The «Tergdaleulebi», led by Ilia Chavchavadze, drive a cultural and national awakening.
1863
Ilia Chavchavadze (1837–1907) was a writer, publicist and public figure, the «father of the nation», leader of the Georgian national revival of the later 19th century.
He reformed the literary language, founded newspapers and a bank, and defended Georgian culture and the people's rights under the empire.
Assassinated in 1907, Chavchavadze was canonised by the Georgian Church as St Ilia the Righteous; his legacy underlies modern Georgian identity.