Alexander I of Russia vs Solomon I of Imereti

Alexander I ascended the throne after the assassination of his father, Paul I. He was aware of the conspiracy but did not prevent it. His accession was greeted with relief by the nobility, who hoped for a return to the liberal policies of Catherine the Great.

Alexander I led Russia during Napoleon's invasion. The Russian army retreated, employing scorched-earth tactics, and then defeated the French at the Battle of Borodino. Napoleon's Grand Army was destroyed during the winter retreat from Moscow. This victory made Alexander a key figure in European politics.

Alexander I played a leading role at the Congress of Vienna, which redrew the map of Europe after Napoleon's defeat. He advocated for the creation of the Holy Alliance and secured Russian control over Poland as a constitutional kingdom. The congress established a balance of power that lasted for decades.

Alexander I initiated the Holy Alliance with Austria and Prussia, a pact based on Christian principles to maintain peace and suppress revolutions. The alliance became a tool for reactionary policies across Europe, intervening in uprisings in Italy and Spain. It reflected Alexander's growing mysticism and conservatism.

Alexander I granted a liberal constitution to the Kingdom of Poland, which he created as a personal union with Russia. The constitution established a parliament, civil liberties, and a separate army. However, Alexander later violated its provisions, leading to Polish discontent and eventual uprisings.

Alexander I died suddenly in Taganrog under unclear circumstances, leading to rumors that he had faked his death to become a hermit. The legend of Feodor Kuzmich, a holy man who appeared in Siberia and was believed to be Alexander, persisted for decades. His death triggered the Decembrist Revolt.

King Solomon I of Imereti led his forces to a decisive victory over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Khresili. This victory halted Ottoman expansion into western Georgia and secured Imereti's independence for a period, establishing Solomon as a major regional power.

Solomon I issued a decree abolishing the slave trade within the Kingdom of Imereti, specifically targeting the sale of Christian captives to the Ottoman Empire. This reform was both a moral stance and a political move to weaken Ottoman influence and strengthen his own authority.

Solomon I secured the support of the Georgian Orthodox Church to excommunicate anyone involved in the slave trade. This religious sanction reinforced his secular abolition decree and made the practice socially unacceptable within Imereti.

The Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji between Russia and the Ottoman Empire included clauses that recognized Imereti's right to trade without Ottoman interference. Solomon I had lobbied Russia for these provisions, which reduced Ottoman economic pressure on his kingdom.