Samtskhe–Javakheti ( ka, სამცხე-ჯავახეთი, , ) is a region (
mkhare) in southern
Georgia with a population of 151.110 (2021
) and an area of .
The region has
Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe ( ka, ახალციხე ), formerly known as Lomsia ( ka, ლომსია), is a small city in Georgia's southwestern region ('' mkhare'') of Samtskhe–Javakheti. It is situated on both banks of a small river Potskhovi (a l ...
as its administrative center, while Besik Amiranashvili is governor of the region since August 2018.
Samtskhe–Javakheti is compiled of the historical Georgian provinces
Meskheti,
Javakheti and
Tori.
The
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the
South Caucasus natural gas pipeline, and the
Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway pass through the region.
Geography
Samtskhe–Javakheti borders
Adjara and
Guria in the northwestern tip,
Imereti in the north,
Shida Kartli in the northeast and
Kvemo Kartli in the east. The southern border is formed by
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''O ...
, the southwestern flank borders
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
. The region covers the
Javakheti Plateau, a highland of volcanic origin and the northern extension of the
Armenian highlands. The plains are between 1500-2000 meters above sea level. Samtskhe–Javakheti is bordered by several mountain ranges, the most important being the
Meskheti Range and
Trialeti Range
Trialeti Range ( ka, თრიალეთის ქედი) is an east-west mountain range of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region of southern Georgia.
The eastern edge of the Range runs along the western border o ...
in the north and the
Samsari Range
Samsari RangeOrthographic dictionary of geographic names of Georgian, p. 148, Tbilisi, 2009 ( ka, სამსრის ქედი) is a volcanic range in southern Georgia, to the southwest of Tbilisi. It is a part of the Highland of Souther ...
and
Javakheti Range in the east.
The highlands are home to some of Georgia's largest lakes, such as
Paravani Lake,
Tabatskuri Lake,
Khanchali Lake and
Kartsakhi Lake
__NOTOC__
Kartsakhi Lake (Georgian: კარწახის ტბა, ''karts'akhis tba''), or Lake Khozapini ( ka, ხოზაფინის ტბა, ''khozap'inis tba''; Turkish: ''Hazapin Gölü''), or Lake Aktaş ( tr, Aktaş Gölü), is ...
. Georgia's largest river, the
Mtkvari, flows through the region from Turkey, a few miles north of Kartsakhi Lake. The river has carved a canyon through in the highlands and forms the eastern boundary of the
Erusheti Highlands, a mountain range along the border with Turkey. In this gorge the large historic cave monastery
Vardzia is situated, an important tourist attraction. The river flows initially in a northwesterly direction through the gorge to
Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe ( ka, ახალციხე ), formerly known as Lomsia ( ka, ლომსია), is a small city in Georgia's southwestern region ('' mkhare'') of Samtskhe–Javakheti. It is situated on both banks of a small river Potskhovi (a l ...
via
Khertvisi Fortress
Khertvisi fortress ( ka, ხერთვისის ციხე) is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. It is situated in Khertvisi village of Aspindza Municipality, Southern Georgia ...
where the
Paravani River joins the Mtkvari. The river gorge has a depth of approximately 500 meters. At Akhaltsikhe the river turns to the northeast and streams to
Borjomi
Borjomi ( ka, ბორჯომი) is a resort town in south-central Georgia, 160 km from Tbilisi, with a population of 11,122 (2021). It is one of the municipalities of the Samtskhe–Javakheti region and is situated in the northwestern ...
between the
Meskheti Range (left bank) and
Trialeti Range
Trialeti Range ( ka, თრიალეთის ქედი) is an east-west mountain range of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the Samtskhe–Javakheti region of southern Georgia.
The eastern edge of the Range runs along the western border o ...
(right bank), after which the river leaves the region through the
Shida Kartli plain.
Due to its high location, the region has cold and snowy winters. In the northern situated
Bakuriani, not far from the tourist attraction Borjomi, there is a ski resort.
Subdivisions
The region has six municipalities with 82 administrative communities (''temi'')
and a total of 271 populated settlements:
* Five cities:
Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe ( ka, ახალციხე ), formerly known as Lomsia ( ka, ლომსია), is a small city in Georgia's southwestern region ('' mkhare'') of Samtskhe–Javakheti. It is situated on both banks of a small river Potskhovi (a l ...
