Somkhiti
Encyclopedia
Somkhiti was an ambiguous geographic term used in medieval and early modern Georgian
historical sources to refer to Armenia
on one hand and to the Armeno-Georgian marchlands along the river valleys of Debed
and Khrami
on the other hand. In the 18th century, "Somkhiti" was largely replaced with "Somkheti" (სომხეთი, sɔmxɛtʰi) as a Georgian exonym for Armenia, but it continued, for some time, to denote the frontier region which is currently divided between Lori, Armenia, and Kvemo Kartli
, Georgia. This patch of land was sometimes referred to as "Georgian Armenia" in the 19th-century Europe
an sources. The ethnically mixed populace of Somkhiti – in its regional sense – were known in Georgian as Somkhitari (sing., სომხითარი), while Armenians in general were (and are) referred to in Georgian as Somekhi (sing., სომეხი).
n and Urartian
records along the upper Euphrates
. According to Professor David Marshall Lang
,
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...
historical sources to refer to Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
on one hand and to the Armeno-Georgian marchlands along the river valleys of Debed
Debed
The Debed or Debeda is a river in Armenia and Georgia. It also serves as a natural boundary between Armenia and Georgia at the village Sadakhlo, Georgia....
and Khrami
Khrami River
The Khrami River is a 201 km-long river in eastern Georgia and partly in western Azerbaijan, the right tributary to the Kura River. It originates in the Trialeti Range and flows into the deep valley, being primarily fed by snow. Its tributaries are: the Debeda and Mashavera rivers. The Tsalka...
on the other hand. In the 18th century, "Somkhiti" was largely replaced with "Somkheti" (სომხეთი, sɔmxɛtʰi) as a Georgian exonym for Armenia, but it continued, for some time, to denote the frontier region which is currently divided between Lori, Armenia, and Kvemo Kartli
Kvemo Kartli
Kvemo Kartli is a historic province and current administrative region in southeastern Georgia. The city of Rustavi is a regional capital. The population is mixed between Azeris and Georgians .The current governor is Davit Kirkitadze.- External links :* *...
, Georgia. This patch of land was sometimes referred to as "Georgian Armenia" in the 19th-century Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an sources. The ethnically mixed populace of Somkhiti – in its regional sense – were known in Georgian as Somkhitari (sing., სომხითარი), while Armenians in general were (and are) referred to in Georgian as Somekhi (sing., სომეხი).
Etymology
The term "Somkhiti"/"Somkheti" is presumed by modern scholars to have been derived from "Sukhmi" or "Sokhmi", the name of an ancient land located by the AssyriaAssyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n and Urartian
Urartu
Urartu , corresponding to Ararat or Kingdom of Van was an Iron Age kingdom centered around Lake Van in the Armenian Highland....
records along the upper Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
. According to Professor David Marshall Lang
David Marshall Lang
David Marshall Lang , was a Professor of Caucasian Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He was one of the most productive British scholars who specialized in Georgian, Armenian and ancient Bulgarian history.David M...
,