Hello! The next issue of historical intelligence is on air and today we will talk about a tribe of Circassian origin, about the Ubykhs. A kind of people, fundamentally different from other Circassians, about whom we will talk and spoke before. It owes its feature to the attention of researchers all over the world to this day. Although at the present time there are no Ubykhs, as such, of the people. Ubykhs historically lived on the territory between the Shahe and Khosta rivers from west to east, from the south they were limited to the Black Sea, and from the north they were spurs of the Greater Caucasus. That is, this is the territory of the present Greater Sochi. From the west, their auls were mixed with Shapsug auls on both sides of the Shahe river, in many places they were united by clans with this people. Shapsugov was considered a closely related people. From the east, the same situation was with the Abazin tribe, the Abkhaz-speaking Sadz, or, as they are called in Georgian terminology, dzhigets living in the Mzymta river valley. They also lived together and considered them closely related. From the north, the same Sadzy-Dzhigets lived, a group of Abazin tribes Achipsou, Aibga lived up to the territory of modern Krasnaya Polyana and were their neighbors. In addition, the Ubykhs communicated very closely with the Abadzekhs, who lived north of them through passes in the Lago-Naki plateau region, high-mountain Abadzekhs. Periodically, the Ubykhs drove their herds to them, and there they began to establish family ties with the Abadzekhs. As for communication with the Abkhaz, they were always quite tense among the Circassian tribes and they constantly clashed. There was practically no direct contact, mostly hostile actions. The Ubykhs made raids into Abkhazia, including winter ones. What is the difference? The fact is that the region of residence of the Ubykhs, Sochi, has historically been isolated for almost a millennium. It was limited by dense thickets, swamps, river valleys from the west and east, interspersed by cliffs, spurs, the territory until the arrival of the Russian state, before the activity on conducting the infrastructure was so closed that getting foreign invaders there or simply moving, migrating other peoples in it was limited . Therefore, it so happened that the Ubykhs were mothballed. All movements of peoples in the North Caucasus bypassed them. Neither the Tatar invasion, nor the Alans reached this point. They did not pass through the territory of the Ubykhs and therefore they preserved the language and culture of the ancient Circassian society. They were called true Circassians. The main position in this territory was located in the Sochi river valley. They shared it like this - some lived on the seashore and were called Black Sea Ubykhs and mountain Ubykhs, who lived in high mountain regions, in gorges. The Black Sea Ubykhs had a center in historical time on the territory of approximately in the area of \u200b\u200bthe sea station of the city of Sochi, south of Mount Battery. There was the residence of their prince during the Caucasian war, Aubla Ali-Akhmet, aka Oblag. Mountain Ubykhs were ruled by the Berzek family, Hadji Berzek was their military commander during the Caucasian War and lived in the village around the modern village of Plastunka north of Sochi. It is worth emphasizing that historically it is considered the only thing that could affect the appearance of the Ubykhs - their mixing with the Alans, the ancestors of modern Ossetians, who during the time of the Tatar-Mongol invasion, pressed against the mountains of the North Caucasus under the pressure of the Tatar-Mongol, some of them moved to the Ubykhs . There is a version that finds confirmation. One of the tribes of the Alpine Ubykhs was called "Alan". This point of view is confirmed by the anthropological difference of the Ubykhs from the neighboring Circassians, their great severity of European character. Many contemporaries described them as quite beautiful people, men and women, stately, slender. Men wore suits that fastened at the waist and gave the figure a posture. For the Ubykhs, harmony was a prerequisite for a normal appearance. Turning to history, it is necessary to take into account the fact that in the Middle Ages there was a great Abkhaz-speaking influence on local tribes. Then there was a migration of the Abkhazian population, not very large, but very active during the heyday of the Abkhazian kingdom, right up to modern Novorossiysk. The entire territory of the Black Sea coast in the region turned into Abkhaz-speaking land, the dialect was used Abkhaz. Although the population did not change, it did not migrate. Those people who lived there began to speak another dialect. Later, with the decline of the Abkhazian kingdom and the strengthening of Circassian peoples, the movement went in the opposite direction and by the 18th century the Abkhaz dialect was squeezed back to the Khosta River. The population at the same time also did not change. The Circassian dialect just returned. It is worth noting the peculiarity of the administrative structure of the Ubykhs. It was primitive - a leader, a tribe, and absolute submission to the leader. Moreover, all issues were resolved at public meetings, where the leader participated with everyone on an equal footing. In Ubykhia, this system was so strong that popular opinion, which the leader could influence with his authority, held the whole people together with a duty, there was no unrest. This made it possible to divide Ubykh societies by birth by administrative division. Each clan was ruled on its territory. They were very tightly interconnected, there were no conflicts between them. The rite of atalism also helped this - transferring the noble children to another society and even another tribe to raise stronger bonds of friendship. The child was brought up in a strange family until the moment when he learned to use weapons, and then returned. The organization of the Ubykhs made it possible to make successful attacks on neighbors, up to raids on the Kuban through the spurs of the Caucasus, through snow passes. Their army was very clearly organized as special forces. They were divided into groups - supplies, the first flank, cover. This was unusual for the Circassians, who fought chaotically, took a mass. The Ubykhs developed piracy. They built strong boats on which they attacked ships, robbed them. It got to the point that Russian ships sailing off the coast of Sochi often found themselves in blockade and large ships were forced to flee. They were very maneuverable and competently boarded. All this led to the fact that, in addition to animal husbandry and horticulture, which was very developed in Ubykhia, they most developed the slave trade. It was put on stream, especially with the advent of Turkey. All markets were packed with slaves. The population increasingly preferred this