,
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki ( ka, ახალქალაქი, tr; hy, Ախալքալաք / Նոր-Քաղաք, translit=Axalk’alak’ / Nor-K’aġak’) is a town in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe–Javakheti and the administrative centre of the Akh ...
,
Borjomi
Borjomi ( ka, ბორჯომი) is a resort town in south-central Georgia, 160 km from Tbilisi, with a population of 11,122 (2021). It is one of the municipalities of the Samtskhe–Javakheti region and is situated in the northwestern ...
,
Vale
A vale is a type of valley.
Vale may also refer to:
Places Georgia
* Vale, Georgia, a town in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region
Norway
* Våle, a historic municipality
Portugal
* Vale (Santa Maria da Feira), a former civil parish in the municipa ...
and
Ninotsminda
Ninotsminda ( Georgian: ნინოწმინდა ; Armenian: Նինոծմինդա) is a town and a center of the eponymous municipality located in Georgia's southern district of Samtskhe-Javakheti. According to the 2014 census the town ...
* Two dabas:
Kharistvala
Kharistvala ( ka, ხარისთვალა) is a so called daba ( urban-type settlement) in Georgia’s northern Ambrolauri Municipality (Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region), at an elevation of above sea level on the western shore o ...
,
Lentekhi
Lentekhi ( ka, ლენტეხი, ) is a small town and Lentekhi District's (Raion) capital in Georgia's western region of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, 323 km northwest to the nation's capital Tbilisi. Situated on the southern slope ...
* Villages: 259
Demographic
According to data from the National Statistical Bureau of Georgia, Samtskhe–Javakheti had 151,110 inhabitants as of January 1, 2021,
a decrease of 6% compared to the 2014 census.
Of these, 35.9% live in urban areas and 64.1% in rural villages.
Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe ( ka, ახალციხე ), formerly known as Lomsia ( ka, ლომსია), is a small city in Georgia's southwestern region ('' mkhare'') of Samtskhe–Javakheti. It is situated on both banks of a small river Potskhovi (a l ...
and
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki ( ka, ახალქალაქი, tr; hy, Ախալքալաք / Նոր-Քաղաք, translit=Axalk’alak’ / Nor-K’aġak’) is a town in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe–Javakheti and the administrative centre of the Akh ...
are the most densely populated municipalities.
Ethnic Groups
In 1926, the Akhaltsikhe Uyezd (corresponding to
Meskheti or Samtskhe) had a population of:
*
Meskhetian Turks - 49,170 (50.7%)
*
Georgians - 24,353 (25.1%)
*
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
- 15,565 (16.1%)
*
Kurds ug:كۇردلار
Kurds ( ku, کورد ,Kurd, italic=yes, rtl=yes) or Kurdish people are an Iranian peoples, Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Ir ...
- 3,094 (3.2%)
* other ethnic groups - 4,591 (4.9%)
In 1926, the Akhalkalaki Uyezd (corresponding to
Javakheti) had a population of:
*
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
- 57,791 (73.2%)
*
Georgians - 7,565 (9.6%)
*
Meskhetian Turks - 6,940 (8.8%)
*
Russians
, native_name_lang = ru
, image =
, caption =
, population =
, popplace =
118 million Russians in the Russian Federation (2002 '' Winkler Prins'' estimate)
, region1 =
, pop1 ...
- 2,492 (3.2%)
* other ethnic groups - 4,149 (5.2%)
In 2002, Samtskhe–Javakheti province ethnic makeup of 207,598 total population:
*
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
- 113,347
*
Georgians - 89,995
*
Abkhazians - 42
*
Ossetians
The Ossetians or Ossetes (, ; os, ир, ирæттæ / дигорӕ, дигорӕнттӕ, translit= ir, irættæ / digoræ, digorænttæ, label=Ossetic) are an Iranian ethnic group who are indigenous to Ossetia, a region situated across the no ...
- 822
*
Russians
, native_name_lang = ru
, image =
, caption =
, population =
, popplace =
118 million Russians in the Russian Federation (2002 '' Winkler Prins'' estimate)
, region1 =
, pop1 ...
- 2,230
*
Azerbaijanis - 59
*
Greeks
The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, ot ...
- 740
*
Ukrainians
Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian. The majority of Ukrainians are Eastern Ort ...
