the kingdom of georgia , a subject of the persians for many centuries , became Becoming a russian protectorate in 1783 , when erekle ii signed the treaty of unk , whereby the empress promised to defend him in case of the iranian attack .

although it was widely expected that a 50,000-strong russian corps would be led by a seasoned general ( unk ) , the empress followed the advice of her lover , prince zubov , and entrusted the command to his youthful brother , count valerian zubov .