Samegrelo
Encyclopedia
Samegrelo/Samargalo or Megrelia, Mingrelia ( Samegrelo; Samargalo) is a historic province in the western part of Georgia
, formerly also known as Odishi.
It is inhabited by the Megrelians, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians
.
to the north-west, Svaneti
to the north, Imereti
to the east, Guria
to the south and the Black Sea
to the west.
Administratively, the historic province of Samegrelo is incorporated joined with the northern part of the neighboring mountainous province of Svaneti to form the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
region, the capital of which is Samegrelo's main city, Zugdidi
.
As it is the case with most Black Sea
coastal areas of Georgia, Samegrelo's climate is subtropical with frequent rains. The coastal areas have many marshlands despite the Soviet Georgian authorities' efforts to dry them up. These marshlands contain many rare birds and animals not found in other parts of the country. For this reason, substantial part of the territories is protected by the Georgian law as part of the Colchetian Nature Reserve
.
(9th-6th centuries BC) and its successor Egrisi
(4th century BC-6th century AD
). In the 11th-15th centuries, Samegrelo was a part of the united Kingdom of Georgia
. From the 16th century to 1857, the independent Principality of Samegrelo was under the rule of the House of Dadiani
.
In December 1803, the principality came under the patronage of the Russian Empire
by an agreement between the Tsar
and the Megrelian Prince Grigol Dadiani. The last adult Prince, David Dadiani, died in 1853, leaving his wife Ekaterine
as regent for his young son, Niko
. However in 1857, the principality was abolished and absorbed into the Tsarist Russian Empire. Prince Niko Dadiani
officially renounced his rights to the throne in 1868.
From 1918 to 1921, Samegrelo was part of the Democratic Republic of Georgia
(DRG). In 1921, Georgia was Sovietized
and later became part of the Soviet Union
, as the Georgian SSR. On April 9, 1991, independence was restored to Georgia, of which Samegrelo is now part.
The first President of the post-Soviet Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
, was a Megrelian. After the violent Coup d'etat
of December 21, 1991-January 6, 1992, Samegrelo became the centre of a civil war, which ended with the defeat of Gamsakhurdia's Megrelian supporters. Even so, this region was unmanageable by the central government throughout the presidency of Eduard Shevardnadze
(1992–2003). Stability in the region is further deteriorated by the fact that the Georgian refugees from the Abkhazian war zone (who are considered by Georgians as victims of ethnic cleansing) are mostly Megrelians. After the Rose Revolution
of November, 2003, in 2004, newly elected Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili
, who vowed to resolve the conflict with the breakaway region of Abkhazia solely by peaceful means, disarmed groups of Megrelians who tried to fight a guerrilla war against the Abkhazians by incursions from Samegrelo.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, formerly also known as Odishi.
It is inhabited by the Megrelians, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians
Georgians
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
.
Geography and Climate
Samegrelo is bordered by the secessionist region of AbkhaziaAbkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
to the north-west, Svaneti
Svaneti
Svaneti is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. It is inhabited by the Svans, a geographic subgroup of the Georgians.- Geography :...
to the north, Imereti
Imereti
Imereti is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. It consists of the following Georgian administrative-territorial units:#Kutaisi #Baghdati region#Vani region#Zestafoni region...
to the east, Guria
Guria
Guria is a region in Georgia, in the western part of the country, bordered by the eastern end of the Black Sea. The region has a population of 143,357 and Ozurgeti is a regional capital.-Geography:...
to the south and the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
to the west.
Administratively, the historic province of Samegrelo is incorporated joined with the northern part of the neighboring mountainous province of Svaneti to form the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti is a region in western Georgia which includes the historical Georgian provinces of Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti and has Zugdidi as its capital.-Geography:...
region, the capital of which is Samegrelo's main city, Zugdidi
Zugdidi
Zugdidi is a city in the Western Georgian historical province of Samegrelo . It is situated in the north-west of that province. The city is located 318 kilometres west of Tbilisi, 30 km. from Black sea coast and 30 km. from Egrisi range. 100-110 metres above sea level. As of 2007, it had a...
.
