This is the story of one Georgian man called Davit Manvelashvili.He was born in the family of peasants in Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia.He was separated from his parents and brothers at the age of 5.This happened because he was kidnapped by thugs who traded with slaves.These thugs took him to the Ottoman capital-Istanbul,where he changed several masters and eventually ended up with the man called-Mustafa.He bestowed 11 year-old Davit to the governor of Iraq-Suleiman pasha the Great,who was Georgian.This governor named him Davut and send him to the islamic school-Madrassie.There he learned islamic law,Quran and oriental languages:Arabic,Ottoman Turkish and Persian.He learned all of these subjects very well and as a result,his master paid him special attention.Suleiman personally taught Davut horseriding,swordsmanship and archery.After finishing his studies Suleiman released Davut from slavery and made him free man.Davut became his official bodyguard.At the age of 27,Davut got married with Suleiman's daughter-Rabia.They had 3 sons and 1 daughter.
     In 1822,he officially became the governor of Iraq.He made Iraq flourish with irrigation channels and wells.He constructed libraries,mosques,silk factories,public bathhouses,hospitals and bridges.He also founded the very first publishing house in 1828-1829.Besides,he had extremely strong army that consisted of 100 thousand Georgian mamluk soldiers.This army was divided in 3 units among his 3 sons.In 1831,he attempted to make Iraq independent from Ottoman empire,but he failed and was captured by Ottoman forces with his family.The Ottoman sultan-Mahmud II exiled him in Bursa(City in Turkey).

      Suleiman pasha looked at Mustafa and his daughter:


-You will be attending the training in archery on this square.All of these boys will be given these bows and arrows by their teachers that will come out from those rooms over there.Then,they will be given the task to shoot 20 arrows towards the center of those wooden board.After archery,these fellows will be trained in swordsmanship using wooden swords.After one week,their teachers will train them with iron swords.You will observe all of these training sessions as my personal doctor.This is my command as the governor.


-I comprehend,governor!The price of bringing Davut to you was not only I and Safiye's arrival here,but also becoming your personal doctor.This is my deal with your envoy-Rifat.


-Come out right now,teachers!-Suleiman pasha ordered quite loudly.


     In the blink of an eye,16 young men around in their early 20s turned up.They were coming towards Suleiman pasha.The man who was leading them proudly was the governor's only son.He was tall,gorgeous,gray eyed and had light brown hair.As soon as he got closer,he and Suleiman pasha opened their arms and hugged one another.Quite soon,the governor spared himself from his son's arms and looked at him:


-Sait,welcome to your first training session with your students!


-Thank you for welcoming me so warmly!Please,allow my peers to shake your hand.


     Suleiman extended his right hand.15 men shook his hand one by one.


-Now,look at these bows and arrows.Hand them over to  these boys and teach them how to shoot arrows!


-As you command us,governor!-The 16 men exclaimed together and went to the boys.


    The teachers told their students to take their arrows and bows,stand on their left legs,push the right leg close to their right elbows,abstain from breathing for 15 seconds and observing their targets.Sait was teaching Davut.All of the boys shot 20 arrows one by one.However,only 7 of them managed to hit their targets 11 times.Davut hit the board's center 16 times.The rest only scored 8 out of 20.Mustafa,Safiye,Sait and Suleiman pasha were perplexed by Davut's performance.


Chapter 38 - Chapter 38