Vakhtang VI of Kartli

Vakhtang VI was appointed regent of the Kingdom of Kartli for his absent brother, King George XI, who was campaigning with the Safavid Persians. This began his effective rule over Kartli, during which he initiated administrative and cultural reforms.

Vakhtang VI oversaw the compilation and publication of a comprehensive legal code for Kartli, known as the Law Code of Vakhtang VI. This code systematized existing Georgian customary law and royal decrees, aiming to centralize royal authority and standardize judicial procedures across the kingdom.

Vakhtang VI established the first printing press in Georgia in Tbilisi. This press published religious texts, legal codes, and historical works, significantly advancing Georgian literacy and cultural preservation. It marked a turning point in the dissemination of Georgian literature and law.

After the Ottoman invasion of Kartli and the failure of his alliance with Russia, Vakhtang VI fled to the Russian Empire. He settled in Moscow with his family and retinue, where he lived under the protection of Tsar Peter II until his death in 1737.

Vakhtang VI attempted to negotiate a treaty with the Ottoman Empire to preserve Kartli's autonomy, but the resulting Treaty of Constantinople recognized Ottoman suzerainty over eastern Georgia. This failure to secure independence led directly to his decision to go into Russian exile.