Ekaterine Chavchavadze

Ekateriné Dadiani, Princess of Mingrelia (; née Chavchavadze; March 19, 1816August 13, 1882) of the House of Dadiani, was a prominent 19th-century Georgian aristocrat and the last ruling princess (as regent) Principality of Mingrelia in Western Georgia. She was regent during the minority of her son between 1853 and 1857. She played an important role in resisting Ottoman influence in her principality and was at the center of Georgian high society, both inside the country and abroad. Family and marriage Ekateriné was born to the distinguished House of Chavchavadze from Eastern Georgia. Her father was Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, a noted Georgian general and godson of Catherine the Great of Russia. Her mother was Princess Salomé Orbeliani (1795-1847), a great-granddaughter of Erekle II (Heraclius II) of Eastern Georgia. Her elder sister Princess Nino married the famous Russian playwright, composer and diplomat Aleksandr Griboyedov, while her younger sister Princess Sophie was married to Count Alexandr Nikolai, the minister of education of Imperial Russia. On December 19, 1838, Ekateriné married the Hereditary Prince of Mingrelia, David Dadiani. In 1840, he became ruler of the principality upon the retirement of his father, Levan V Dadiani.