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With Boers: Niko's adventure in South Africa and the Anglo-Boer war
Niko Bagrationi (1868–1933) was a Georgian nobleman who fought as a volunteer officer in the Boer army during the Second Boer War (Anglo-Boer war). He was also known in Georgia as Niko the Boer. Son of Prince George Nikolaevich Bagration. A member of the Mukhrani branch of the Bagrationi family (formerly a royal dynasty of Georgia), he was born at the Mukhrani castle near Tbilisi (then Tiflis, Imperial Russia). He represented Georgian nobility at the Russian Tsar Alexander III’s coronation in 1881. In 1899, he attended the Paris international exhibition and was going to leave for big-game hunting when he heard that the Anglo-Boer war had broken out. He later wrote in his memoirs that although he had never heard of the Transvaal until then, its struggle for independence reminded him of his motherland. Thus, he was the first volunteer from Russia to arrive in Pretoria where he was welcomed by the Boer statesman Paul Kruger and his generals. Prince Bagrationi quickly won popularity among the Boers and was promoted to colonel. Later, he was taken prisoner by the British and summoned by Lord Kitchener to explain his conduct – a memorable confrontation in which he accused Kitchener of atrocities. He escaped execution because of his royal descent and was exiled to St Helena, where he remained very cheerful and organizing sports and other activities for his fellow prisoners. He was soon released, and Bagrationi returned to France and then to Georgia, where he wrote a memoir, Burebtan ("With the Boers"; published in Tbilisi, 1951), about his experiences in South Africa. After the Sovietization of Georgia in 1921, he openly opposed Bolshevik rule and lost his property, but surprisingly survived the 1920s purges that targeted Georgian nobility.[1] He ended his days in poverty, selling cigarettes at the Tbilisi marketplace, still dressed in princely garments.[2]
82 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 24, 2018
About the author
Niko Bagrationi
1 book1 followerNiko Bagrationi was born in 1868 in the village of Mukhrani and died in 1933 in Tbilisi.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 29, 2021
Review: With Boers: Niko's adventure in South Africa and the Anglo-Boer war
Niko is a master writer. His memoir is written like a novel. After every reading I keep exclaiming “I can not believe this actually happened”. His life is very captivating and inspiring. I myself am a boer and I live in Georgia. After I read this, I vowed to myself that “I will fight for Georgia's freedom just as Niko fought for mine”. If Georgia needs me I will help if possible. He often quotes poets like the famous Georgian poet Shota rustaveli.
But my favourite quote is from François Fénelon “Men, who influenced society, are unable to do any profitable business without women's assistance.” Then Niko goes on to say “First of all, we can say this about Georgian woman, who used to fight and keep on fighting for a better future.”
The translation of Niko’s memoirs is the only downside to this publication. I have read many Georgian works of literature that have been translated into english. They all make the same mistakes. Examples of this is when they would translate the word church in Georgian to “temple” in english. Or translating veneration as “worship”. These mistakes are not too noticeable but are common. While reading this it is very noticeable that it is a translated text.
But these mistakes are to be expected in the first translation. I believe that a second revised version could quickly iron out the kinks. Then it would be perfect. At times it might seem clunky or strange. But it is still very enjoyable.
Throughout the story he compares himself to Tariel, the main character in Shota’s epic poem. This could be a problem for someone who doesn't know Shota Rustaveli’s Knight in the Panther's skin. But overall not a big deal.
There are also a few simple spelling mistakes. But these are few and far between.
The book tells a tale of a Georgian prince who leaves his homeland as a lord and returns as a peasant. He left his home to fight for the freedom of somebody else's home. It tells the story of a noble man who gave away his youth to a noble cause and then got no reward for it. This is a great story and I hope more people can read it.
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Boers-Nikos-ad...
Niko is a master writer. His memoir is written like a novel. After every reading I keep exclaiming “I can not believe this actually happened”. His life is very captivating and inspiring. I myself am a boer and I live in Georgia. After I read this, I vowed to myself that “I will fight for Georgia's freedom just as Niko fought for mine”. If Georgia needs me I will help if possible. He often quotes poets like the famous Georgian poet Shota rustaveli.
But my favourite quote is from François Fénelon “Men, who influenced society, are unable to do any profitable business without women's assistance.” Then Niko goes on to say “First of all, we can say this about Georgian woman, who used to fight and keep on fighting for a better future.”
The translation of Niko’s memoirs is the only downside to this publication. I have read many Georgian works of literature that have been translated into english. They all make the same mistakes. Examples of this is when they would translate the word church in Georgian to “temple” in english. Or translating veneration as “worship”. These mistakes are not too noticeable but are common. While reading this it is very noticeable that it is a translated text.
But these mistakes are to be expected in the first translation. I believe that a second revised version could quickly iron out the kinks. Then it would be perfect. At times it might seem clunky or strange. But it is still very enjoyable.
