House of Chichua

Prince Pepuna Chichua held a massive influence in Mingrelian nobility. Because of this King Alexander V of Imereti (1720-1752) wanted his house, the House of Bagrationi, to intermarry with House of Chichua. Pepuna Chichua had inherited the title of Grand Master of the Court (sakhlt-ukhutsesi), which was the highest ranking title after the Dadiani in Mingrelia since 18th century. Therefore, Pepuna could have made the relationships tense between the King of Imereti and Prince of Mingrelia. Pepuna Chichua was engaged with the daughter of Eristavi (duke) of Ksani, but the King of Imereti canceled their marriage and instead married off her sister to Pepuna Chichua, but the king's original plan - which was to strengthen his authority in Mingrelia - failed, because Otia Dadiani helped Giorgi who was exiled in Mingrelia because of his earlier attempt to take the Throne of Imereti in 1741.[9]

Princedom of Chichua expended even more during the rule of Otia Dadiani who granted Papuna Chichua large estates, castles and peasants from the Episcopal (Saepiskoposo) of Caishi. After the death of Pepuna, the head of the house became his son Giorgi, whose wife was the sister of the head (Mtavari) of Abkhazia by the name of Keleshbeia Shervashidze. From the second half of the 18th century grandchildren of Pepuna Chichua are revealed - Khakhu and Kacia.[10]

From the beginning of the rule of Pepuna, House of Chichua excelled on the court of Minrgelia. But soon in the fight for supremacy the House of Chikovani got involved. In 1768, Prince of Mingrelia - Katsia II Dadiani returned the estates of Episcopal of Caishi back to the church and in 1777, Kacia II named Giorgi Chikovani the Metropolitan of Caishi. In return for the Episcopal of Caishi, Kacia gave House of Chichua other estates.[11]

During the Russian-Turkish war in 1768–1774, prince Khakhu Chichua helped the Turkish garrison camped in the fortress of Poti by providing firepower and food. Because of this help, Turks expelled General Sukhotina's Russian-Georgian army and defended the fortress. By the command of General Sukhotina, Khakhu Chichua was arrested and exiled from Georgia and was sent to Russia. But on the road, near Mozdok, in 1772 he died.[12]

In 1777, Kacia II Dadiani, took away the title of Grand Master of the Court from House of Chichua and gave it to House of Chikovani. In the beginning of the 18th century House of Chichua again gained a dominant influence in Mingrelia. House of Chikovani could not do their duties as Grand Masters of the Court and had to abdicate and in 1810 the Grand Master of the Court became Giorgi Chichua, being the head of his house and son of Khakhu Chichua.[13]

Relative of Giorgi Chichua, Prince Levan Chichua appears in the highest nobility of Grigoria Dadiani's (1788-1804) widow Nino, who was the daughter of King Giorgi XII of Kartli-Kakheti (1798-1800). Nino at that time, in 1811 visited Petersburg. Other relative of Giorgi Chichua, Khakhu Chichua, after the death of Giorgi, took the hereditary title of Grand Master of the Court, became the head of Chichua and at the same time held the title of the Commander (მთავარსარდალი) of the Mingrelian army, reaching the peak of power for House of Chichua.[14]

After accumulating both of these titles, Khakhu Chichua became the most influential noble in the court of Mingrelia. He preserved his both positions until his death in 1825. After him his titles were inherited by Prince Levan Chichua.[15]