Royal House of Georgia

[Erivam]

Marriage of two members of tsarist kin Bagrationi is first step to restore monarchy in Georgia

06.02.09 17:59 Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb.6 / Trend News corr N. Kirtzkhalia / The marriage of two members of tsarist kin Bagrationi is the first step towards restoring monarchy in Georgia. “This would be a necessary step towards establishing a constitutional monarchy in the country,” member of assembly of historical surnames, nobles and their associates Georgi Eristavi said at a news conference held in the international news center RIA Novosti on Feb.6.
“It is early to speak about the heirs to the throne. A tsar should be educated since his infancy in case of the establishment of the monarchy,” the patriarch said.
Vice president of the assembly, leader of the monarchy movement Iya Bagration-Mukhranskaya said no discord will appear between the members of the tsarist kin in case the monarchy is established.
A wedding of two members of the tsarist kin, David Bagration-Mukhtarskiy and Anna Bagration-Gruzinskiy will be held in the cathedral of St. Trinity on Feb.8.
Another spiritual leader will run the ceremony as Georgian patriarch Ilia the Second is under a medical treatment in Germany.
The wedding will run in hotel Sheraton Metekhi palace and 3,000 guests have been invited to the ceremony



Trend News : Marriage of two members of tsarist kin Bagrationi is first step to restore monarchy in Georgia

[Erivam]

The wedding will run in hotel Sheraton Metekhi palace and 3,000 guests have been invited to the ceremony

[Benjamin]

Fairytale 'royal' wedding gives hope to Georgians
6 Feb 2009

TBILISI — It's a fairytale wedding in a country in need of a boost: two strands of a dynasty that once ruled Georgia are joining together to end centuries of division in one of Europe's oldest royal houses.

The wedding of Prince David Bagrationi-Mukhraneli and Princess Anna Bagrationi-Gruzinsky on Sunday is expected to bring an end to feuding over who is the rightful heir and to boost a campaign to transform this republic buffeted by wars and unrest in recent years into a constitutional monarchy...

Full article: AFP

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Erivam

Communiqué:

SS.AA.RR. do not want to receive gifts on his matrimonial connection. However, anyone who wants to work with the Georgian people, it can be done through the embassies of Georgia for humanitarian aid and assistance to develop the foundations and NGOs working with refugees from the provinces of Abkhazia and Ossetia.

Orden del Águila de Georgia

I think that's a lovely gesture from the royal couple. I wish them all the BEST for their life together and I hope to see many pictures of this event. Sheraton Metechi Palace seems very pleasant.

[Iberia del Caucaso]

This is a shortened version of the rare interview given by HRH David Bagration-Mukhranelli which was published in the Georgian Times several years ago.

[Iberia del Caucaso]

D E C L A R A T I O N
BY NEW RIGHTS PARTY OF GEORGIA

Regarding advisability of re-establishing the Constitutional Monarchy

Considering the experience of centuries-old history, taking into account dramatic events that took place in the country since the independence was regained, having analysed wide international practice and guided by the appeal of Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia - we, the New Rights Party, declare that political structure of Georgia should be the Constitutional Monarchy.

1. What is the Constitutional Monarchy?

"Monarch reigns and not rules"

The constitutional (the same parliamentary) monarchy is the form of the rule when the Monarch is the Head of State, but in reality the state is being ruled by the Parliament elected by people and the government which has the majority within the parliament. The rights of the monarch are strictly regulated by the Constitution and the legislation.

During the constitutional monarchy the King mainly has moral impact on the power although he represents the whole people and the nation symbolically. The monarch is the embodiment of the people´s will and character. He is actually the defender of their rights and the patron of each citizen irrespective of their ethnic origin.

According to the constitution, the King who is above political and economic ideologies and debates, carries out the role of the state leader, neutral arbiter and the defender of the country unity and independence.

He is a guarantor of the smooth functioning of democratic institutions. The fact that up till now, many constitutional monarchs preserve the right of dismissal of the Prime Minister in special circumstances is considered to be a reliable guarantee that the Prime Minister will not turn into an autocrat, dictator and tyrant.
There is no way that the constitutional monarchy implies restoration of the property rights to the former nobility.

