Ilia Chavchavadze
Ilia Chavchavadze | |
|---|---|
| Native name | ილია ჭავჭავაძე |
| Born | 27 October 1837 Kvareli, Georgia Governorate, Russian Empire (present-day Kakheti, Georgia) |
| Died | 12 September 1907 (aged 69) Tsitsamuri, Tiflis Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Resting place | Mtatsminda Pantheon, Tbilisi |
| Occupation | jurist, poet, novelist, humanist, publisher, philosopher |
| Nationality | Georgian |
| Literary movement | |
| Signature | |
Tavadi (Prince) Ilia Chavchavadze (Georgian: ილია ჭავჭავაძე; 27 October 1837 – 12 September 1907) was a Georgian journalist, publisher, writer and poet who spearheaded the revival of Georgian nationalism during the second half of the 19th century in the period of Tsarist rule. He has been called Georgia's "most universally revered hero" and the "Father of the Nation."
He was a leader of contemporary youth intellectual movement named "Tergdaleulebi" which spread modern and European liberal ideals in Georgia. Chavchavadze founded two modern newspapers: Sakartvelos Moambe and Iveria.
He coined the phrase "Ena, Mamuli, Sartsmunoeba" ("Language, Homeland, Faith"), a slogan of Georgian nationalism.
During the 1905 Russian Revolution Chavchavadze was elected as a representative of the Georgian nobility to the imperial State Council.
Chavchavadze was killed in Tsitsamuri, near Mtskheta, by a gang of assassins. In 1987 he was canonized as Saint Ilia the Righteous (წმინდა ილია მართალი, tsminda ilia martali) by the Georgian Orthodox Church.