House of Chichua

House of Chichua Crest

The House of Chichua (Georgian: ჩიჩუა [Chichua]) was a Georgian family of nobles, commanders, and princes in Samegrelo (Mingrelia) or Odishi.

Ancestors

Historians have different view points about who were the ancestors of Chichua. Some sources state that the family is descended from the House of Chikovani, some state that the family is descended from a man named Chija and hence the surname Chichua, and more precise and factual sources state that they are descended from House of Kakhaberidze and also have the same roots as the House of Chijavadze.

Possessions

The House of Chichua was a prominent feudal house in the Mingrelian nobility. Historical sources about the early ancestors of this family first appear in the first half of the 17th century. During the rule of prince Levan II Dadiani (1611-1657) the first member of House of Chichua appeared by the name of Ramaz Chichua and during this time he was the head of his house.

Lands

Princedom of House of Chichua appears from the beginning of the 17th century. Their princedom was called Sachichuo which occupied the present Municipality of Khobi and included 5 towns: Zubi, Japshakari, Zeni, Sajijao, and partly Kheta.

Chanistskali (ჭანსწყალი) River

Their princedom's borders to the east ended at the town of Zana, to the south - at the town of Khorshi, to the north - at the town of Khibula and the western border was made up by the river of Chanistskali. Other than the above listed towns, the House of Chichua also possessed the towns of Narazeni, Bia, Sakharbedio, Teklati, Kvaloni and Mukhuri. Their residence was located in Zeni, where they had a keep, a church and a hereditary castle. Their hereditary chamber was located in a church in the town of Zeni and in the monastery of Khobi. They also had another hereditary castle located in Zubi.

Vassals

The Aznauri (or lesser nobles) of the House of Chichua were: Gvatua, Jorjikia, Lolua and Khocholava, and their peasants were: Beraia, Gvalia, Gvasalia, Gersamia, Jruburia, Kuchava, Nadaraia, Papaskiri, Sigua, Chanturia, Chilaia, Chikhvaria and others. The House of Chichua had their place in the administrative apparatus. From the late documents, it is revealed that the Castellan and Mouravi of the castles of House of Chichua were the Aznauri Gvatua and masters of the castles were peasants Gvasalia.

History

Early Members

In the second half of the 17th century, the historical sources uncover relatives of Ramaz Chichua - Khakhu and Kakhaber Chichua. Khakhu first appears in the documents dated 1682 and Kakhaber appears twice in 1682 and 1706. In the first half of the 18th century next representatives of House of Chichua appears by the names of Kacia, Giorgi, Shakar, Moguli, Jgemordil and Pepuna; from which only Kacia and Giorgi are brothers, as for the others there is no information to say if they were brothers or cousins. Only Pepuna Chichua appears in the preceding documents. He appears during the time when trading with captives took a massive form all around the Eastern Georgia. To stop this, Catholicos of Eastern Georgia asked Prince Kacia and his brother Giorgi to give a license for eradicating the trading with people in the princedom of House of Chichua.

Title

When the Mingrelian dynasty changed and the House of Dadiani (Vardanisdze) was demolished and the new dynasty of House of Dadiani (Chikovani) came to power the positions of House of Chichua strengthened. After the elimination, or expulsion of some of the old noble houses, the new dynastical house, in the first place brought his allies to power. House of Chichua from the beginning held a close distance with the new dynasty and gained influence in the court of Mingrelia. During the rule of Otia Dadiani, Pepuna Chichua was the head of his house and at the same time had the hereditary title of Grand Master of the Court (Sakhltukhutsesi). The exact date for when the House of Chichua gained this hereditary title is unknown, but what is known is that during the rule of Levan II Dadiani, the Grand Master of the Court was Kaikhosro Apakidze. When the Dadiani-Chikovani replaced the old dynasty, the House of Chichua gained this hereditary title and most of the lands that they had later on.

Influence

Prince Pepuna Chichua held a massive influence in Mingrelian nobility. Because of this King Alexander V of Imereti (1720-1752) wanted his house to intermarry with House of Chichua. Pepuna Chichua being Grand Master of the Court could have made the relationships tense and irregular between the King of Georgia and Prince of Mingrelia. Pepuna Chichua was engaged with the daughter of Eristavi (duke) of Ksani, but the King of Imereti canceled their marriage and instead married off her sister to Pepuna Chichua, but the king's original plan - which was to strengthen his authority in Mingrelia - failed, because Otia Dadiani helped Giorgi who was exiled in Mingrelia because of his earlier attempt to take the Throne of Imereti in 1741.

New Estates

Princedom of Chichua expended even more during the rule of Otia Dadiani who granted Papuna Chichua large estates, castles and peasants from the Episcopal of Caishi. After the death of Pepuna, the head of the house became his son, Giorgi, whose wife was the sister of the head (Mtavari) of Abkhazia by the name of Keleshbeia Shervashidze. From the second half of the 18th century grandchildren of Pepuna Chichua are reveled - Khaku and Kacia.

From the beginning of the rule of Pepuna, House of Chichua excelled on the court of Minrgelia. But soon in the fight for supremacy the House of Chikovani got involved. In 1768, Prince of Mingrelia - Kacia II Dadiani returned the estates of Episcopal of Caishi back to the church and in 1777, Kacia II named Giorgi Chikovani the Metropolitan of Caishi. In return for the Episcopal of Caishi, Kacia gave House of Chichua other estates.

Khakhu Chichua

During the Russian-Turkish war in 1768-1774, prince Khakhu Chichua helped the Turkish garrison camped in the fortress of Poti by providing firepower and food. Because of this help, Turks expelled General Sukhotina's Russian-Georgian army and defended the fortress. By the command of General Sukhotina, Khaku Chichua was arrested and exiled from Georgia and was sent to Russia. But on the road, near Mozdok, in 1772 he died.

Chikovani and Chichua

In 1777, Kacia II Dadiani, took away the title of Grand Master of the Court from House of Chichua and gave it to House of Chikovani. In the beginning of the 18th century House of Chichua again gained a dominant influence in Mingrelia. House of Chikovani could not do their duties as Grand Masters of the Court and had to abdicate and in 1810 the Grand Master of the Court became Giorgi Chichua, being the head of his house and son of Khakhu Chichua.

House of Chichua in its Highest Strength

Relative of Giorgi Chichua, Prince Levan Chichua appears in the highest nobility of Grigoria Dadiani's (1788-1804) window Nino, who was the daughter of King Giorgi XII of Kartl-Kakheti (1798-1800). Nino at that time, in 1811 visited Petersburg. Other relative of Giorgi Chichua, Khakhu Chichua, after the death of Giorgi took the hereditary title of Grand Master of the Court, became the head of House of Chichua and at the same time had the title of the Lord Commander of Mingrelia.

After accumulating both of these titles, Khakhu Chichua became the most influential noble in the court of Mingrelia. He preserved his both positions until his death in 1825. After him his titles were inherited by Prince Levan Chichua.

Decline

Rebellion

In 1838, Prince Levan V Dadiani ultimately took away, from House of Chichua the title of Grand Master of the Court and gave it to House of Chikovani. At this House of Chichua went into rebellion with 3000 armed soldiers, but their objective was not reached.

Annexation

The House of Chichua with all the other nobles in Mingrelia became part of the Russian Nobility with the final incorporation in the Russian Empire of Mingrelia and Kingdom of Imereti.^[1][2]

References