Heraclius II of Georgia
During the 1768–74 war between the Russian and Ottoman empires, in which the Georgians allied themselves with the Russians, Prince Svimon contributed to the victory of Teimuraz II's son and successor, King Heraclius II of Georgia at Aspindza in April 1770. During the campaign, Heraclius was abandoned by his ally, the Russian general Count Totleben, and the Georgian forces had to confront a larger Turkish-Lesgian army. The night before the battle Prince Svimon led some two dozen men and clandestinely dismantled the only bridge across the river, stranding the enemy forces on the riverbank and allowing Heraclius to win a decisive victory. In 1778, a change in political climate forced Prince Svimon to abdicate in favor of his nephew, Ioane, and retire to Russia.