Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze

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Georgii Dmitrievich Shervashidze

Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze (also known by the Christian name of Giorgi Shervashidze) was a prince of the Principality of Abkhazia from 1810-21. He was the youngest son of Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze. After Sefer Ali-Bey’s brother, Aslan-Bey, killed his father to take over the throne of Abkhazia, Sefer Ali-Bey was forced to hide out in neighboring Mingrelia under the protection of the Mingrelian Princes. With the help of the Mingrelian nobility, Sefer Ali-Bey tried unsuccessfully, to usurp the throne of Abkhazia. In 1809, Shervashidze asked the Tsarist Russian Empire to take Abkhazia under its protection, with the condition that Ali-Bey be established as the new ruler of the Principality. After decisive Russian victories during the Second Russo-Turkish War, the Russian forces were able to expel pro-Turkish Abkhazians as well as the remaining Turkish forces from the region. Tsar Alexander I established Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze as the new ruler of Abkhazia on 17 February, 1810.