A Vision of Baratashvili, in the Palm of a Hand: Researching Julieta Gabodze’s Essay

Abstract

This article investigates Nikoloz Baratashvili’s “Fate of Kartli” through close textual research into the dialogue between King Heraclius II and Solomon Lionidze. Noting a tension between Heraclius’s earlier reluctance and a later political reassurance, the study tests how the poem’s meaning shifts across witnesses. Examining the Kipiani manuscript, the author identifies a decisive lexical divergence – conquer rather than protect – and traces how editorial practice previously obscured this variant. By comparing Kipiani’s reading with canonical printings and autograph traditions, the article argues that the Kipiani witness represents a distinct version, not a minor alternative. The ideological change is interpreted as self-censorship under imperial censorship, preserved through Kipiani’s transcription.