The article examines the princely internecine war in Svaneti in the first half and the middle of the XIX century. This conflict between representatives of two different branches of the princely family of Dadeshkeliani took place against the backdrop of the Caucasian war. The Svanetian princes tried to use Russia to defeat their rivals in the struggle for power. The Russian empire used internecine strife to assert its authority in the region. The lack of a coherent political line in relations with Svaneti led the Russian administration to periodically escalate the conflict. Inconsistent imperial policy was the reason for the killing of Kutaisi Governor-General Alexander Gagarin, who fell into the hands of Prince Constantine Dadeshkeliani. The article is based on both published and unpublished (archival) historical sources.

The article examines the princely internecine war inSvaneti in the first half - the middle of the XIX century. This conflictbetween representatives of two different branches of the princely family ofDadeshkeliani took place against the backdrop of the Caucasian war. The Svanetprinces tried to use Russia to defeat their rivals in the struggle for power.The Russian empire used internecine strife to assert its authority in theregion. The lack of a coherent political line in relations with Svaneti led theRussian administration to the periodic escalation of the conflict. Inconsistentimperial policy was the reason for the killing of Kutaisi Governor-GeneralAlexander Gagarin, who fell at the hands of Prince Constantine Dadeshkeliani.The article is based on both published and unpublished (archival) historicalsources.

В статье рассматривается княжескаямеждоусобная война в Сванетии в первой половине – середине XIX в. Этот конфликтмежду представителями двух различных ветвей княжеского рода Дадешкелианипроходил на фоне Кавказской войны. Сванетские князья пытались использоватьРоссию для победы над конкурентами в борьбе за власть. Российская империяиспользовала междоусобицу для утверждения своей власти в регионе. Отсутствиестройной политической линии в отношениях со Сванетией привело российскуюадминистрацию к периодической эскалации конфликта. Непоследовательная имперскаяполитика стала причиной убийства кутаисского генерал-губернатора АлександраГагарина, павшего от руки князя Константина Дадешкелиани. В основе статьи какопубликованные, так и неопубликованные (архивные) исторические источники.