Iakov Egnatashvilly Resident of Gori (Georgia); owner of vineyards, engaged in wine trading. Country: Georgia

1. Biography of Yakov Egnatashvili
2. The Testimony of G.A. Egnatashvili
3. Conclusion

Biography of Yakov Egnatashvili

Yakov Georgievich Egnatashvili, also known as Prince (or, according to other sources, a merchant of the 2nd guild), was a resident of Gori, Georgia. He owned vineyards and was involved in the wine trade. During his time, he employed Keke Geladze, the mother of I. Dzhugashvili (Stalin), as a chambermaid (or servant). Some believe that Yakov Egnatashvili was the father of Stalin based on the information that he paid for Stalin's education at the Tiflis Spiritual Seminary. It was said that Stalin named his son Yakov in his honor. This legend is mentioned by E. Radzinsky in his book "Stalin" and also by A. Rybakov in his novel "Children of the Arbat". In 1990, A. Antonov-Ovseenko confirms this legend in his research "Stalin without a Mask", referring to the story told by Nestor Menabde, a Georgian Menshevik, to whom Stalin supposedly revealed the secret of his birth during his exile in Krasnoyarsk.

The Testimony of G.A. Egnatashvili

In an interview with journalist V. Loginov, G.A. Egnatashvili sheds light on these moments. He says, "My grandfather, Yakov Georgievich Egnatashvili, lived for eighty-six years. He was a significant person. Very proud, strong, and independent. In his youth, he was a famous wrestler in Georgia... Because in his youth, the princes offended him deeply, he, so to speak, hated them all his life. He helped the poor. Including Ekaterine Georgievna, who worked for him on his estate. That's why Stalin came to our house. Grandfather would seat him at the table and give him books to read aloud. He read the works of Kazbegi and Chavchavadze... My grandfather particularly liked these books. And Joseph himself was liked by him - serious, determined, resourceful. That's why my grandfather paid for his education at the seminary... Yes, before Stalin was born, his mother (whom I had the fortune to know and visit several times) had a firstborn named Mikhail, who died at the age of one. Then Georgy was born, who also died in infancy from typhus. My grandfather baptized both the first and second ones. And when the third child, Joseph, was born, Ekaterine Georgievna said to him, "You are, of course, a very kind person, but you have a heavy hand. So forgive me, for God's sake, let Mikhail baptize Joseph." I forgot his surname. Little Stalin also survived typhus... Stalin named his first son Yakov in honor of my grandfather, who was his comrade... Stalin was eight years older than my father and nine years older than my uncle Vaso... Later on, Stalin turned out to be a very grateful person and did a lot for our family" (Spy. No. 2, 1993, pp. 39-40).

Conclusion

It is more likely that all the rumors about Stalin's "noble" origins belong to the realm of legends, which have always accompanied people who have risen from humble families and achieved positions of power (see also Przhevalsky N.M.).