- 162
*
Kists
The Kists ( ka, ქისტები ''kist'ebi'', ce, Kistoj, Kisti, Nokhcho, Nakhcho) are a Chechen subethnos in Georgia. They primarily live in the Pankisi Gorge, in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, where there are approximately 9, ...
-
*
Yazidis
Yazidis or Yezidis (; ku, ئێزیدی, translit=Êzidî) are a Kurmanji-speaking endogamous minority group who are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. The ma ...
- 1
In 2014, Samtskhe–Javakheti province of
Georgia had the following ethnic makeup of 160,504 total population:
*
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
- 81,089 (50.52%)
*
Georgians - 77,498 (48.28%)
*
Russians
, native_name_lang = ru
, image =
, caption =
, population =
, popplace =
118 million Russians in the Russian Federation (2002 '' Winkler Prins'' estimate)
, region1 =
, pop1 ...
- 712 (0.44%)
* other ethnic groups - 1,194 (0.74%)
History
The current division of Georgia into "regions" (''Mkhare'') was introduced by the
Shevardnadze government in the mid-1990s, partly as a response to the
secession
Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics l ...
of
Abkhazia and the
South Ossetia conflict. Samtskhe–Javakheti was basically formed by combining the two traditional provinces of
Meskheti (Samtskhe) and
Javakheti.
Meskheti
The ancient tribes of
Meskhi (or
Moschi) and
Mosiniks are the first known inhabitants of the area. Some scholars credit the Mosiniks (or ''Mossynoeci'') with the invention of iron
metallurgy. From the 2nd millennium to the 4th century BC, Meskheti was believed to be part of the
Kingdom of Diauehi, in the 4th century BC to the 6th century AD part of the
Kingdom of Iberia
In Greco-Roman geography, Iberia (Ancient Greek: ''Iberia''; la, Hiberia) was an exonym for the Georgian kingdom of Kartli ( ka, ქართლი), known after its core province, which during Classical Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages ...
. From the 10th to the 15th century it was part of the united
Georgian Kingdom. In the 16th century Meskheti was integrated into the
Safavid Empire, followed by the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
. After the conclusion of the
Russo-Persian War of 1826-28, it was a part of Russian
Tiflis Governorate from 1817 till 1829, from 1918 to 1921 part of the
Democratic Republic of Georgia, and from 1921 to 1990 part of the
Georgian SSR. After independence from the USSR Meskheti was reinstalled as a province of Georgia, and later cast into the new Samtskhe–Javakheti region.
Javakheti
In ancient sources, the region was recorded as ''Zabakha'' in 785 BC, by the king
Argishti I of Urartu. According to
Cyril Toumanoff, Javakheti was part of the
Iberian duchy of Tsunda from the 4th or 3rd century BC.
Saint Nino
Saint Nino ( ka, წმინდა ნინო, tr; hy, Սուրբ Նունե, Surb Nune; el, Αγία Νίνα, Agía Nína; sometimes ''St. Nune'' or ''St. Ninny'') ''Equal to the Apostles and the Enlightener of Georgia'' (c. 296 – c. 33 ...
entered
Iberia
The Iberian Peninsula (),
**
* Aragonese language, Aragonese and Occitan language, Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica''
**
**
* french: Péninsule Ibérique
* mwl, Península Eibérica
* eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a pe ...
from Javakheti, and, following the course of the
River Kura, she arrived in
Mtskheta, the capital of the kingdom, once there, she eventually began to preach Christianity, which culminated by
Christianization of Iberia
The Christianization of Iberia ( ka, ქართლის გაქრისტიანება, tr) refers to the spread of Christianity in the early 4th century by the sermon of Saint Nino in an ancient Georgian kingdom of Kartli, known ...
.
In struggle against the
Arab occupation,
Bagrationi dynasty came to rule over
Tao-Klarjeti and established the
Kouropalatate of Iberia. rulers of Tao-Klarjeti fought the Arabs from there, gradually incorporating the surrounding lands of
Samtskhe and Javakheti, along with a few other lesser lands, from the Arab dominance. For a long time the region became a
cultural safe-house
A safe house (also spelled safehouse) is, in a generic sense, a secret place for sanctuary or suitable to hide people from the law, hostile actors or actions, or from retribution, threats or perceived danger. It may also be a metaphor.
Histori ...
and one of the most important
religious centers of Georgia.
