her majesty gained many battles, 
and rendered several nations tribatary, | 
Her princes, and great men, if we are to 
give credit to the work before us, which 
is further supported by other authorities, 
mingled a taste for the Muses with a 
love of war; and on their return from the 
toils of a campaign, amused themselves 
with poetry. Their compositions, both 
in verse and in‘prose, are still relished by 
the Georgians, who admire the- classic 
productions of those days, when the 
court of Tefflis was thronged with men of 
letters. During the life of this celebrated 
princess, who married a son of the Czar 
Audrew Bogulobskoi, and thus, for the 
first time, “formed a connexion with 
Russia, Georgia, may be said to have. 
enjoyed all the blessings of the golden 
ave. 
* Phe age of iron soon succeeded; for, 
a queen, named Udan, or the Russian, 
having imprudently divided the kingdom 
into two, of course rendered it wanker, 
an 
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