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{{Short description|Historical state in the Caucasus}}
{{Infobox country {{Infobox country
|native_name=გურიის სამთავრო |native_name=გურიის სამთავრო
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|common_name = Guria |common_name = Guria
|status = Client state |status = Client state
|empire = ] (1460s-1810), ] (1810-1828) |empire = ] {{small|(1460s–1810)}}<br> ] {{small|(1810–1828)}}
|status_text = Client state of ] (1460s-1810), ] (1810-1828) |status_text = Client state of ] {{small|(1460s–1810)}}<br> ] {{small|(1810–1828)}}
|year_start = 1460s |year_start = 1460s
|date_start = |date_start =
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|image_flag = Banner of Guria.svg |image_flag = Banner of Guria.svg
|flag_type = 18th century coat of arms according to ] |flag_type = 18th century coat of arms according to ]
|image_map = Kingdom_of_Georgia_after_dissolution_as_a_unified_state,_1490_AD.svg |image_map = Principality of Guria (XV-XIX centuries)-en.svg
|government_type = Principality |government_type = Principality
|common_languages = ] |common_languages = ]
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}} }}
{{History of Georgia (country)}} {{History of Georgia (country)}}
The '''Principality of Guria''' ({{lang-ka|გურიის სამთავრო|tr}}) was a historical state in ]. Centered on modern-day ], a southwestern ] in Georgia, it was located between the ] and ], and was ruled by a succession of twenty-two princes of the ] from the 1460s to 1829. The principality emerged during the process of fragmentation of a unified Kingdom of Georgia. Its boundaries fluctuated in the course of permanent conflicts with neighboring Georgian rulers and ], and the principality enjoyed various degrees of autonomy until being annexed by ] in 1829. The '''Principality of Guria''' ({{lang-ka|გურიის სამთავრო|tr}}) was a historical state in ]. Centered on modern-day ], a southwestern ] in Georgia, it was located between the ] and ], and was ruled by a succession of twenty-two princes of the ] from the 1460s to 1829. The principality emerged during the process of ]. Its boundaries fluctuated in the course of permanent conflicts with neighboring Georgian rulers and the ], and the principality enjoyed various degrees of autonomy until being annexed by ] in 1829.


== Early history == == Early history ==
Since the beginning of 13th century, Guria, one of the provinces of the ], located between ] and ] was administered by hereditary governors (]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Byzantine monuments and topography of the Pontos|first=Anthony|last=Bryer|date=2008|publisher=|isbn=9781597403177|oclc=681432739}}</ref> The Gurian ruler to which the Georgian crown attached the title of ] ("of Guria") took advantage of the ] and started asserting its independence in the 1280s, but the Mongols forced them to submit to ] ({{reign|1299|1346}}) in about 1330.<ref name=":0" /> However, soon after ] ({{reign|1360|1390}}) ascended the throne, the Svans revolted to the northeast of Guria. Bagrat defeated them but subsequently ceded Guria to the Eristav of ] in c. 1362, and the Guria was usually held by the ] thereafter.<ref name=":0" /> Since the beginning of 13th century, Guria, one of the provinces of the ], located between ] and ] was administered by hereditary governors (]).<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=The Byzantine monuments and topography of the Pontos |first=Anthony |last=Bryer |date=2008 |publisher= |isbn=978159740317-7|oclc=681432739}}</ref> The Gurian ruler to which the Georgian crown attached the title of ] ("of Guria") took advantage of the ] and started asserting its independence in the 1280s, but the Mongols forced them to submit to ] ({{reign|1299|1346}}) in about 1330.<ref name=":0" /> However, soon after ] ({{reign|1360|1390}}) ascended the throne, the Svans revolted to the northeast of Guria. Bagrat defeated them but subsequently ceded Guria to the Eristav of ] in c. 1362, and the Guria was usually held by the ] thereafter.<ref name=":0" />


In the 1460s, when the power of the ] of Georgia was on the decline, the Vardanisdze-Gurieli dynasty joined a rebellion of the great nobles of western Georgia, led by a royal kinsman, ], who refused to accept the authority of King ]. In 1463, Bagrat and his allies met and defeated the king at the ]. As a result, George VIII lost all the western provinces, and Bagrat was crowned ], i.e., western Georgia. However, in return for their aid, the new monarch was obliged to create a vassal principality (]) for each of his major allies, including the Gurieli family which became semi-independent rulers of Guria with their seat at ]<ref name="Suny">Suny, Ronald Grigor (1994), ''The Making of the Georgian Nation: 2nd edition'', p. 45. ], {{ISBN|0-253-20915-3}}</ref> In 1491, ] (1483–1512) was recognized as a sovereign prince. From this time on, the Gurieli also invested local ]s at ], Jumati, and Khinotsminda, nominally under the spiritual superintendence of the ] ]. The polities of western Georgia fought one another for supremacy, particularly the Gurieli of Guria and ] of ]. They forged a temporary alliance and organized, in January 1533, an ultimately disastrous ] against the piratical tribe of ] in the north of Abkhazia. This setback enabled the king of Imereti to reassert his hegemony over Guria, but for a short time. In the 1460s, when the power of the ] of Georgia was on the decline, the Vardanisdze-Gurieli dynasty joined a rebellion of the great nobles of western Georgia, led by a royal kinsman, ], who refused to accept the authority of King ]. In 1463, Bagrat and his allies met and defeated the king at the ]. As a result, George VIII lost all the western provinces, and Bagrat was crowned ], i.e., western Georgia. However, in return for their aid, the new monarch was obliged to create a vassal principality (]) for each of his major allies, including the Gurieli family which became semi-independent rulers of Guria with their seat at ]<ref name="Suny">{{cite book|author-last=Suny |author-first=Ronald Grigor |date=1994 |title=The Making of the Georgian Nation: 2nd edition |pages=45 |publisher=] |isbn=0-253-20915-3}}</ref> In 1491, ] (1483–1512) was recognized as a sovereign prince. From this time on, the Gurieli also invested local ]s at ], Jumati, and Khinotsminda, nominally under the spiritual superintendence of the ] ]. The polities of western Georgia fought one another for supremacy, particularly the Gurieli of Guria and ] of ]. They forged a temporary alliance and organized, in January 1533, an ultimately disastrous ] against the piratical tribe of ] in the north of Abkhazia. This setback enabled the king of Imereti to reassert his hegemony over Guria, but for a short time.


== Under the Ottoman Empire == == Under the Ottoman Empire ==
] ]
From the mid-16th century, the princes of Guria enjoyed a ] independence from Imereti, but faced much more serious threat from its newly emerged southern neighbor, the ], which imposed, in the 1540s, a naval blockade of Guria and annexed its southern provinces of ], Northern ] (latter-day ]), and ], which had earlier been acquired by ] (1534–64). The situation became even more precarious after the allied army of Georgian dynasts suffered a defeat at the ]. ] (1600–1625) managed to reconquer Adjara in 1609, but was eventually forced to renounce, on December 13, 1614, any claims to the region and pay annual tribute to the ]. The incessant feudal wars in western Georgia resulted in the decline of Guria, which eventually succumbed to the vassalage of the neighboring principality of Mingrelia. Yet, several princes of Guria, most notably ] (1669–84), and ] (1689–1714) managed to occasionally attain to the crown of Mingrelia and even of Imereti. The princely vassals of the Gurieli included the houses of ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. From the mid-16th century, the princes of Guria enjoyed a ] independence from Imereti, but faced much more serious threat from its newly emerged southern neighbor, the ], which imposed, in the 1540s, a naval blockade of Guria and annexed its southern provinces of ], Northern ] (latter-day ]), and ], which had earlier been acquired by ] (1534–64). The situation became even more precarious after the allied army of Georgian dynasts suffered a defeat at the ]. ] (1600–1625) managed to reconquer Adjara in 1609, but was eventually forced to renounce, on December 13, 1614, any claims to the region and pay annual tribute to the ]. The incessant feudal wars in western Georgia resulted in the decline of Guria, which eventually succumbed to the vassalage of the neighboring principality of Mingrelia. Yet, several princes of Guria, most notably ] (1669–84), and ] (1689–1714) managed to occasionally attain to the crown of Mingrelia and even of Imereti. The princely vassals of the Gurieli included the houses of ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].


During the early 18th century, Guria faced an increasing political and economic downfall due to the Ottoman encroachments as well as repeated occasions of civil strife. Attempts by the Gurian princes to enter into alliances with other Georgian rulers and Russia resulted in a series of Turkish punitive raids. By 1723, the Gurieli had lost ] and ] to the Ottomans and the whole coastline of Guria had been garrisoned by the Turks. The Gurian support to the Russians during the ] caused a severe reaction from the Ottoman government. ] and the surrounding area were detached from Guria and subjected to ], an ] being the surest way to escape slavery.<ref name="metropolitana">'']'', ed. by ], ] and ] (1845), p. 532.</ref> The rest of the Christian population had to move to safer regions of Georgia. This, combined with extensive ] and Turkish inroads, resulted in a virtual depopulation of several areas of Guria towards the late 18th century. The population of Guria was estimated by ] at 5,000, and by ] at 6,000 families in the 1770s.<ref name="metropolitana"/> During the early 18th century, Guria faced an increasing political and economic downfall due to the Ottoman encroachments as well as repeated occasions of civil strife. Attempts by the Gurian princes to enter into alliances with other Georgian rulers and Russia resulted in a series of Turkish punitive raids. By 1723, the Gurieli had lost ] and ] to the Ottomans and the whole coastline of Guria had been garrisoned by the Turks. The Gurian support to the Russians during the ] caused a severe reaction from the Ottoman government. ] and the surrounding area were detached from Guria and subjected to ], an ] being the surest way to escape slavery.<ref name="metropolitana">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Georgia |encyclopedia=] |editor-first1=Edward |editor-last1=Smedley |editor-link1=Edward Smedley |editor-first2=Hugh James |editor-last2=Rose |editor-link2=Hugh James Rose |editor-first3=Henry John |editor-last3=Rose |editor-link3=Henry John Rose |date=1845 |pages=532}}</ref> The rest of the Christian population had to move to safer regions of Georgia. This, combined with extensive ] and Turkish inroads, resulted in a virtual depopulation of several areas of Guria towards the late 18th century. The population of Guria was estimated by ] at 5,000, and by ] at 6,000 families in the 1770s.<ref name="metropolitana"/>


== Under Imperial Russia == == Under Imperial Russia ==
] from Guria, 1887]] ] from Guria, 1887]]


The latter-day princes of Guria firmly chose a pro-Russian orientation. During the ], on June 19, 1810, ] (1803–26) accepted Russian suzerainty, receiving insignia of investiture from the Tsar.<ref name="LANG">] (1957), ''The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832'', p. 52. ]: ]</ref> Guria joined the empire as an autonomous principality, retaining its self-governance and a local code. Very desirous of adopting ]an customs and habits, Mamia initiated a series of reforms and modernized administration, economy, and education. He remained loyal to the Russian crown even in 1820, when his uncle, Kaikhosro, joined the rebellion in Imereti and Guria, which broke out spontaneously in protest to the Russian mistreatment of Georgian church and heavy taxation.<ref>] (1957), ''The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832'', p. 56. ]: ]</ref> When Mamia died on October 26, 1826, his underage son, ] succeeded him on the throne under the regency of ] ]. Anxious to secure her autonomy from the Russian government, she sided with the Turks during the ]. On September 2, 1829, the Russian authorities deposed David and forced Sophia into exile to Turkey. Guria was annexed to the Russian Empire, first under a provisional governance, and then, in 1840, as the Ozurgeti ] within the ].<ref>{{in lang|ka}} "გურიის სამთავრო" (''Principality of Guria''). In: ქართული საბჭოთა ენციკლოპედია (''Encyclopaedia Georgiana''). Vol. 3: p. 314-5. Tbilisi, 1978.</ref> The latter-day princes of Guria firmly chose a pro-Russian orientation. During the ], on June 19, 1810, ] (1803–26) accepted Russian suzerainty, receiving insignia of investiture from the Tsar.<ref name="LANG">{{cite book|author-link=David Marshall Lang |author-last=Lang |author-first=David M. |date=1957 |title=The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832 |pages=52 |location=] |publisher=]}}</ref> Guria joined the empire as an autonomous principality, retaining its self-governance and a local code. Very desirous of adopting ]an customs and habits, Mamia initiated a series of reforms and modernized administration, economy, and education. He remained loyal to the Russian crown even in 1820, when his uncle, Kaikhosro, joined the rebellion in Imereti and Guria, which broke out spontaneously in protest to the Russian mistreatment of Georgian church and heavy taxation.<ref>{{cite book|author-link=David Marshall Lang |author-last=Lang |author-first=David M. |date=1957 |title=The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832 |pages=56 |location=] |publisher=]}}</ref> When Mamia died on October 26, 1826, his underage son, ] succeeded him on the throne under the regency of ] ]. Anxious to secure her autonomy from the Russian government, she sided with the Turks during the ]. On September 2, 1829, the Russian authorities deposed David and forced Sophia into exile to Turkey. Guria was annexed to the Russian Empire, first under a provisional governance, and then, in 1840, as the Ozurgeti ] within the ].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|language=ka |title=გურიის სამთავრო |trans-title=Principality of Guria |encyclopedia=ქართული საბჭოთა ენციკლოპედია |volume=3 |pages=314–315 |publisher=none |location=Tbilisi |date=1978}}</ref>
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Latest revision as of 04:02, 18 November 2024

Historical state in the Caucasus
Principality of Guriaგურიის სამთავრო
1460s–1829
Flag of Guria 18th century coat of arms according to Vakhushti
Location of Guria
StatusClient state of Kingdom of Imereti (1460s–1810)
Imperial Russia (1810–1828)
CapitalOzurgeti
Common languagesGeorgian
Religion Georgian Orthodox
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince-Gurieli 
History 
• Feudal wars in Georgia 1460s
• Annexation by Imperial Russia September 2 1829
Preceded by Succeeded by
Kingdom of Imereti
Russian Empire
Today part ofGuria, Georgia
Part of a series on the
History of Georgia
Prehistoric Georgia
Ancient history
Middle Ages
Early modern history
Modern history
History by topic

The Principality of Guria (Georgian: გურიის სამთავრო, romanized: guriis samtavro) was a historical state in Georgia. Centered on modern-day Guria, a southwestern region in Georgia, it was located between the Black Sea and Lesser Caucasus, and was ruled by a succession of twenty-two princes of the House of Gurieli from the 1460s to 1829. The principality emerged during the process of fragmentation of a unified Kingdom of Georgia. Its boundaries fluctuated in the course of permanent conflicts with neighboring Georgian rulers and the Ottoman Empire, and the principality enjoyed various degrees of autonomy until being annexed by Imperial Russia in 1829.

Early history

Since the beginning of 13th century, Guria, one of the provinces of the Kingdom of Georgia, located between Rioni and Chorokhi river was administered by hereditary governors (Eristavi). The Gurian ruler to which the Georgian crown attached the title of Gurieli ("of Guria") took advantage of the Mongol invasion of Georgia and started asserting its independence in the 1280s, but the Mongols forced them to submit to George V "the Brilliant" (r. 1299–1346) in about 1330. However, soon after Bagrat V of Georgia (r. 1360–1390) ascended the throne, the Svans revolted to the northeast of Guria. Bagrat defeated them but subsequently ceded Guria to the Eristav of Svaneti in c. 1362, and the Guria was usually held by the House of Vardanisdze thereafter.

In the 1460s, when the power of the Bagrationi dynasty of Georgia was on the decline, the Vardanisdze-Gurieli dynasty joined a rebellion of the great nobles of western Georgia, led by a royal kinsman, Bagrat, who refused to accept the authority of King George VIII of Georgia. In 1463, Bagrat and his allies met and defeated the king at the Battle of Chikhori. As a result, George VIII lost all the western provinces, and Bagrat was crowned king of Imereti, i.e., western Georgia. However, in return for their aid, the new monarch was obliged to create a vassal principality (samtavro) for each of his major allies, including the Gurieli family which became semi-independent rulers of Guria with their seat at Ozurgeti In 1491, Giorgi I Gurieli (1483–1512) was recognized as a sovereign prince. From this time on, the Gurieli also invested local bishops at Shemokmedi, Jumati, and Khinotsminda, nominally under the spiritual superintendence of the Georgian Orthodox Catholicos of Abkhazia. The polities of western Georgia fought one another for supremacy, particularly the Gurieli of Guria and Dadiani of Mingrelia. They forged a temporary alliance and organized, in January 1533, an ultimately disastrous expedition against the piratical tribe of Zygii in the north of Abkhazia. This setback enabled the king of Imereti to reassert his hegemony over Guria, but for a short time.

Under the Ottoman Empire

The Principality of Guria in 1490

From the mid-16th century, the princes of Guria enjoyed a de facto independence from Imereti, but faced much more serious threat from its newly emerged southern neighbor, the Ottoman Empire, which imposed, in the 1540s, a naval blockade of Guria and annexed its southern provinces of Adjara, Northern Chaneti (latter-day Lazistan), and Machakheli, which had earlier been acquired by Rostom Gurieli (1534–64). The situation became even more precarious after the allied army of Georgian dynasts suffered a defeat at the Battle of Sokhoista. Mamia II Gurieli (1600–1625) managed to reconquer Adjara in 1609, but was eventually forced to renounce, on December 13, 1614, any claims to the region and pay annual tribute to the Sublime Porte. The incessant feudal wars in western Georgia resulted in the decline of Guria, which eventually succumbed to the vassalage of the neighboring principality of Mingrelia. Yet, several princes of Guria, most notably Giorgi III Gurieli (1669–84), and Mamia III Gurieli (1689–1714) managed to occasionally attain to the crown of Mingrelia and even of Imereti. The princely vassals of the Gurieli included the houses of Gugunava, Machutadze, Maksimenishvili, Nakashidze, Tavdgiridze, Shalikashvili, Zedginidze, and Eristavi-Shervashidze.

During the early 18th century, Guria faced an increasing political and economic downfall due to the Ottoman encroachments as well as repeated occasions of civil strife. Attempts by the Gurian princes to enter into alliances with other Georgian rulers and Russia resulted in a series of Turkish punitive raids. By 1723, the Gurieli had lost Batumi and Chakvi to the Ottomans and the whole coastline of Guria had been garrisoned by the Turks. The Gurian support to the Russians during the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774) caused a severe reaction from the Ottoman government. Kobuleti and the surrounding area were detached from Guria and subjected to Islamization, an apostasy being the surest way to escape slavery. The rest of the Christian population had to move to safer regions of Georgia. This, combined with extensive slave trade and Turkish inroads, resulted in a virtual depopulation of several areas of Guria towards the late 18th century. The population of Guria was estimated by Güldenstädt at 5,000, and by Reineggs at 6,000 families in the 1770s.

Under Imperial Russia

Militiamen from Guria, 1887

The latter-day princes of Guria firmly chose a pro-Russian orientation. During the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812), on June 19, 1810, Mamia V Gurieli (1803–26) accepted Russian suzerainty, receiving insignia of investiture from the Tsar. Guria joined the empire as an autonomous principality, retaining its self-governance and a local code. Very desirous of adopting European customs and habits, Mamia initiated a series of reforms and modernized administration, economy, and education. He remained loyal to the Russian crown even in 1820, when his uncle, Kaikhosro, joined the rebellion in Imereti and Guria, which broke out spontaneously in protest to the Russian mistreatment of Georgian church and heavy taxation. When Mamia died on October 26, 1826, his underage son, David succeeded him on the throne under the regency of Princess Dowager Sophia. Anxious to secure her autonomy from the Russian government, she sided with the Turks during the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829). On September 2, 1829, the Russian authorities deposed David and forced Sophia into exile to Turkey. Guria was annexed to the Russian Empire, first under a provisional governance, and then, in 1840, as the Ozurgeti uyezd within the Kutais Governorate.

References

  1. ^ Bryer, Anthony (2008). The Byzantine monuments and topography of the Pontos. . ISBN 978159740317-7. OCLC 681432739.
  2. Suny, Ronald Grigor (1994). The Making of the Georgian Nation: 2nd edition. Indiana University Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-253-20915-3.
  3. ^ Smedley, Edward; Rose, Hugh James; Rose, Henry John, eds. (1845). "Georgia". Encyclopædia metropolitana. p. 532.
  4. Lang, David M. (1957). The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832. New York City: Columbia University Press. p. 52.
  5. Lang, David M. (1957). The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832. New York City: Columbia University Press. p. 56.
  6. "გურიის სამთავრო" [Principality of Guria]. ქართული საბჭოთა ენციკლოპედია (in Georgian). Vol. 3. Tbilisi. 1978. pp. 314–315.
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