Veneciuri saarkivo masalebi Kartlis mepis, Simon I-is šesaxeb = Documentary Materials in the State Archive of Venice about the King of Kartli, Simon I

This article focuses on documentary materials in the State Archive of Venice that are related to the King of Kartli, Simon I (1556-1569, 1578-1600), a dominant figure in Caucasian history and the historiography of the second half of the sixteenth century. During his reign, Simon first struggled for the political independence of his Kingdom against Safavid Persia and later allied with Persia against the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power. He also established diplomatic relations with Western European countries, which were anxious about the threat of Ottoman expansion in Europe. A thorough study of the available documentary sources about this monarch has only recently begun, which makes it possible to grasp his true stature. Much work remains to be done in the State Archives of Venice and in Europe in general in order to reconstruct the story of how this statesman fought for the preservation of the independence and identity of his country,