As it is the case with most Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coastal areas of Georgia, Samegrelo's climate is subtropical with frequent rains. The coastal areas have many marshlands despite the Soviet Georgian authorities' efforts to dry them up. These marshlands contain many rare birds and animals not found in other parts of the country. For this reason, substantial part of the territories is protected by the Georgian law as part of the Colchetian Nature Reserve
Colchis
In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolkhis was an ancient Georgian state kingdom and region in Western Georgia, which played an important role in the ethnic and cultural formation of the Georgian nation.The Kingdom of Colchis contributed significantly to the development of medieval Georgian...
.
History
In ancient times Samegrelo was a major part of the kingdom of ColchisColchis
In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolkhis was an ancient Georgian state kingdom and region in Western Georgia, which played an important role in the ethnic and cultural formation of the Georgian nation.The Kingdom of Colchis contributed significantly to the development of medieval Georgian...
(9th-6th centuries BC) and its successor Egrisi
Egrisi
Lazica or Egrisi in Georgian |Georgia]], named after the Laz tribe, which at some time dominated the local ruling élite.The kingdom flourished between the 6th century BC and the 7th century AD. It covered part of the territory of the former kingdom Colchis and subjugated the territory of modern...
(4th century BC-6th century AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
). In the 11th-15th centuries, Samegrelo was a part of the united Kingdom of Georgia
Kingdom of Georgia
The Kingdom of Georgia was a medieval monarchy established in AD 978 by Bagrat III.It flourished during the 11th and 12th centuries, the so-called "golden age" of the history of Georgia. It fell to the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, but managed to re-assert sovereignty by 1327...
. From the 16th century to 1857, the independent Principality of Samegrelo was under the rule of the House of Dadiani
Dadiani
Dadiani was a Georgian family of nobles, dukes and princes, and a ruling dynasty of the western Georgian province of Samegrelo.- The House of Dadiani :...
.
In December 1803, the principality came under the patronage of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
by an agreement between the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
and the Megrelian Prince Grigol Dadiani. The last adult Prince, David Dadiani, died in 1853, leaving his wife Ekaterine
Ekaterine Dadiani, Princess of Megrelia
Princess Ekateriné Dadiani was a prominent 19th century Georgian aristocrat and the last ruling princess of the Western Georgian Principality of Megrelia in southeastern Europe...
as regent for his young son, Niko
Niko Dadiani, Prince of Megrelia
Nikolas Dadiani was the last ruling prince of the Western Georgian Principality of Megrelia in southeastern Europe. After the formal abolition of his principality by Russia, he served as a general in the Imperial Russian Army.-Family:Niko was born to Prince David of Megrelia and his wife Ekaterine...
. However in 1857, the principality was abolished and absorbed into the Tsarist Russian Empire. Prince Niko Dadiani
Niko Dadiani, Prince of Megrelia
Nikolas Dadiani was the last ruling prince of the Western Georgian Principality of Megrelia in southeastern Europe. After the formal abolition of his principality by Russia, he served as a general in the Imperial Russian Army.-Family:Niko was born to Prince David of Megrelia and his wife Ekaterine...
officially renounced his rights to the throne in 1868.
From 1918 to 1921, Samegrelo was part of the Democratic Republic of Georgia
Democratic Republic of Georgia
The Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
(DRG). In 1921, Georgia was Sovietized
Sovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
and later became part of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, as the Georgian SSR. On April 9, 1991, independence was restored to Georgia, of which Samegrelo is now part.
The first President of the post-Soviet Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era...
, was a Megrelian. After the violent Coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of December 21, 1991-January 6, 1992, Samegrelo became the centre of a civil war, which ended with the defeat of Gamsakhurdia's Megrelian supporters. Even so, this region was unmanageable by the central government throughout the presidency of Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze is a former Soviet, and later, Georgian statesman from the height to the end of the Cold War. He served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003, and as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party , from 1972 to 1985. Shevardnadze was responsible for many top decisions on...
(1992–2003). Stability in the region is further deteriorated by the fact that the Georgian refugees from the Abkhazian war zone (who are considered by Georgians as victims of ethnic cleansing) are mostly Megrelians. After the Rose Revolution
Rose Revolution
The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
of November, 2003, in 2004, newly elected Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
, who vowed to resolve the conflict with the breakaway region of Abkhazia solely by peaceful means, disarmed groups of Megrelians who tried to fight a guerrilla war against the Abkhazians by incursions from Samegrelo.