Overview
Agrippina, Countess von Zarnekau (née Agrippina Constantines asuli Japaridze; ) (October 25 [6 November o.s.] , 1855 - October 18, 1926) was a Georgian aristocrat, socialite and patron of numerous educational establishments in Russian Imperial Georgia. She was known for her scandalous divorce and her even more controversial role in the secret marriage of Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia, which caused a rupture in the Russian Imperial Family. Her name is associated with architectural gems that still stand in Tbilisi and western Georgia, some of which continue to be subject of rumors surrounding the countess' eventful life and her tragic, solitary demise.
Family and early years
Agrippina was born Agrippina Constantines asuli Japaridze in the upper Racha region of Georgia, then part of Imperial Russia to Constantine and Melania Japaridze, members of collateral, untitled branch of Georgian princely House of Japaridze, that once ruled the Duchy of Racha. Her father Constantine died young in 1860 when Agrippina was five years old and her mother Melania moved to Kutaisi, where she remarried. In this new city Agrippina was sent to the St. Nino School (today, School No. 3), where she received her education along with Olympia Nikoladze, sister of Georgian statesman Nikolos Nikoladze and other members of relatively well-off Georgian families.
First marriage
In 1876, at the age of 21, Agrippina married a Mingrelian Prince Tariel Alexandrovich Dadiani (b. 1842), the son of Prince Alexander Dadiani (d. 1856) and Princess Rodam Mikeladze (b. 1821), whose wife first wife, Princess Sophia Shervashidze (b. 1838) had passed away and left him with four children. Agrippina is thought to have given Tariel at least several children (possibly Miquel, Levanti, and Nino), although this claim is disputed by sources close to the family, with others disagreeing on the number and gender of offspring. The marriage was not a particularly happy one, partly due to Prince Dadiani's gambling addiction, which may have played a role in Agrippina's future decisions.
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