JOURNAL «TSISKARI» ABOUT A POLISH FEMALE COMBATANT

Abstract

The Polish uprising of 1863–1864, which was mounted against Russian imperial domination and aimed at restoring national sovereignty, left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of smaller nations living under Tsarist rule.  Interest in the uprising was further intensified by the fact that the 'Polish question' was considered one of the most complex issues within the Russian Empire's national policy.

Due to its specific nature, the Polish uprising captured the attention of the Georgian society. The topic was first introduced into Georgian public discourse by Ilia Chavchavadze, who published the initial article in «Sakartvelos’ Moambe» under the byline of Petre Nakashidze.  However, due to censorship, he was unable to continue developing the theme. In response to mounting public interest and increasingly stringent censorship measures, the journal «Tsiskari», published in the Tiflis Governorate, adopted an alternative strategy — offering readers permissible content on the subject through official press sources issued in the Caucasus region, such as «Kavkaz».

This article examines the editorial narrative presented in the journal «Tsiskari» regarding Henrietta Pustovoitova, a female combatant and participant in the Polish uprising. It is worth noting that the figure of the woman warrior already had precedents both in global history (e.g., Joan of Arc…) and in Georgian cultural memory (e.g., Maia Tskneteli…). It is evident that, to avoid provoking patriotic sentiment under the constraints of censorship, the journal began drawing parallels between the Polish female combatant Pustovoitova and prominent female rulers in history (such as Queen Tamar and Empress Catherine II). Pustovoitova never held a state position; she merely served as an adjutant to the dictator Langiewicz. Consequently, the editorial representation of this female combatant as a sovereign-type figure remained fundamentally incompatible with her actual role. That incongruity resulted in an incomplete and somewhat distorted perception of Pustovoitova among readers.

The editorial commentary concerning Pustovoitova reveals Tsiskari's position toward the insurgents — a stance formulated under the influence of the Empire's official press (such as «Kavkaz»). It also enables us to assess the role of the periodicals in shaping public opinion in the Caucasus regarding the Polish rebels.

Key words: Polish Uprising, Journal «Tsiskari», Georgian Society, female combatant, Pustovoitova.