occupation as the most profitable. Whereas among the neighboring Circassians this was mainly done by aristocrats and princes, then among the Ubykhs even ordinary people did not disdain the slave trade. In addition, they had well-developed agriculture. The peculiarity of the area is the fact that the entire territory of Greater Sochi, right up to the upper gorges, was very heavily developed by wheat fields, corn, orchards. Winemaking was developed - vineyards planted around trees. Gardens and auls were more located in the middle and upper (mountain) parts of the rivers. In the coastal part, they were near the estuaries, but not all, since many estuaries were swamps with malaria and people did not settle there. The territory of Sochi along the modern Kurortny Prospect was a continuous forest of centuries-old oaks. The forest was sacred, meetings were held in it, prayed, it was forbidden for outsiders to enter without the permission of elders. The Ubykhs formed an interesting mixture of religions. The Ubykhs were adherents of pagan beliefs until the last years of the Caucasian War, when, with powerful propaganda and from the disappointment that paganism did not save their land from the Russian troops, they began to side with Islam, cut down groves and erected mosques in them. This activity did not have large scale. A surprising mixture of paganism with Christianity, which was also the religion of the Ubykhs until the 16th century. All this resulted in mixed ceremonies, when iron crosses hung in groves, like idols. With the advent of Islam, the mullahs began to meet with believers in these sacred groves. But only some of the aristocrats adhered fully to Islam, mainly with the goal of friendship with the Turks. By the end of the 18th century, the Ubykhs considered their lands impregnable and were sure that the Russians would never capture them, although the war was already in full swing. Turkey incited the Ubykhs to attacks, Europeans appeared. In particular, the Englishman Belle, who lived in Sochi until the end of the Caucasian War, carried out propaganda among the Ubykhs against Russia and trained the Ubykhs. When the partition of Poland took place, many opposition Poles came to the Ubykhs and generally to Circassia and taught them how to take forts, shoot modern weapons, brought them with them from Europe, and taught how to shoot cannons at forts. Personally, Belle commanded the shelling of the Navaginsky fort in Sochi, Golovinsky fort. The situation changed after Russia took Abkhazia into its citizenship and Russian propaganda began. Russia managed to lure the Dzhigets to itself, the Dzhiget bailiff was formed in the Mzymta river valley. Further history developed in a dramatic scenario. Russian troops advanced from the north. Zass began to build the Labinsky line, to move deep into Abadzekhiya. The Ubykhs helped the Abadzekhs make attacks on the line, but kept themselves apart, considering their land impregnable. Russia decided to build the Black Sea coastline in the 1830s. During its development, its head was General Raevsky. He developed a plan for the development of the coast, since the simple cruising of ships along the coast did not allow to stop trade with Turkey. Turkey actively supplied the Circassians with weapons and conducted propaganda - they sent religious preachers who raised the people. In 1837, the Ubykhs suddenly found Russian troops at the mouth of Mzymta, who managed to establish a powerful strengthening of the Holy Spirit there. It turned out to be impregnable and was never taken by the Circassians throughout the Caucasian war. This forced the Ubykhs to mobilize and begin to oppose the landings. Plans for the construction of Russian forts were known. Raevsky and General Veliaminov decided to build forts along the main mouths of the rivers, where there were the most active points of trade with the Circassians in Turkey. Since there was no reconnaissance and the accuracy of the terrain and the number of highlanders were unknown, they decided to send either a large detachment of troops that would pass along the coast for reconnaissance or use a spy. They chose a spy - General Tornau, about whom I spoke in a separate issue. In short, I will say that he was well prepared and his activities led to the emergence of a full-fledged espionage novel and descriptions of Circassia. He managed to pass, not very much, but he successfully carried out reconnaissance in the Sochi region in Ubykhia. This helped the troops in the future. Based on the data of loyal Circassians, Russian troops landed in Sochi, where under the stubborn fire of the Circassians they managed to gain a foothold and build the Navaginsky fortification, which became the beginning of the city of Sochi. They landed in the heart of Primorsky Ubykhiya. For weeks, they moved along the coast and made landings. They founded fortifications in Ubykhia at the mouth of the Shahe river, on the border with the Shapsugs. Here were the most sacred groves of both peoples and they were not going to surrender them so easily. The resistance was very powerful. Thousands of highlanders prayed in the groves against the backdrop of Russian ships and took an oath to die for their native land. The landing led to a bloody battle, although in Sochi the Russians lost more during the landing. A monument to the Sochi landing with the mass grave of ordinary and officers of the Russian troops still stands on Kurortny Prospekt. The landing at the mouth of Shahe was more bloody on the Circassian side; a monument is also there. The Russians eventually landed and cut down a grove, secured themselves at the mouth of the river, but held the fortification with great difficulty. In the midst of the Caucasian war, the Ubykhs became very angry and constantly besieged the fortifications, did not even allow the garrison to sleep normally. The fortress was disturbed by imitating an attack. This led to the emergence of Russian dogs in the Caucasus guard dogs, acting outside the territory of the fortress and warning the bark of the approach of the enemy. The service in the fortifications was complicated by the fact that food was transported once every six months, since the land route was impossible. Around were forests, swamps, rocks and dangerous Circassians. Even the passage by the troop detachment threatened with serious losses. The Navaginsky fortification was constantly bombarded, as it was opposite the mountain (now Battery), which was used by the Circassians to shell the fortification. Including cannons. Attempts to quickly repel the guns did not lead to anything. The Circassians, as soon as they saw that the detachment was heading in their direction, immediately hid the cannons in the forest and carried them away. The territory was with a very painful climate, unusual for a Russian soldier. Garrisons were dying of fever. In the Russian troops, many Decembrists fought. They were referred to the Caucasus as a reference with a high mortality rate. Even from Siberia they transferred to the Caucasus. They were purposely demoted to a soldier and sent to the advance detachments. In Adler, during the landing at the mouth of Mzymta, the writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky died, who interestingly described the events of the Caucasian War and the life of the troops. At that time, he himself was eager for battle to die. Contemporaries said that he was tired of constant exile, restrictions on rights, ignoring military merit. The same situation with Odoevsky described by Lermontov, who died during the landing on the coast in modern Lazarevsky. Pushkin's second - Danzas, participated in landing operations, but he survived everything. Many exiled oppositionists participated in the events of that time, like ordinary soldiers. Generals who tried to ease their fate were removed from their posts. The construction of fortresses complicated life for the wretched. An active campaign began on the part of the Berzekov clan, which was irreconcilable to the Russians. Their actions were aimed at restricting relations with the Russians, even ordinary peasants. The population had to completely oppose the Russian troops. Therefore, the fortifications were constantly besieged. In 1840, when the mountaineers chained by fortifications in the gorges, under the influence of a dry year, began to starve, and the closed trade with Turkey did not allow them to purchase food, and active hostilities took place in the north at the Abadzekhs. The latter could not help them. This situation led to mass demonstrations and attacks on fortifications. For the Ubykhs, these actions were weak, their area of \u200b\u200bresidence was not yet touched by the war. The forts of Navaginsky and the Holy Spirit practically did not fall under siege and lived quietly, while the neighboring forts of Lazarevsky, Veliaminovsky (Tuapse) were destroyed by the highlanders and restored only after a year. In Ubykhia another kind of unrest began. The Ubykhs began to turn into a consolidating Circassian people. They decided to unite the Circassians in a confederation to fight Russia. Hadji Berzek, who in 1840 was already 70 years old, was an indisputable authority in Circassia. He began to hold meetings of the Circassians. In 1839, there was the first Circassian assembly north of Adler, where there were representatives of the Shapsugs, Abadzekhs, Ubykhs, Natukhais - most of the Black Sea Circassians. Here it was decided to join forces, worked out rules for the prohibition of contacts with Russians, and punish those who hesitated with force. In 1841, djigets joined Russia, the woes became more severe. The Abadzekhs have naibs from Shamil, who begin administrative reform based on the Sharia and unification activities in Cherkessia. But the Ubykhs fail. The last naib, Magomed Amin, who conducted this policy most effectively, was unable to agree with the Shapsugs. As a result, he came into conflict with the Shapsug prince Sefer-bei, who for his own purposes also began a unifying movement among the Circassians. They faced having different interests of the association. This led to military skirmishes between the Circassians, which Turkey took apart. Both of them were summoned to Istanbul, where they were judged. When Amin returned from Turkey to continue his activities, General Zass was active in the Abadzekhs. Unification activity did not have the previous effect. The Ubykhs abandoned Amin, since the Ubykh population did not understand the attempts of total planting of Islam. There was a period during the year when crosses were removed from Ubykhs in groves and mosques were built. A year later, the mosques were destroyed by the Ubykhs, who took it aggressively. With varying success, sluggish hostilities took place during the 1840s, until the war ended on the eastern Caucasian front. Magomed Amin, like other naibs and imams, were forced to either surrender to the Russians or sail away to Turkey. Amin surrendered to the Russians and asked for petitions to leave for Turkey, from where he continued his activities until the end of the war. At some point, the resistance weakened and the Highlanders began to doubt whether it was worth continuing the struggle. Among the Ubykhs, such doubts roamed among the coastal tribes. Prince Akhmet-Khan understood that he was at the forefront and in the event of a Russian offensive from the coast he would suffer the most. Therefore, he hesitated between defense and the transition to the side of the Russians. He even tried to give up, but he was returned very quickly. Their Circassians captivated him and released him with the order not to repeat this anymore. He had to take his oath to the Russians and continue the fight against them. Very often, Russia bribed the Ubykh aristocracy with privileges and officer ranks, they even went to the side of Russia. However, when propaganda worked, the Ubykhs rose against the Russians and were forced to refuse gifts and ranks. The situation changed in 1854 with the beginning of the active phase of the Crimean War. Russia left the Black Sea coast and blew up fortifications. During this war, the mountaineers were convinced that the Russians were behind them and relaxed. The Highlanders began to react less to the propaganda of the Naib, it was less important for them than before. At that time, many tribes were offended by Amin, the destruction of mosques occurred, his authority fell, and so it was until 1856-57. By the time the Crimean War ended, the Circassians had returned to the way of life on the coast that they had before the construction of the Black Sea coastline. Coastal auls returned from the destroyed fortifications, raids against neighbors began again. In those years, the tsarist government adopted a plan for the military resolution of the Circassian issue. The process of reconciliation of the Circassians was considered not successful. The Crimean War showed that the preservation of the Circassians on its territory during the construction of fortifications will lead to the blocking of the latter, in the event of a repeat of the war with Turkey or the Europeans. Circassians will go against Russia and will block the fortifications. The author of the eviction of the Circassians was the ataman (in modern Russia, an analogue of the governor) Evdokimov. He proposed to divide the Circassians along the main roads going from the Kuban to the sea and to evict the Circassians either on the banks of the Kuban or in Turkey. At the same time, the liberated Russian troops from the Chechen and Crimean fronts were gathered in the Kuban and went in three directions from the Kuban to the Black Sea, squeezing the disagreeing local population ahead of them. They were driven to the sea in order to land on Turkish ships. The Berzeks of the Ubykhs again began the unifying activity of the Circassians. This time at a higher level with the help of the British, who actively landed Circassia. They helped the Circassians in the struggle for independence. In Turkey, a detachment of mercenaries from around the world was formed, which landed near modern Tuapse, where he was going to fight with the Russians. At the first skirmish, he was defeated and the detachment fled. The Circassians wanted to cut them, did not even consider them men. It was very difficult for them to return to Turkey, they were considered superfluous on ships. The unification led to the fact that in 1860 the Ubykhs had their first parliament. It was a Muslim representative body, a collection of Circassian peoples of the coast. A complex of buildings was built at the mouth of the Sochi River. It adopted the declaration of independence of Circassia under the leadership of the British. She was sent to European cities and to Turkey asking for help in the fight against Russia. Prior to this, the Circassians turned to St. Petersburg with a request to stop the hostilities, some were ready to surrender so that they would be left in their native land. By that time, Russia had decided to evict the Circassians, and they were refused requests. On the part of England and France, the Circassians were also denied assistance; geopolitics was not in their favor. Turkey once again promised to send troops, but this was another dishonest promise, of which there were many before and the wretched ones did not believe them. Unification actions began in an attempt to assemble the Circassians into a single state. Russia indirectly pushed the Circassians to the first single state, the common people. However, time was short and conditions were bad for this. In 1861, Emperor Alexander II met with representatives of the Circassians, where he confirmed an ultimatum on eviction and gave them a term for this until 1862-1864. They refused and the war continued. As a result, in one year, the entire population of the northern slopes of the Western Caucasus was evicted, Russian troops came close to the heights of the Caucasus. Abadzekhs were almost completely evicted, only 10,000 people agreed to move to the Kuban. The rest with refugee troops went south to Tuapse. Refugees complicated the life of the Ubykhs, refugee camps were formed on their territories, constantly waiting for Turkish carriers. Lacking homes, food. A year later, in 1862, Russian troops went to sea, capturing the land of the Circassians, with the exception of Ubykhia. The Shapsugs and Ubykhs were again given terms for eviction, very tight. As contemporaries later admitted, local Russian officials carried out the order too ardently, in St. Petersburg they realized this very late. Tough measures and short deadlines did not allow to make the right decision for those Circassians who hesitated before the choice to sail away or stay. They were not given time to think and they sailed to Turkey, instead of replenishing the ranks of subjects of Russia. During these years, the last battles of the Caucasian War took place in the Tuapse region, the Shahe River. Shapsugs began to be massively evicted and Russian troops approached Ubykhia. At this time, Haji Berzek was very old, managed to go to the second Hajj in Mecca, which was considered very honorable among the Circassians. After returning to his homeland, he was unable to rule the country due to old age. There was discord in Ubykh, and at the critical moment of the war, the main prince was Hadji's nephew - Hadji Dogomuko Berzek Kerantukh. When Russian troops approached the Golovinsky fort on the Shahe river, he went to Abkhazia to consult with Mikhail Shirvanshidze, ruler of Abkhazia and a Russian citizen. Meanwhile, the popular movement in Ubykhia led to a gathering of the youngest Ubykhs, hot heads, who decided to independently oppose the Russian troops and give them battle. It happened in the area of \u200b\u200bthe modern village of Volkonka in the medieval fortress of Godlik in which the party of the Ubykhs was completely defeated. This led to the fact that the broken troops scattered around Ubykhia and negatively affected the spirit of the people. The Ubykh nobility could no longer restrain the people from surrendering to the Russian authorities. The princes did not want to come under the power of Russia, moreover, due to the fact that serfdom was abolished in Russia, and each of them had numerous serfs. They preferred to move to Turkey with the people and serfs. The most cunning of the Shapsugs and Ubykhs managed to evict in advance, a few years before the arrival of Russian troops. The agreement with Turkey was long ago and it promised vast lands to the immigrants. They got these lands. And those who until the last fought and evicted at the end of the war - fell into a massive wave of resettlement, not organized, in the crowd, which led to the tragedy. By 1864, when the Russian troops entered Ubykh, there was no resistance, the national spirit fell. The last meeting of the Ubykhs decided to completely evict the whole people to Turkey, which happened literally in three weeks. 150,000 people from all over Sochi hastily evicted to Turkey. In Russia, they did not expect such a mass exodus, they expected minor unrest that part would go to the Kuban. Boats crammed along the board, any unrest at sea drowned them. In calm, they were dying of thirst and water. Patients were thrown into the sea. Turkey, too, was not ready for such masses of immigrants who were ill during transportation. They were kept in closed camps on the shore, where the Circassians massively died of hunger and fever, while the Turks determined where to send them. Later they were resettled in the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East in the most marshy and desolate places. Many wanted to return, but Russia did not allow return entry. After resettlement, almost half of the Ubykhs died, and the survivors were scattered throughout the Ottoman Empire. They were forced to accept Turkish culture and language, taken to the army, where they were used to deter Serbs on the Balkan front. By the middle of the 20th century, the wretched, as a nation, had disappeared. The last person who knew the Ubykh language - Tevfik Esench, died at the end of the 20th century. He spoke a mixed language. To this day, researchers are trying to restore the language and culture of the Ubykhs, which so far has not been fully obtained. Ubykhia remained deserted for a decade. Later, they tried to resettle the Cossacks, who could not take root in the subtropical mountain climate. Later, Armenians and Greeks began to be relocated from Turkey, and later dozens of other peoples from all over the Russian Empire. To date, the territory of Sochi is not as populated as during the Ubykhs. To the north of the village of Plastunka there are continuous forests and hiking trails, unlike the Ubykhs. That's all, subscribe, like, comment, bye everyone!

The territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, as well as part of the territory of the territories of Shida-Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti and Imereti are controlled by the de facto independent republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, respectively.

The territories and autonomous republics are divided into 55 municipalities (cargo. Грузიციპალიტეტი).

Kakheti

Kakheti It is one of the territories and historical region in the east of Georgia, in the upper reaches of the Iori and Alazani rivers. Until the VIII century, the region was part of the Kartli Kingdom, then it became an independent principality.

Since the 12th century it has been part Kingdom of Georgia. From the second half of the 15th century, Kakheti separated and created the Kakheti kingdom.

Since 1762, in the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom. Since 1801 in the Russian Empire. The capital of Kakheti is telavi city. Linguists also note the existence of the Kakheti dialect of the Georgian language. Kakheti consists of 8 municipalities.

These are the Akhmeta municipality, the Gurjaan municipality, the Dedoplistskaro municipality, the Kvareli municipality, the Lagodekhi municipality, the Sagarejo municipality, the Signagi municipality and the Telavi municipality.

The main attraction of Kakheti is Alaverdi Temple. Alaverdi is the cathedral of St. George of the first quarter of the XI century and the monastery complex in the Akhmeta municipality of Kakheti. The height of the cathedral is about 50 meters, the height of the interior is over 42 meters.

Before the construction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi alaverdi Cathedral was the highest church building in Georgia. The cathedral preserved paintings of the XV century. The cathedral is presented for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 407,182 people live in Kakheti, of which 341,503 are Georgians who profess Orthodoxy.

Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Mtskheta-Mtianeti modern administrative region in the center of Georgia. The capital and largest city is Mtskheta. It occupies the territory of several historical regions of Georgia - Erzo-Tianeti, Mtiuleti, Heavy, Khevsureti, Pshavia and the eastern part of Inner Kartli.

According to the official administrative division Mtskheta-Mtianeti consists of five municipalities - these are Dusheti municipality, Kazbegi municipality, Mtskheta municipality, Tianeti municipality and Akhalgori municipality.

Most the population of Mtskheta-Mtianeti are Georgians represented by several ethnographic groups. The south of the region is inhabited by the Kartlis, in the southeast - by the Kakhetians, in the middle part Pshavs live, in the mountainous regions - Mohevts and Khevsurs.

The main attractions of the region are temples Svetitskhoveli and Jvari.

Jvari Temple one of the Georgian monasteries and a temple on the top of the mountain at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi near Mtskheta - where, according to legend, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina erected a cross.

This is the first in Georgia monument World Heritage . Erected on top of a rocky massif, the church serves as its organic completion and the center of the entire surrounding landscape.

The monastery correlates with the size of the rock exactly 1 to 7. The shape of the temple is the result of a long search for Georgian architects who abandoned the shape of the basilica and searched for the optimal shape of the central cross temple, with a single internal space.

Svetitskhoveli (literally, “the pillar of life-giving”) is the cathedral patriarchal church of the Georgian Orthodox Church in Mtskheta, which for thousands of years has been the main cathedral of all of Georgia. It is currently considered one of the spiritual symbols of modern Georgia.

Kvemo Kartli

Kvemo Kartli - one of the regions of Georgia. The capital of Kvemo Kartli is the city of Rustavi. Administratively, the territory includes one city and six municipalities. The real date of the foundation of the city of Rustavi is unknown, but already in the IV-V centuries BC. e. there was a fortress, a temple and irrigation canals.

Heyday Rustavi fell on the reign of the holy Queen Tamara. Around 1236, the city was completely destroyed by the Mongols. The municipalities of Kvemo Kartli are Marneuli, Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Tsalka, Tetritskaro and Gardabani.

The Kvemo Kartli region is rich in attractions. It is here that the oldest church of Georgia is located - Bolnisi Zion. Built in 493, Bolnisi Zion is the most ancient and well-preserved basilica.

One of the oldest inscriptions in the Georgian language was found in the temple [source not specified 1340 days]. Other attractions in Kvemo Kartli are the temples in Manglisi, Ceravi and Betania.

The monastery complex of Ceravi is a monument of medieval Georgian architecture. Located in the Marneuli region of Kvemo Kartli province, on the left bank of the Shulaveri River, about three kilometers from the village of Ceravi.

The monastery includes buildings - the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin (XII-XIII centuries), the bell tower, the church of St. George (later the Middle Ages), the wine cellar, etc. The medieval monastery of Betania was built in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

This is a monastery of the Mtskheta-Tbilisi diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Betania Monastery is famous for its wall paintings.

According to the 2002 census, the population of the Kvemo Kartli region is 497,530 people. Of these, 224 606 people. (or 45.1%) are Azerbaijanis, 224,450 people. (44.7%) - Georgians, and others.

Shida Kartli

Shida Kartli It is one of the territories and historical region in the center of Georgia. The former name of Shida Kartli is Xena Snot. Historically, Shida-Kartli occupied the territory bounded on the east by the Aragvi River, from the west - Likh (Suram), and from the south - Trialeti mountain ranges.

The area located south of the Kura River is called "Gagmamhari" of Shida-Kartli. There are such rivers as Dzama, Tana, Tedzami and Kavtura, which create plains in the lower reaches. And in the north of the Kura River there is the Doglar, Tirifon and Mukhran broad plains, which are washed by the rivers Prone, Bolshaya Liakhvi, Patara Liakhvi, Lehur, Ksani and Aragvi.

Most of the Shida Kartli rivers have long been used for irrigation. Wide plains and summer, winter pastures created an opportunity for the intensive development of agriculture and cattle breeding.

There were important trade and transit routes, both from north to south (the so-called Aragwa route), and from east to west. In addition to roads, this contributed to the emergence of the cities of Mtskheta, Mukhrani, Gori, Urbnisi and others. The natural conditions and the geographical location of Shida-Kartli determined the role of the region that this region played in the history of Georgian statehood.

In the era of early and medieval feudalism shida Kartli territory was part of the Kartli state. After the Mongol invasion on the territory of Shida-Kartli, Ksan eristavism (XIII century) was formed, and later other large and small signoria - Aragva eristavstvo (XIV century), Satsitsiano (XIV century), Saamilahvro (XV century), Sajavaho ( XV century), Samachablo (XV century), Samukhranbatono (XVI century).

From the sixteenth century Kartli Kingdom was divided into four military administrative units - sadroshi, of which three were formed on the territory of Shida Kartli. After Georgia joined the Russian Empire, these lands became part of the Gori and Dusheti counties of the Tiflis province.

Samtskhe-Javakheti

Samtskhe-Javakheti is one of the territories and historical region in Georgia. Includes historical areas of Meskheti and Javakheti. The main historical attraction is the cave monasteries of Vardzia (founded by Queen Tamara in 1185) and Vanis Kvabebi (VIII century).

In the region is the resort of Borjomi with world famous mineral water. The Baku oil pipeline passes through the region - Tbilisi - Ceyhan and the South Caucasus gas pipeline. The capital of Samtskhe-Javakheti is the city Akhaltsikhe.

Imereti

Imereti is one of the territories and historical region in the center of Georgia. The capital of Imereti is the city of Kutaisi.

At the end of the XV century, as a result of feudal feuds, intensified after the invasion of Tamerlane, Imereti stood out from the Georgian state into an independent feudal state - the Imereti kingdom (along with Kartli and Kakheti) - with the capital of Kutaisi. At the end of the 16th century, the kingdom of Imereti was limited to the territory of Imereti.

In the Iranian-Turkish world 1555 Imereti kingdom was subordinate to Ottoman Turkey and paid tribute to slaves or money and kind. His story was filled with constant feudal unrest and the prosperity of the slave trade. Feudal feuds intensified especially in the 17th century.

Only king Solomon I (1752-1784) was able to strengthen royal power. He banned the slave trade, sought to unite the whole of Western Georgia. The long war of Solomon I with the Turks was marked by victory in 1757 and a military alliance with King Kartli Heraclius II in 1758.

In 1811 Imereti kingdom It was turned into the Imereti region of the Russian Empire. The main attraction of Imereti is the Gelati Monastery of the Virgin near Kutaisi - the most significant medieval monastery in Georgia. The center of church and cultural life, the residence of the Catholicos from the 2nd floor. XVI century until 1814, World Heritage Site (1994).

The monastery was founded king David IV the Builder in 1106 and became his tomb. The cathedral church was built before 1125 and for another five years was decorated with mosaics, which are considered the best in the whole of Transcaucasia. At that time, the monastery was the seat of the Gelati Academy, whose members were keenly interested in ancient Greek philosophy.

Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti

Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti It is one of the territories and historical region in the center of Georgia. The capital and largest city is Ambrolauri.

For a long time the history of two constituent parts of the region - Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti - passed separately. By the beginning of the XIX century, Lower Svaneti was part of the Principality of Megrelia (in contrast to the virtually independent societies of Upper Svaneti), and Racha-Lechkhumi was part of the Imereti kingdom. Together with them, they became part of the Russian Empire, respectively in 1803 and 1804.

In 1840 Racha-Lechkhumi part of the Georgian-Imereti province, and Lower Svaneti Remains part of the administratively separate Megrelian principality.

In 1846, when Georgian-Imereti province disbanded, both parts of the region are in the same administrative unit - the Kutaisi province.

After several reforms and the abolition of the Principality of Megrelia (in 1867), the territory of the region in 1886 roughly corresponds to two districts of the Kutaisi province - Lechkhumsky (including Lower Svaneti) and Rachinsky (with a center in Oni).

The population of the regionaccording to the last census of 2002 amounted to 50 969 people. (1.2% of the country's population). According to estimates as of January 1, 2008 - 48.2 thousand people, as of January 1, 2009 - 47.7 thousand people.

The vast majority of the population of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti are Georgians (99.2% or 50,565 people according to the 2002 census), represented by several ethnographic groups. The south of the region is inhabited by the Rachinians, the southwest - by the Lechhumians, and in the north live the Svans, who speak a separate Svan language.

Houri

Houri It is one of the territories and historical region in the center of Georgia. The capital and largest city is Ozurgeti.

Toponym " Houri"First encountered in the Georgian chronicle of Pseudo-Juansher approx. 800 g

In 1352 Houri becomes a separate feudal possession princely family Vardanidze-Dadiani, and after 1463 an independent Principality of Guria. Then it also included most of modern Adjara along with the city of Batumi.

Weakened by long wars with the Ottoman Empire Houri in 1810 it passes under the protectorate of Russia, and then, in 1829, is fully included in its composition. In 1819 and 1841, revolts broke out in Guria.

In 1840, formed Guria County with the center in Ozurgeti as part of the Georgian-Imereti province. In 1846, this province was disbanded and the Gury district appeared in Kutaisi province. This situation continues until 1918.

All this time Houri It remains almost one hundred percent Georgian region, not affected by the resettlement of Russians and other peoples within the Russian Empire.

In 1918, Guria was part of Georgian Democratic Republic, which lasted until March 1921.

The first time after the formation of the Georgian Soviet Republic (later the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia), Guria County is preserved, which is then divided into 3 regions. The main city of the region - Ozurgeti - in the years 1929-1991 was called Makharadze.

In 1995 in Georgia boundary division is introduced and Houri becomes one of the edges, thereby returning the historical name to official use.

Samegrelo

Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti is one of the territories and historical region in the west of Georgia. The capital and largest city is Zugdidi. The region includes the eastern Black Sea coast and the southern Caucasus Mountains. The rivers Inguri, Rioni, Tskhenistskali, Khobi flow along it.

The following administrative-territorial units are united in the region: Abash, Zugdidi, Martvil, Mestia, Senak, Chkhorotsk, Tsalenjikh (Jvari village), and Khob districts, as well as Poti.

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region located in the central northwestern part of Georgia. The territory of the region occupies 10.6% of the area of \u200b\u200bGeorgia, which is 7.4 thousand sq. Km. According to these data, the region ranks second in Georgia.

Forests occupy an area of \u200b\u200b3.01 thousand square kilometers, which is 40.7% of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe region. From the west, the region borders on Abkhazia and the Black Sea, in the north with the main dividing ridge, in the northeast and east with Racha-Lechkhumi-Lower Svaneti, in the southeast with Imereti and in the south with Guria.

Upper Svaneti considered to be the hypsometric "ceiling" of Georgia. 96% of its territory is located at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level, and 65.8% of the territory is located at an altitude of 2000 meters. A temperate climate, natural beauty and protected fauna provide an opportunity for the development of both winter and summer tourism.

According to the 2002 census, the population of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region is 466,100. Of these, 459 614 people. (or 98.6%) are Georgians, 4,163 people. (0.9%) - Russians, as well as Ukrainians (528 people), Armenians (476 people), Abkhazians (423 people) and others.

Georgians of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti are divided into Mingrelians (Mingrelians) (up to 90%) who speak their Mingrelian language, and Svanes (up to 10%), who have their own Svanic language and live mainly in the north in Svaneti: in the Mestia municipality.

Adjara

Adjara - Autonomous Republic of Georgia. historical, geographical and political-administrative region in the extreme south-west of Georgia. It was founded on July 16, 1921 as the Adjara Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; modern name - since 1990.

Adjara capital Batumi - The main sea gate of Georgia. In the coastal zone (Kobuleti, Makhinjauri, Gonio, Sarpi, etc.) there are sanatorium-medical institutions, mainly created in Soviet times.

There are mountain resorts. The main population of Adjara is the Adzharians, an ethnographic group of the Georgian people, among whom Islam was widely spread in the Middle Ages.

In the south it borders with Turkey (over 121 km), from the west and north-west it is washed by the Black Sea. Adjara Square - 2.9 thousand square kilometers, population - over 400 thousand people (mostly Georgians). The territory of Adjara according to the features of natural conditions is divided into two parts - coastal and upland.

Seaside Adjara It is characterized by a high average annual temperature (+14.5 degrees, typical of the subtropical zone, with the temperature of the coldest month of winter - January - +6.5 degrees), an abundance of rainfall (on average 2500 mm per year) and sunny days.

The subtropics of coastal Adzharia belong to the wet subtype and differ from the dry Mediterranean subtropics in the Northern and Western Black Sea regions.

In highland Adjara influence Black Sea due to mountain barriers weakened, so the air here is more dry.

Average mountain height - 2000-3500 m. The Goder Pass (2025 m) passes the highway of state importance Batumi - Akhaltsikhe. In Hulo, at an altitude of 920 m above sea level, the average temperature in January is +1 degree, in July +19 degrees.

) was created during the Soviet era, and recognized by the current constitution of Georgia. Abkhazia (except for the so-called Upper Abkhazia, which is controlled by the Georgian government) is now a separatist region, a self-proclaimed republic that does not have international recognition. De jure, Abkhazia is headed by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (the legitimate leadership of Abkhazia is in Upper Abkhazia, in the village of Chkhalta), while, de facto, it is headed by the President. Adjara, led by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, became completely loyal to the central government of Georgia after the peaceful elimination of the former separatist leader in the year.


2. Edges

Georgia has 12 territories (mhare) (including two autonomies). Tbilisi is a separate administrative unit. Mhare are divided into municipalities (cargo. მუნიციპალიტეტი ) (Until the year they were officially called areas (cargo. რაიონი )). There are 55 municipalities in the country.

The region was created by decrees of the President from a year to a year, on a temporary basis, to the solution of seperatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The regional administration is headed by the State Commissioner (cargo. სახელმწიფო რწმუნებული ) - A public servant appointed by the President of Georgia.


3. Status of South Ostetia

The status of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region - South Ossetia (also called Samachalabo or Tskhinvali region), is negotiable with the de facto separatist authorities, led by the President. The rebellious republic calls the northern part of the region Shida Kartli its territory, together with small parts of the adjacent territories.

4. Historical regions

Map of the historical regions of Georgia.

