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196 196 ENGLAND AND RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA.

and pushed Russian pretensions back from the Persian frontier. During his reign and for about forty years after his death Russian ambition remained quiescent upon the shores of the Caspian ; but in the year 1783 the Empress Catherine conceived that affairs in Persia had so far taken a favourable turn for the prosecution of fresh enterprises, that she resolved to resume those intrigues which the death of Peter and the appearance of Nadir had upset. At this time the Prince of Georgia was Heraclius, an aged man, who saw in the intestine troubles of Persia a danger to the tranquility of his own State and to the permanence of his personal power. He looked about him, consequently, for an ally to support him against the pretensions of the new Persian ruler, Aga Mahomed Khan, and there was none at once able and willing to protect him save the Czarina of Russia. He accordingly transferred his allegiance to St. Petersburg, and a treaty (given in the Appendix) was signed at the fortress of Georges in July, 1783. The transfer of allegiance was so far unfortunate for Heraclius that the Persian ruler twelve years after the signature of the treaty invaded Georgia and portions of Armenia with a large army. He routed the small Georgian army near Tiflis, and occupied that city, which he handed over to his soldiery to plunder. The Persian wished to make an example of this city as Heraclius 's capital, and he certainly did so, for, as the Persian historian puts it, "on this glorious occasion the valiant warriors of Persia gave to the unbelievers of Georgia a specimen of what they were to expect on the Day of Judgment." In this