In 1882, Duke Constantine Petrovich of Oldenburg (1850-1906), a member of the Russian branch of the House of Oldenburg, met Agrippina Japaridze in Kutaisi. At the time she was married to Georgian nobleman from the House of Dadiani. Constantine Petrovich confessed his love for her. The confession turned Agrippina's head; they eloped and left Kutaisi and went to settle in Tiflis. Prince Oldenburg commissioned the building of the palace for his beloved as a token of his great affection for her.