Throughout the story he compares himself to Tariel, the main character in Shota’s epic poem. This could be a problem for someone who doesn't know Shota Rustaveli’s Knight in the Panther's skin. But overall not a big deal.
There are also a few simple spelling mistakes. But these are few and far between.
The book tells a tale of a Georgian prince who leaves his homeland as a lord and returns as a peasant. He left his home to fight for the freedom of somebody else's home. It tells the story of a noble man who gave away his youth to a noble cause and then got no reward for it. This is a great story and I hope more people can read it.
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Boers-Nikos-ad...
February 10, 2023
Why would a Georgian prince volunteer to fight alongside the Afrikaner Boers against the British?
Literary speaking, this book isn't a masterpiece. Nevertheless, I found this a very interesting and entertaining account from one of the foreign volunteers that fought in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) in South Africa. The many footnotes and the afterword by translator Artchil Dzjavakhadze (in the Dutch edition) make the story of 'Niko de Boer' highly readable. 3,5⭐️
In his memoires, Niko Bagrationi writes about his aristocratic upbringing and his fascination for agricultural work. Of course, he quotes from the famous epic poem 'The Knight in the Panther's Skin' by Shota Rustaveli, as he wants to grow up to become as strong and adventurous as the Knight from this Medieval poem. This makes the story of his first night at an African farm seem too good to be true. While his hosts are trembling in a corner, our Niko throws the front door open, jumps into the darkness, and kills a creeping leopard that is threatening the poor farmer family. The Boer is so grateful that he strips the leopards skin and presents it as a gift to Niko, who leaves that morning to join the army of the Boers.
We can read about his fascination for Paul Kruger and his much respected wife, 'Tante Siena'. He writes about the strategic skills, encounters, and personal relationships with De Wet, Cronjé, Joubert, De la Rey, Botha, and De Villebois-Mareuil. How a young Winston Churchill arrives as a prisoner, how the Boers lose the war, how punctual the British prepare everything to execute their prisoners (including Niko). And how Niko Bagrationi is sent to St. Helena instead by Kitchener, after they received information on his royal background.
Imprisonment follows, and friendships emerge among the other aristocratic foreigners in the camps. They organize events and games to collect money for the prisoners of the camp and to lift their spirits. Unknown admirers send Bagrationi books and clothing - one day, even a whole ship arrives loaded with gifts from unknown American women... until he finally gets permission to return to his beautiful Homeland. There he goes, our 2.30 meter tall Caucasian giant.
He marries, and most of his children die at a young age. Georgia becomes part of the Soviet Union, aristocracy is hunted, and his two daughters leave for Paris. Niko Bagrationi is spared. But like most true heroes that value democratic values more than money, he dies in poverty...
Literary speaking, this book isn't a masterpiece. Nevertheless, I found this a very interesting and entertaining account from one of the foreign volunteers that fought in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) in South Africa. The many footnotes and the afterword by translator Artchil Dzjavakhadze (in the Dutch edition) make the story of 'Niko de Boer' highly readable. 3,5⭐️
In his memoires, Niko Bagrationi writes about his aristocratic upbringing and his fascination for agricultural work. Of course, he quotes from the famous epic poem 'The Knight in the Panther's Skin' by Shota Rustaveli, as he wants to grow up to become as strong and adventurous as the Knight from this Medieval poem. This makes the story of his first night at an African farm seem too good to be true. While his hosts are trembling in a corner, our Niko throws the front door open, jumps into the darkness, and kills a creeping leopard that is threatening the poor farmer family. The Boer is so grateful that he strips the leopards skin and presents it as a gift to Niko, who leaves that morning to join the army of the Boers.
We can read about his fascination for Paul Kruger and his much respected wife, 'Tante Siena'. He writes about the strategic skills, encounters, and personal relationships with De Wet, Cronjé, Joubert, De la Rey, Botha, and De Villebois-Mareuil. How a young Winston Churchill arrives as a prisoner, how the Boers lose the war, how punctual the British prepare everything to execute their prisoners (including Niko). And how Niko Bagrationi is sent to St. Helena instead by Kitchener, after they received information on his royal background.
Imprisonment follows, and friendships emerge among the other aristocratic foreigners in the camps. They organize events and games to collect money for the prisoners of the camp and to lift their spirits. Unknown admirers send Bagrationi books and clothing - one day, even a whole ship arrives loaded with gifts from unknown American women... until he finally gets permission to return to his beautiful Homeland. There he goes, our 2.30 meter tall Caucasian giant.
He marries, and most of his children die at a young age. Georgia becomes part of the Soviet Union, aristocracy is hunted, and his two daughters leave for Paris. Niko Bagrationi is spared. But like most true heroes that value democratic values more than money, he dies in poverty...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews