Kakheti
Encyclopedia
Kakheti is a historical province in Eastern Georgia
inhabited by Kakhetians who speak a local dialect of Georgian
. It is bordered by the small mountainous province of Tusheti
and the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan
to the Southeast, and the Georgian province of Kartli
to the west. Kakheti is geographically divided into the Inner Kakheti to the east of Tsiv-Gombori mountain range
and the Outer Kakheti to the west of it. The major river of the eastern part is Alazani
, while that of the western part is the Iori
.
The Georgian David Gareja monastery complex is partially located in this province and is subject to a border dispute between Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.
basin, Qiziki (ქიზიყი) between the Alazani and the Iori, and Thither Area (გაღმა მხარი, Gaghma Mkhari) on the left bank of the Alazani. It also includes the medieval region of Hereti
whose name has fallen into gradual oblivion since the 15th century.
After the disintegration of the Georgian Kingdom, Kakheti became an independent Kingdom
in the 1460s. In 1762, the Kakhetian Kingdom was united with the neighboring Georgian Kingdom of Kartli, with the capital of the former, Telavi
also capital of the Albanian Hereti, becoming the capital of the united Eastern-Georgian Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti
and assimilation of Albanians strengthened by church. Both Kingdoms were weakened by frequent Persian invasions. In 1801 the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti was annexed to the Tsarist Russian Empire
.
In 1918–1921 Kakheti was part of independent Democratic Republic of Georgia
, in 1922–1936 part of Transcaucasian SFSR
and in 1936–1991 part of Georgian SSR. Since the Georgian independence in 1991, Kakheti is a region in the republic of Georgia and Telavi is still its capital.
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...
inhabited by Kakhetians who speak a local dialect of Georgian
Georgian language
Georgian is the native language of the Georgians and the official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus.Georgian is the primary language of about 4 million people in Georgia itself, and of another 500,000 abroad...
. It is bordered by the small mountainous province of Tusheti
Tusheti
Tusheti is a historic region in northeast Georgia.-Geography:Located on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Tusheti is bordered by the Russian republics of Chechnya and Dagestan to the north and east, respectively; and by the Georgian historic provinces Kakheti and...
and the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
to the Southeast, and the Georgian province of Kartli
Kartli
Kartli is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari , on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role in ethnic and political consolidation of the Georgians in the Middle Ages...
to the west. Kakheti is geographically divided into the Inner Kakheti to the east of Tsiv-Gombori mountain range
Tsiv-Gombori Range
The Tsiv-Gombori or Gombori is a mountain range in the Georgian section of Greater Caucasus mountains. It is located in the province of Kakheti, eastern Georgia, and stretches to the distance of 107 km, with the highest mountain being at 1.991 m above sea level.The Gombori range serves as a...
and the Outer Kakheti to the west of it. The major river of the eastern part is Alazani
Alazani
The Alazani is a river that flows through the Caucasus.It is the main tributary of the Kura in eastern Georgia, and flows for 351 km...
, while that of the western part is the Iori
Iori River
The Iori is a river in the South Caucasus which originates in the Greater Caucasus Mountains in eastern Georgia and continues in Azerbaijan where it is also known as Gabirry and flows into the Mingachevir Reservoir. Its length is 320km....
.
The Georgian David Gareja monastery complex is partially located in this province and is subject to a border dispute between Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.
Geography
Beyond the modern-day administrative subdivision into the districts, Kakheti has traditionally been subdivided into four parts: Inner Kakheti (შიგნით კახეთი, Shignit Kakheti) along the right bank of the Alazani River, Outer Kakheti (გარე კახეთი, Gare Kakheti) along the middle Iori RiverIori River
The Iori is a river in the South Caucasus which originates in the Greater Caucasus Mountains in eastern Georgia and continues in Azerbaijan where it is also known as Gabirry and flows into the Mingachevir Reservoir. Its length is 320km....
basin, Qiziki (ქიზიყი) between the Alazani and the Iori, and Thither Area (გაღმა მხარი, Gaghma Mkhari) on the left bank of the Alazani. It also includes the medieval region of Hereti
Hereti
Hereti was a historic province in the medieval Caucasus on the Georgian-Albanian frontier. It roughly corresponds to the southeastern corner of Georgia's Kakheti region and a portion of Azerbaijan's northwestern districts.-History:...
whose name has fallen into gradual oblivion since the 15th century.
Subdivision
The Kakheti region is divided into eight the municipalities:- The Telavi Municipality (area 1.094 km2, population 68.000)
- The Akhmeta Municipality (area 2.248 km2, population 44.100)
- The Gurjaani Municipality (area 849 km2, population 73.200)
- The Kvareli Municipality (area 1.000 km2, population 40.663)
- The Dedoplistskaro Municipality (area 2.531 km2, population 30.240)
- The Lagodekhi Municipality (area 890 km2, population 50.300)
- The Sagarejo Municipality (area 1.515 km2, population 60.396)
- The Sighnaghi Municipality (area 1.251 km2, population 42.652)
History
Kakheti was an independent feudal principality from the end of the eighth century. It was incorporated into the united Georgian Kingdom at the beginning of the eleventh century, but for less than a decade. Only in the beginning of the twelfth century did Georgian King David the Builder (1089–1125) incorporate Kakheti into his Kingdom successfully.Kingdom of Kakheti
The Kingdom of Kakheti was a late medieval/early modern monarchy in eastern Georgia, centered at the province of Kakheti, with its capital first at Gremi and then at Telavi...
in the 1460s. In 1762, the Kakhetian Kingdom was united with the neighboring Georgian Kingdom of Kartli, with the capital of the former, Telavi
Telavi
Telavi is the main city and administrative center of Georgia's eastern province of Kakheti. Its population consists of some 21,800 inhabitants . The city is located on foot-hills of Tsiv-Gombori Range at 500-800 meters above the sea level....
also capital of the Albanian Hereti, becoming the capital of the united Eastern-Georgian Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti
Kartl-Kakheti
The Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti was created in 1762 by the unification of two eastern Georgian kingdoms, which had existed independently since the disintegration of the united Georgian Kingdom in the 15th century....
and assimilation of Albanians strengthened by church. Both Kingdoms were weakened by frequent Persian invasions. In 1801 the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti was annexed to the Tsarist 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...
.
In 1918–1921 Kakheti was part of independent 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...
, in 1922–1936 part of Transcaucasian SFSR
Transcaucasian SFSR
The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1922 to 1936...
and in 1936–1991 part of Georgian SSR. Since the Georgian independence in 1991, Kakheti is a region in the republic of Georgia and Telavi is still its capital.
Travel Information
The travel infrastructure in Kakheti is fast developing, since it is the most visited region of Georgia. One can choose to stay in a guest house, in a small and comfortable hotel, or a beautiful boutique-style hotel while traveling in this Region. Telavi and Signagi are the most visited towns. Signagi was renovated three years ago. Until recently there were only some family hotels (simple rooms in a family-owned house with a shared bathroom), but now Signagi features several hotels, one of them being the most popular due to its interior and restaurant - "Hotel Pirosmany", named after the famous Georgian artist.See also