Official administrative units based on a number of historical and cultural regions. As a rule, a single administrative unit of the first order includes several historical areas, which can be reflected in the names of the territories (for example, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti). Different sources give a different number of historical areas, here are the main ones:

? in ? Georgia
Autonomous republics
The edges
City with special status
? in ? Administrative division of Asian countries
States
Unrecognized republics

Yes and ancient capital Mtskheta is also located in Kartli. The region is full of antiquity, it is literally saturated with it. If you are at least somewhat interested in architecture, temples and monasteries, Georgian culture - you are here.

Spring kakheti

Kakheti, the land of winemaking, is located in the Alazani Valley in the east of the country. Magnificent landscapes, vineyards, the crown of the Caucasus mountains visible on the horizon, old monasteries and lots, lots of wine - this is what will surprise Kakheti. The most delicious vegetables and fruits still grow here. And here you will find the right Georgian kebab. In a word, Kakheti is a hedonist's paradise.

- this is the Sea. The cleanest, sweetest Black Sea. If you are a fan of a relaxing family beach holiday, head to or Ureki. Fans of activities are more suitable with its skyscrapers on the beach, excellent restaurants, fun nightlife resort town. Batumi is also good as a starting point for traveling around the region. And traveling is definitely worth it - in the mountainous Adjara, waterfalls, ancient fortresses and mysterious forest paths of nature reserves are waiting for you.

In the forests of Borjomi

Racha and Borjomi are air. The air that literally chokes. Pristine nature, lakes, gorges, springs with delicious water - it is here. If you want - by car, you want - by feet, but this part of Georgia is worth a look.

Martville Canyons keep dinosaur secrets

Imereti is an ancient region. It is rich in historical monuments and natural. Mysterious Georgian caves are located in Imereti. And in and even found traces of dinosaurs and primitive people.

- these are primarily mountains. Peaks with caps of glaciers that do not melt even in summer. it ski resorts in winter and mountain climbing in summer. These are unique landscapes and famous Svan towers. And civilization barely reached here - if you want a truly honest Georgia, you are here.

Landscapes of Samtskhe-Javakheti

Javakheti. Due to the difficult climate, Javakheti is not a very densely populated area. Perhaps that is why she is not particularly spoiled by tourists. But in vain. After all, it is in Javakheti that you will find alpine lakes and alpine meadows. And in the monastery So far, on the shore of the lake, they are preparing, perhaps, some of the most interesting cheeses in Georgia. Here is located, in which storks live on almost every roof. And the oldest is here. How many more secrets does Javakheti hold? Who knows.

Tusheti. Perhaps the most inaccessible region of the country. Alpine meadows, pine forests, mountain peaks, huge sheep herds, brooding shepherds and a complete lack of civilization. In 2007, Tusheti was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here is one of the most dangerous highways in the world. You can get to Tushetia in a very short period - from July to September. If you are lucky and you find yourself in Georgia at this time - go for it. There are very few such corners left on earth.

The executive power is concentrated in the hands of the President, in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia, the head of state and the head of the executive branch, the Supreme Commander Armed Forces Georgia, the highest representative of Georgia in foreign relations; directs its domestic and foreign policy, ensures the unity and integrity of the country and the work of state and all other bodies. The current head of state, Mikheil Saakashvili, was elected to this post by universal suffrage on January 4, 2004. Many in the current Georgian government, formed after the Rose Revolution, have been educated abroad.

Military establishment

The Armed Forces of Georgia - the aggregate of troops of the Republic of Georgia, are designed to protect the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the state. Consist of ground forces, special forces, air force, national guard and military police.

The number of Georgian armed forces in 2009 is 36.553 people. Of these: 21 generals, 6166 officers and subofficers, 28477 privates, 125 cadets and 388 civil servants.

The budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2010 amounted to 750 million lari (2009 - 897 million; 2008 - 1.545 billion lari);

Administrative division

Administratively, the territory of Georgia de jure includes 2 autonomous republics (cargo. ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკა avtonomiuri resp’ublik’a): Abkhazia and Adjara, and 10 territories (cargo. მხარე mkhare). The territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, as well as part of the territory of the territories of Shida-Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti and Imereti are controlled by the de facto independent republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, respectively. The territories and autonomous republics are divided into 55 municipalities (cargo. Грузიციპალიტეტი).

Physico-geographical characteristic

Geology and soil

Various types of soils are located in Georgia: from gray-brown and saline semi-desert soils of dry steppes and moderately moist forests to red soil and podzolic soils of the humid subtropical zone and mountain meadow alpine. Also in Georgia there are semi-deserts and deserts, which are located mainly in the east of the country.

Minerals

Georgia has a wide range of minerals. The country's mineral and resource potential is represented by 450 mineral deposits of 27 types, the main of which are: high-quality manganese ores (Chiatura, reserves - 200 million tons, annual production - up to 6 million tons), coal (Tkibuli; reserves - 400 million tons) , copper ores (Madneuli, reserves - 250 thousand tons), oil (Samgori, Patardzeuli, Ninotsminda, industrial reserves - 30 million tons).

Georgia has significant reserves of building materials: bentonite clay (17 million tons), dolomites, limestone (200 million tons), clay for the production of cement (75 million tons) and brick (47 million m3), gypsum, talc, molding sand.

On the territory of Georgia, about 2 thousand sources of fresh water with a total annual debit of 250 billion liters, 22 deposits of mineral water, including curative ones - Borjomi, Sairme, Nabeglavi, Zvare and others, with a total debit are registered about 40 billion l / year. Currently fresh and mineral water exported to 24 countries.