Batumi and the famous people
Batumi and the famous people
Throughout different periods in history, from ancient times onwards, numerous renowned and successful individuals from around the world have visited Georgia, and Batumi holds a special place in this regard. This tradition continues to the present day, with Batumi, the gem of the Black Sea, remaining a preferred destination for global celebrities, influential individuals involved in culture, science, arts, sports, and other fields.
Dating back to ancient times, the heroes of the famous "Argonauts" myth, one of the most renowned not only in Greek mythology, but also worldwide, journeyed to the region of ancient Kolkheti. Historical sources indicate that the present-day territory of Ajara was part of this region, and interest in this area among notable individuals has never diminished.
Historical records suggest that Ajara was one of the first regions where Christianity was preached by Andrew the First, a disciple of Christ, who was sent by the Mother of God.
To this day, Batumi's history is connected to the names of many influential individuals. These include famous writers and poets, scientists, explorers, and even prominent businessmen.
The famed Norwegian author and Nobel laureate, Knut Hamsun, traveled to Batumi in 1899. At the time, he had already penned his book "Hunger", but he was not widely known in Batumi. Hamsun was traveling through the Caucasus, and even though a visit to a seaside town was not initially in his plans, he described this trip in his subsequent book, "Fairy Land". From Hamsun's travel notes, we learn that he stayed at the Belle Vue Hotel by the sea and could watch people bathing in the sea from his window.
While in Batumi, Knut Hamsun spent much of his time walking through the city streets, observing people, and visiting shops and restaurants. The pace of life in Batumi, and particularly the Batumi Boulevard, reminded him of the southern states of America.
Twenty years after this journey, Hamsun would become a Nobel laureate, yet he had no idea that the city he had written about with such admiration was already home to the very namesake of the Nobel Prize winners, the Nobel brothers.
In 1879, Robert Nobel travelled to Baku and developed an interest in the oil wells. It was there that he conceived the idea of creating the Nobel brothers' partnership and communicated it to his brother Ludwig. Ludwig found the idea appealing, and the world's most famous Nobel, Alfred - known for his invention of dynamite and the establishment of the Nobel Prize - assisted his brothers in bringing the project to life. Alfred Nobel had shown no prior interest in oil, but he trusted his brothers' business acumen. This was how the Nobel brothers' partnership, which played a significant role in the history of Batumi, was formed. The company of the Nobels in Batumi was named "Branobel."
In 1905, the Nobel brothers' partnership funded the construction of an almost 900-kilometer oil pipeline between Baku and Batumi, which significantly increased cargo turnover and the Nobels' profits. In 2007, a technological museum was opened in the country house of the Nobel brothers, offering visitors a chance to delve into the history of this influential family.
Displayed on the first floor of the museum is a map charting the business interests of the Nobel brothers' partnership. Prominently marked in red on this map is Batumi, a port through which over a quarter of the world's oil supply passed at the close of the 19th century. However, the Nobel brothers weren't the only ones with significant interests in this city. Among the many influential figures connected to Batumi was Alphonse Rothschild, a member of the renowned Rothschild dynasty.
Alphonse Rothschild's company, the "Caspian-Black Sea Oil Industry and Trade Organization," initially operated an oil canister factory in Batumi. Over time, the company broadened its operations, eventually establishing its own berths in Batumi harbor in addition to the factory.
The name of Baron Rothschild became interwoven with Batumi's history in the 1880s, as the city was increasingly recognized as a significant port on the global map. Crucial to Batumi's economic development was the railway, which promised to link Batumi with Tbilisi and Baku and enhance the profitability of oil transportation from Batumi. Recognizing the railway's significance, Baron Rothschild financed the construction of the railway line with a sum of 10,000 US dollars.
Towards the close of the 19th century, Alphonse Rothschild began building a house in Batumi, located near the boulevard. This house, with views of both the sea and the boulevard, exuded luxury. Construction materials were imported from France, and the resulting two-story building has retained its grandeur to this day.
Rothschild's house, having weathered many historical trials, continues to stand in Batumi, along Rustaveli Street. However, it isn't known by Rothschild's name, but rather as the Batumi Charkviani Maternity Hospital.
As seen in the biographies of Nobel Prize-winning authors who have visited Batumi, this city has often held a special role. This was the case for renowned Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Kazantzakis came to Batumi in 1919, but it wasn't travel interests that brought him there, but rather business. The Greek government had sent him to Batumi to study the issue of repatriating Greek refugees.
Kazantzakis spent two weeks in Batumi, and this time period proved to be fateful not only for him, but also for a woman from Batumi. He refers to her as a "beautiful Georgian woman, Barbare, daughter of Nikolozi". Kazantzakis detailed this brief romance in his final book, "Confession to Greco", which he wrote at the age of 74. A chapter of the book detailing his encounter with the Batumi woman is titled "Caucasus".
The writer Alexandre Dumas (the younger) recorded the time between his two trips to Batumi, and later noted in his memoirs that "the rain lends Batumi an enchanting allure, but a portion of the sunny day is so intensely hot that one might imagine nine suns are simultaneously lighting up the sky, rather than just one."
In 1947, distinguished American author and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck visited the Soviet Union on a work trip. Under an agreement with the newspaper "Herald Tribune", Steinbeck was tasked with creating a documentary essay, from which the book "Russian Diary" was published in 1948. The Soviet authorities, eager to make an impression with Steinbeck's visit, hoped that the natural beauty and geographical setting of the Black Sea region of Georgia, specifically Batumi and its surroundings, would captivate the writer, especially after visiting the northern regions. Thus, while in Moscow, Steinbeck would frequently hear the word "Georgia" spoken with awe. Steinbeck wrote of the Caucasus nation, situated "on the edge of the Black Sea", as a "second paradise": "A citizen's service to the state is sometimes rewarded with a trip to Georgia" (Russian Diary, 2003:18), and humorously suggested that a trip to Georgia was also a well-earned reward for him.
Steinbeck describes Batumi as "a very pleasant, tropical city" complete with seaside beaches and hotels, and as an important port, "it is a city of parks, tree-lined streets, protected from the heat by the sea breeze" (Russian Diary, 2003:26). The writer stayed at the "Intourist" hotel, which he claimed to be the "best and most well-equipped hotel" in the Soviet Union: "with comfortable and newly furnished rooms, balconies and armchairs. Every room had wide open windows looking outside" (Russian Diary, 2003:26). It's worth mentioning that the building's architect - Academician Alexi Shchusev - personally oversaw the construction and finishing of the façade and interior of Batumi's "Intourist" in the 1930s.
In December 1924, amidst a Batumi winter where snow had reached nearly a meter, the poet Sergei Yesenin visited the city. It was here that he penned his famous poem, "Shagane, you are my Shagane".
Batumi is also associated with stories of Mikhail Bulgakov, who not only wrote the play "Batumi", but supposedly found the inspiration for the character in his renowned work "Master and Margarita" at a Batumi market, where the captivating character of Margarita emerged.
Writer Konstantin Paustovsky spent two years living in Georgia, dedicating 23 works to it, including "Letters from Batumi" and "Winter in Batumi". His country house still stands in Kobuleti, and it is recognized as a cultural heritage monument, preserving a fascinating history.
This is but a small assortment of globally significant individuals whose biographies are entwined with Batumi. The most important element is that the city has maintained its allure, both in the past and now, encouraging people to visit, reside, and truly live - right here in Batumi!