2. Historical Justice should be restored

The Georgian people have never rejected the king by their own will. We have neither overthrown the king nor massacred the royal family, nor have we annulled the monarchy through the referendum. He was taken away from us by force through the annexation of the Kingdom of Georgia and now the time has come that the people should make its own decision regarding the monarchy in Georgia.

3. End of Bolshevism

Restoration of the constitutional monarchy will finally put an end to Bolshevism in Georgia and the Soviet way of thinking in the political power.

4. Monarch - Guarantor of Nation´s Consolidation

Standing above the party, as a non-political and neutral leader, the Monarch will be a guarantor of the consolidation and uniting of the nation. Different from the President elected by the majority, the constitutional monarch is the Head of State of both majority and minority and the image of the whole nation, the symbol and, most importantly, a neutral arbiter.
The King belongs to everyone and no one feels as a loser.

5. Constitutional Monarchy - a real opportunity for Territorial Conflict Resolution

Constitutional monarchy is an absolutely new opportunity for conflict resolution in Abkhazia and of co-living together with Abkhazians in one united state. It is the monarchy which gives the possibility for coexistence to several state entities of high autonomy within this monarchy (e.g. United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; Belgium, Spain, etc.).

6. Constitutional Monarchy - Guarantor for Political and Economic Stability

Monarch is the guarantor of stability and constitutionalism, especially during the political crisis. He is an objective and neutral arbiter who ensures that nobody conducts usurpation or misappropriation of the power (e.g. Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, who stood up to the military coup of February 23, 1981).

There are 41 constitutional monarchies worldwide today.

There are 3 countries which are constitutional monarchies (UK, Canada and Japan) in the unity of the largest industrial countries of the world, in the so-called "G7";

There are 8 countries (out of 26) in NATO: United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway and Denmark.

In the European Union there are 7 (out of 27 members): Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Spain.

7. Constitutional Monarch - Genuine Defender of the National Originality

In the process of globalisation it is the King and his family who can be the guarantor for maintenance of national originality and identity. His duties would include caring for and supporting of cultural heritage, purity and promotion of the language, national science, education and culture.

8. Georgia may become the first Christian Orthodox country to restore monarchy in its own state.

9. What will it cost to the state to upkeep a monarch?

One can be flat in saying that not more, if not less, than it costs to upkeep the current President of Georgia today with his residences, cars, helicopters, airplanes, trips abroad, enormous chancery and numerous guards.

10. Who will become the King of Georgia?

The personal identity of the future monarch should not become the subject of discussion and dispute of political and civil groups. Monarchy is the right given by God (Divine Right) and correspondingly after a two century interval, it is appropriate that the question of the heir to the throne should be determined by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and the Holy Synod of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Georgia.

11. Who is entitled to solve the question of restoration of the Constitutional Monarchy in Georgia

This issue to be solved by people only. The people of Georgia through the public referendum should define the state structure of future Georgia. The referendum should be held in autumn of 2008 together with the Parliamentary elections. In case the people give their support to the constitutional monarchy, the newly elected parliament would be obliged to work out and officially adopt a new constitution and legislative basis in accordance with the constitutional monarchy. The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and the Holy Synod will use this interval for selection and preparation of the future monarch.

God save us!

[Iberia del Caucaso]

Akaki Asatiani (leader of the "Traditionalists" opposition party):

"David and Anna represent two dynastical branches which can both aspire to the throne in equal measure. This reunification removes the question of the legacy of the throne. I personally support the restoration of a constitutional monarchy in Georgia. After all, it is well-known that monarchies are the most stable countries. In Georgia many people suffer from a wild-eyed ambition to be president. I would hope that the restoration of the monarchy would remove this issue."

HRH David Bagration himself refrained from making any comment about the future structure of the country. "I have no intention of being involved in politics," he said during a telephone conversation with a Georgia Times correspondent. "We are getting married for love and our marriage is not intended to suit state interests." And, looking at it objectively, this is in any case a distant prospect.

Opposition politicians are demanding extraordinary parliamentary and presidential elections, but at the same time some of them think that it is better to have a presidential republic than a parliamentary one. But out of the ones who have an affinity with the slogan "Georgia without a president", there are a good number who associate Georgia's future with a constitutional monarchy.

[lyndaW]

What kind of education does David & Anna have?? And what kind of jobs do they now have? I know next to nothing about these two. thankyou!

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Iberia del Caucaso

HRH David Bagration himself refrained from making any comment about the future structure of the country. "I have no intention of being involved in politics," he said during a telephone conversation with a Georgia Times correspondent. "We are getting married for love and our marriage is not intended to suit state interests." And, looking at it objectively, this is in any case a distant prospect.

It appears that the marriage of two feuding strands of the Bagrations for love nicely coincides with a unique opportunity to restore the monarchy. Let us see what happens next... I am looking forward to seeing photos of the ceremony.

[Benjamin]

El Mundo ("Una boda para reinar en Georgia") tells that King Juan Carlos sent his congratulations to the couple as well as his regrets that he could not be present at their wedding. Furthermore, the nuptials will be broadcast live via Georgian television.

Anyways, this statement towards the end of the article aroused my curiosity: "Nieta del famoso poeta y guionista Piotr Gruzinski e hija del director de cine Nuksar Bagrationi-Gruzinski, la novia se casará en segundas nupcias con Davit."

Does this mean that Anna had previously been married?

*There was also a Russian article about this union (from Izvestia) which, when translated with Google (), mentioned something about a divorce.

[Al_bina]

Given the article in Izvestia, Princess Anna was previously married. Kolodin noted in the article that there were attempts to switch relationships between Prince David and Princess Anna onto more than just friendship a few years ago. Those attempts proved unsuccessful; Princess Anna chose to marry another person. The idea was revisited once again upon Princess Anna's divorce. The couple decided to marry this time.

[Benjamin]

Thanks so much for clarifying the situation, Al bina!

Whether this is a marriage of convenience or a love match, I hope the couple will ultimately be happy...

[Al_bina]

It has been my pleasure to help. It comes as no surprise that Kolodin's article casts doubts on statements by Prince David and Princess Anna's friends about true love. The skepticism is understandable, I dare to say. Sharing your opinion, I too hope that this union will be satisfactory for the parties involved.

[Benjamin]

La Opinión de Tenerife & RIA News inform us that Princess Anna works as a teacher in a Tbilisi school. She was formerly a journalist. From her first marriage, she has two daughters: six-year-old Irina and two-year-old Miriam.

Perhaps they are the two little girls who can be seen in this picture from today's wedding: http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/...PM4DN/610x.jpg

[Mandy]

Please post all wedding photos in the Prince David and Prince Anna wedding thread which can be found here.

Thanks!
Mandy

[Al_bina]

... Today's wedding between Prince David Bagrationi-Mukhraneli and Princess Anna Bagrationi-Gruzinsky will unite two strands of the ancient family who once ruled Georgia. Both the Mukhraneli and the Gruzinsky branch have claimed to be the rightful heirs to the monarchy. ...
Furthermore, there are rumours that the beloved and influential Orthodox patriarch of the country, Ilia II, who a couple of years ago voiced his belief that it was time for Georgia to consider a restoration of the monarchy, hopes that any son this couple might have may one day be the first post-Soviet king of Georgia. [my bolding]

Reference: blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sarah_marcus/blog/2009/02/08/georgias_royal_wedding

I find it interesting that Patriarch Ilia II emphasised that any son would be the first post-Soviet King of Georgia. Georgia has not practiced a pure male primogeniture.

[Benjamin]

Georgia businessmen to assist monarchy
13 Feb 2009

Renowned Georgian businessmen expressed their desire to support the Monarchy Fund, including Center Point Founder Maya Rceulishvili and Kazbegi President Gogi Top[a]dze.

The fund was launched with the blessing of Georgian Patriarch Ilias II.

Rceulishvili said his family would help the monarchs.

Ilias II decided to establish the fund after his trip to Germany...

Full article: Trend News

[HMTLove23]

07.03. - Prince Bagrat de Bagration de Baviera y de Borbon married civilly Mrs Françoise Cazaudehore at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

Prince Bagrat b. 1949 was Married once Before and Has two children by that marriage. his Nephew Prince David Married Princess Anna in Feb.

[Benjamin]

Georgian nobles urge for referendum on restoring monarchy
3 Mar 2009

Georgian nobles want a referendum to restore the monarchy. The statement was made at the third national congress of the Union of Noblemen and Adherents and Monarchist Movement of the Tsar's Crown.

The congress discussed a referendum to gauge public opinion about reinstating a constitutional monarchy.

Full article: TREND News Agency

[Kotroman]

Does that mean we are moving closer to the actual restoration?