In the mid-10th century, Javakheti was incorporated into
Kingdom of Abkhazia
The Kingdom of Abkhazia ( ka, აფხაზთა სამეფო, tr; lit. "Kingdom of the Abkhazians"), also known as Abasgia or Egrisi-Abkhazia, was a medieval feudal state in the Caucasus which was established in the 780s. Through d ...
. In 964
Leon III of Abkhazia extended his influence to Javakheti, during his reign was built
Kumurdo Cathedral.
In subsequent centuries, Javakheti was integral part of
unified Georgian monarchy and had a period of significant development: lot of bridges, churches, monasteries, and royal residences (Lgivi, Ghrtila, Bozhano,
Vardzia) were built. From the 11th century, the center of upper Javakheti became
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki ( ka, ახალქალაქი, tr; hy, Ախալքալաք / Նոր-Քաղաք, translit=Axalk’alak’ / Nor-K’aġak’) is a town in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe–Javakheti and the administrative centre of the Akh ...
. From the 10th century, the center of lowland Javakheti was
Tmogvi
Tmogvi or Tmkaberd ( ka, თმოგვი ; hy, Թմկաբերդ) is a ruined fortress and medieval town in the southern Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, on the left bank of the Kura River, a few kilometers downstream of the cave city ...
. From the 12th century, the domain was ruled by representatives of the feudal family of
Toreli.
In the 15th century, Javakheti was incorporated to principality of
Samtskhe-Saatabago. In the 16th century, the region, as well as the adjacent territories of western Georgia, was occupied by the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
. The Georgian population of Javakheti was displaced to inner regions of Georgia such as
Imereti and
Kartli. Those who remained gradually became
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
.
As a result of the struggles of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
with the Ottomans, Russian authorities settled Christian Armenians and
Caucasus Greeks in the area after 1828.
Armenian refugees from the
Armenian genocide
The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily through t ...
in the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
came in the early 20th century. Also a large number of Russian
Doukhobor sect members settled the region.
Soviet era
Georgia came fully under
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
control in 1921, after the
Red Army invasion of Georgia. The remaining
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
minority in Meskheti, also known as "
Meskhetian Turks", were deported in cattle-trucks to
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes the fo ...
by order of
Stalin and settled within an area that overlaps the boundaries of the modern nations of
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
,
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the ea ...
, and
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked co ...
. Today, many are still dispersed across those countries. Of the 100,000 forcibly deported, a total of 10,000 perished.
Tourist attractions
The major tourist attractions are the cave monasteries of
Vardzia (which was founded by
Queen Tamar in 1185),
Vanis Kvabebi
Vanis Kvabebi ( ka, ვანის ქვაბები; en, Vani's Caves) is a cave monastery in Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia near Aspindza town and the more famous cave city of Vardzia
Vardzia ( ka, ვარძია ) is a ca ...
(which dates from the 8th century),
Rabati Castle
Akhaltsikhe (Rabati) Castle ( ka, ახალციხის (რაბათის) ციხე) is a medieval fortress built in the 9th century under the name "Lomsia Castle" in the city of Akhaltsikhe in southern Georgia, recently globally r ...
and
Khertvisi Fortress
Khertvisi fortress ( ka, ხერთვისის ციხე) is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. It is situated in Khertvisi village of Aspindza Municipality, Southern Georgia ...
. Also, among national visitors is very popular 10th century
Sapara Monastery,
Tmogvi
Tmogvi or Tmkaberd ( ka, თმოგვი ; hy, Թմկաբերդ) is a ruined fortress and medieval town in the southern Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, on the left bank of the Kura River, a few kilometers downstream of the cave city ...
fortress, and 8th century
Zarzma monastery.
Discover Samtskhe-Javakheti
''Georgian Journal'' 14 August, 2018
See also
*Subdivisions of Georgia
The subdivisions of Georgia are autonomous republics ( ka, ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკა, ''avtonomiuri respublika''), regions (მხარე, ''mkhare''), and municipalities (მუნიციპალი� ...
References
External links
''Friends at Dinner, Foes at Politics''
(about socio-economic problems of the region)
''Obstacles Impeding the Regional Integration of the Javalkheti Region''
an ECMI working paper ( PDF format)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samtskhe Javakheti
Regions of Georgia (country)
Historical regions of Georgia (country)