Abstract:
The local historiography credited Russian Empire for suppression and ending of
slave trade in Georgia. The article argues, that alongside with Russian efforts, the
Ottomans and its allies Britain and France have also played important role in this
process. It considers the important insides into the end of Georgian slave trade studied
by Ehud Toledano and Hakan Erdem and examines published and archival sources on
the matter. A recently published Ottoman documents from mid-19th century show, that
Ottoman provincial government was instructed to abolish the sale of Georgian and
Circassian slaves and punish those involved in kidnapping or a trade. Article also
examines the correspondence of British diplomats from 1855, deployed in the Ottoman
provinces bordering Georgia. These demonstrate active involvement of British diplomats
in enactment of abolitionist policies of the Ottoman government with regards to
Georgian and Caucasian slave trade. As a result, some Georgian slaves were manumitted
and repatriated to Georgia. Unpublished Russian report from Georgian National
Archives provides a list of 129 Georgians that were kidnapped from Guria district in the
Western Georgia during 1853-1855. The same document also lists names and residences
of kidnappers and criminals involved in the slave trade within the region. These lists
were likely made for organizing return of kidnapped and enslaved residents, as well as
punishment of criminals potentially involved in kidnapping and slave trade.
The article shows that Ottoman efforts, coupled with insistence and encouragement
from its British and French allies, were important factors for ending large scale slave
trade in Georgia.
