“Angel” Nina
Nina was one of three daughters of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, a poet and lieutenant general of the imperial army. He was born on the family estate in Tsinandali and grew up in Tbilisi, where she lived with her mother and sisters in an annex of the home belonging to the family’s close friend Praskovia Akhverdova. Her father rarely visited the city, spending most of his time in Tsinandali or in Elmwood, where his regiment was stationed.
Griboyedov met Nina at the Akhverdovs’ home in 1822, shortly after he had moved to Tbilisi from Persia. The writer briefly gave music lessons to the nine-year-old girl, then left for Moscow.
In 1828, Griboyedov took part in negotiations that brought the Russo-Persian War to an end, with the Turkmenchay peace treaty favoring Russia. He was appointed ambassador to Iran. On his way to his post, he halted in Tbilisi and unexpectedly married 15-year-old Nina Chavchavadze.
Griboyedov was not the first man to fall for the charming young princess. She was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, kindness, and impeccable manners.
Companions of the era praised her. Karl Adelung described Nina in 1828 as very kind, very beautiful, and well educated. An admirer, Nikolai Senyavin, the son of Admiral Dmitry Senyavin, expressed a fervent but unreciprocated love for Chavchavadze. His friend Boris Chilyaev, who introduced the lovers, recounted Senyavin’s ardor and sorrow, noting how Nina inspired both passion and heartbreak in the men around her.
Letters from Senyavin to his confidants reveal intense longing for the beloved Angel. He spoke of beauty, intelligence, heart, and an indescribable kindness, insisting that no one could compare to her, a sentiment that echoed through the circles that surrounded Nina.
How did Griboyedov fall in love and find a bride in one day?
Her charm stirred similar feelings in other men as well. Among Chavchavadze’s admirers were Sergey, a cousin of General Yermolov, and Vasily Ilovaisky, a seasoned lieutenant general who was already engaged but found himself drawn to Nina. Griboyedov returned to the Akhverdovs’ home in July 1828 and began pursuing the princess more earnestly.
In a letter to a friend, the diplomat described the moment he first felt the pull of Nina while dining with the Akhverdovs. Nina’s gaze met his, and his heart began to race. He took her hand and said that he needed to tell her something important, inviting her to join him so they could speak privately.
Chavchavadze believed a piano lesson could rekindle their connection, a plan suggested by Griboedov. The situation quickly grew intimate. The poet recalled the moment they slipped away, the room grew warm, and emotions surged as they spoke and kissed. He wrote of a pact and the tender devotion that followed, celebrating the support of Nina’s mother and grandmother as well as Praskovya Akhverdova, a maternal figure who welcomed the union.
In time, the ambassador and the author of Woe from Wit became engaged. Alexander Chavchavadze blessed the match, offering his support from a distance in Yerevan as Griboyedov prepared for a formal union. The couple married in Tbilisi at Sioni Cathedral. A legend says the wedding was shadowed by a fever that left the groom briefly unwell and the wedding ring misplaced at the altar.
Griboyedov fell ill just before the wedding, suffering a fever that spanned several weeks. It was only after his health began to improve that the ceremony could proceed. He later explained that the illness compelled him to act quickly, so as not to miss the chance to marry Nina, despite the risk to his health. He acknowledged that his illness might have delayed the celebration, had circumstances allowed, yet he did not let it stand in the way of their happiness.
“Anywhere You Don’t Want To Be”
Soon after the wedding, the newly minted ambassador prepared to depart for Iran. The aftermath of the war left delicate tensions and unresolved issues, including prisoner releases and compensation payments totaling 20 million silver rubles under the Turkmanchay treaty. Nina chose to accompany her husband on this perilous journey. In September 1828, the couple left Tbilisi together.
At first, Nina tolerated the arduous journey well. Griboyedov described their travels as a grand caravan of 110 horses and mules, moving through mountains and tents as winter settled in. Nina remained cheerful, affectionate, and resilient, even as dust swirled and the progress slowed. Their meetings and the pace of the caravan kept their spirits high during a difficult voyage.
Along the route, Nina learned she was expecting a child. The pregnancy was challenging, and in Tabriz, where European embassies gathered at the palace of Prince Abbas Mirza, authorities decided to reroute toward Tehran. The journey continued without Griboyedov at times, but his thoughts stayed with his wife.
Griboyedov wrote to Nina, expressing sorrow at being apart and conveying a longing that had never left him. He spoke of the enduring love that bound them and asked for patience as they endured separation. He reflected on the early days when he had wooed her and the moment they shared their first kiss, their families nearby, and the happiness they found together through difficult moments.
“Why did my love survive you?”
Griboyedov did not return from Tehran. On January 30, 1829, or February 11 on the new style, a violent mob attacked the Russian embassy. Discontent with the Shah’s court and the treatment of Armenians at the embassy fueled the assault, and the staff faced the crowd with little protection.
Before the attack, Griboyedov sent a note to the Shah requesting permission to withdraw the mission, but the violence trapped him. The siege ended with the deaths of all 38 remaining at the embassy, including the ambassador, who tried to shield others. The body was scarcely identifiable, marked by the injuries of a youth duel. Only the secretary, Ivan Maltsov, survived by hiding during the massacre.
In the aftermath, the Shah sent his grandson Khozrev Mirza to St. Petersburg, bearing rich gifts for the Russian emperor, including the Shah’s renowned apple. Formal apologies followed.
For weeks, the widow Nina faced the news in isolation. When she learned of her husband’s death, she went into labor prematurely, and the newborn did not live long. Griboyedov’s body was brought back to Tbilisi and buried on the slope of Mtatsminda Mountain, near the Church of David. A final inscription on his tomb honored his memory, and Nina carried on with a quiet strength that many admired.
She never remarried, turning down every proposal. Griboyedov’s widow lived the rest of her life in mourning and was often called the Black Rose of Tbilisi. Alexander and Nina Griboyedov rest side by side in the Mtatsminda pantheon in Tbilisi, a burial site shared with Georgia’s notable writers, artists, scientists, and national heroes.