From July to September 1810, the young prince Alexander fought under the Russian general Simonovich against his relative, King Solomon II of Imereti, who had held Alexander's father captive for nine years.
Alexander's services were duly rewarded; The Russian government granted a pension to his mother and allowed him and his brother, Dimitri, to enlist in the Page Corps.
In 1811, Prince Alexander received a commission as a cornet of the Imperial Guard's Uhlans.
He fought against Napoleon's Grande Armée in 1812, the Decembrist revolutionaries in 1825, and Ottomans in 1828.
His promotions were those to the rank of colonel in 1827, major-general in 1835, lieutenant-general in 1844, adjutant-general in 1852, and general of cavalry in 1860.