Aslan-Bey Shervashidze

Who is Aslan-Bey Shervashidze?

Aslan-Bey Shervashidze was a prince of the Principality of Abkhazia from 1808-10. He was the eldest son of Kelesh Ahmed-Bey Shervashidze. Aslan-Bey was associated with pro-Turkish elements of the region, and was responsible for rebelling against and later killing his father in order to ascend the thrown of the Principality. Shervashidze turned the town of Sukhumi into his royal residence, which at the time, was guarded by a Turkish military regiment. Aslan-Bey actively fought together with King Solomon II of Imereti against Tsarist Russian forces.

In 1810, after several decisive Russian military victories, Shervashidze was driven out of Sukhumi together with the Turkish regiment that was protecting him and fled to Turkey. After Aslan-Bey’s expulsion from Abkhazia, the Tsarist Russian leadership established Aslan-Bey’s brother, Sefer Ali-Bey Shervashidze, as the new ruler of Abkhazia.