FOR THE ISSUE OF THE IDENTITY OF ALI BEY AL-KABIR, RULER OF EGYPT AND KHAN OF THE TWO SEAS

Abstract

According to Georgian chroniclers, during the 17th and 18th centuries, many Georgians who had fled their homeland could be found across various countries, one of which was Egypt. Numerous sources recount the heroism and devotion of exceptional Georgians under foreign skies, though these accounts are often sparse, providing only brief glimpses of the events and individuals involved. Rather than offering a complete narrative, they are limited to scattered details, leaving the full picture incomplete. However, certain facts and individuals stand out—those whose achievements continue to resonate, their contributions remaining significant to this day, leaving a lasting impact on the history of other nations.

The central figure of this section of our work is one such individual. As T. Natroshvili aptly notes, this person has achieved immortality through their heroic deeds, labor, and unwavering dedication. History, as a living book, seemingly resurrects the figures of the past to introduce them to future generations, ensuring that their legacy endures.

These are the defining strokes in the portrait of a man who, despite reaching the height of prominence in captivity, has largely been forgotten and his true identity obscured to this day.

At the outset of this narrative, many researchers suggest that Ali Bey al-Kabiri was born into the family of an Orthodox priest named David, within the territory of Abkhazia. Some sources provide his full name, identifying him as David Mghebrishvili.

Certain accounts indicate that Ioseb Mghebrishvili was born in 1728 in Samurzakano (in what is now the Gali district), with his father, David, listed as the head of the temple in the village of Lidzava.

While these two locations are somewhat distant from one another—one in the present-day Gali district and the other in the Gagra district—it is conceivable that David, being a cleric closely associated with the Catholicos, may have been appointed as the head of the Lidzava Cathedral, which was in close proximity to the Catholicosate's principal center in Bichvinta. Moreover, despite the fact that the legal seat of the Catholicosate of Western Georgia remained the Bishopric of Bichvinta until the end of the 18th century, Catholicos Grigol Lortkipanidze was often unable to reach Bichvinta and, therefore, governed the Catholicosate from Gelati.

It is likely that for Priest David Mghebrishvili, his leadership of the Lidzava church was largely ceremonial. The possibility that his family resided in Samurzakano, with his son Ioseb being born there in 1728, is certainly plausible, especially given the unique circumstances of the region at the time. The majority of the population in this area was Georgian.

Grigol Lortkipanidze, who led the Catholicosate of Abkhazia for 46 years, was a man characterized by his dynamic energy, unwavering principles, and resolute intransigence. He rightfully holds a distinguished and honored place among the leaders of the Catholicosates of Abkhazia. As mentioned earlier, the period of his leadership was one of the most challenging in Georgia's history. The harshness of Ottoman rule, the dire conditions of the population, and the widespread prevalence of the slave trade placed the people of Western Georgia at severe risk of cultural and demographic collapse.

Key words: Ali Bey al-Kabiri; Egypt; Grigol Lortkipanidze; Ioseb Mghebrishvili; Abkhazia; Samurzakano; Western Georgia; Egyptian Mamluks; Syria; Palestine; Damascus.