Kingdom of Lazica ეგრისის სამეფო | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 131 AD–697[1] | |||||||||
 Kingdom of Lazica in IV-V cc.AD | |||||||||
| Status | Kingdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Archaeopolis | ||||||||
| Common languages | Zan Old Georgian Greek (religious) | ||||||||
| Religion | Georgian paganism Eastern Orthodox (pre-Schism) | ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
• 131 AD | Malassas(first) | ||||||||
• 696/697 | Sergius(last) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Classical antiquity | ||||||||
• Established | 131 AD | ||||||||
• vassal ofRoman Empire | 2nd to 5th century | ||||||||
| 541 to 562 AD | |||||||||
• annexation of Lazica by Byzantine Empire | 7th | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 697[1] | ||||||||
| Currency | Antoninianus until IV A.D, laterSolidus[2] | ||||||||
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| Today part of | |||||||||
| Laz people |
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TheKingdom of Lazica (Georgian:ეგრისი,romanized: Egrisi;Laz:ლაზიკა,romanized: Laziǩa;Ancient Greek:Λαζική,romanized: Lazikḗ), sometimes calledLazian Empire,[3] was a state in the territory of westGeorgia in the Roman period, from about the 1st century BC. Created as a result of the collapse of the kingdom ofColchis and the gaining of independence by the tribal-territorial units included in it in 131 AD.
In theSvan language, theSvans refer to theMingrelia (Samegrelo) region as Lazan, La- is the Svan territorial prefix and Lazan means "the land of the Zans".[4]
By the mid-3rd century, Lazica was given partial autonomy within the Roman Empire and developed into a kingdom. Throughout much of its existence, it was mainly aByzantine strategic vassal kingdom that briefly came underSasanian Persian rule during theLazic War. The treaty that ended the war abolished the kingdom of Lazica which became a Byzantine territory rules by a patrician.[5]
The parts of theLazian Empire wereSuani,Scymni,Western Abasgia,Eastern Abasgia(Apsilia),Misimiani and their rulers would be appointed by the kings of Lazica with the formally upon the approval of the Byzantine emperor.[6]
In the early 4th century, theChristian eparchy (eastern bishopric) ofPityus was established in this kingdom, and as in neighboringIberia Christianity was declared as an official religion in AD 319.[7][8] Other ancient episcopal sees in Lazica includeRhodopolis,[9] Saesina,[10] and Zygana.[11] Bishop Stratophilus of Pityus was among the participants of theFirst Council of Nicaea in 325. The first Christian king of Lazica wasGubazes I; in the 5th century, Christianity was made the official religion of Lazica. Later, the nobility and clergy of Lazica switched from the Hellenic ecclesiastic tradition to the Georgian, and Georgian became the language of culture and education.[12]
The information about the cities of Lazica were preserved in the works of Byzantine historians.[13] The list of cities mentioned in Byzantine sources were:
The most significant fertile and rich area of Lazica was theRioni river valley. A densely populated part of the territory of Colchis, where most of the Laz cities were located.[14] In the IV-V centuries AD large cities appeared in Lazica such as: Archeopolis, Rhodopolis and Kotayon, and the population of the coastal areas increased, mainly in the areas of Phasis.[15]
The architecture of the fortresses of Lazica, located at the key points of the main trade and military routes from the shores of the Black Sea to Iran, show the influence ofByzantine architecture[13]
Maritime trade played a significant role in the country's economy, the center of which was the port ofPhasis.[16][17] Trade was carried out mainly withPontus andBosporus (Crimea), which were under Roman control at the time.Leather,fur and other raw materials, as well asslaves, were exported from the country in large quantities. In exchange, they importedsalt,bread,wine, expensive fabrics andweapons.[18] It is believed that the destruction of free trade and the introduction of a monopoly by the Romans in Lazica was one of the reasons for the Lazic war.[18]
The primary currency used in Lazica for trade was the RomanAntoninianus until the 4th century. Afterwards it was replaced by the ByzantineSolidus.[2]
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.Malassas [tr] | mentioned byArrian in 131 | vassal of the Roman EmperorHadrian. |
| 2.Pacorus | a contemporary of theAntoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | his name is found on a coin issued by him. |
| 3.Gubazes I | attested c. 456 – 466 | |
| 4.Damnazes | ?–521/522 | |
| 5.Tzath I | attested 521/522 – 527/528 | |
| 6.Opsites | dates of reign unknown, likely some time before 541 | |
| 7.Gubazes II | c. 541 – 555 | |
| 8.Tzath II | 556–? | |
| 9.Lebarnicius [tr] | c. 662 | mentioned as "patricius of Lazica" in theHypomnensticum of Theodosius and Theodore of Gangra |
| 10. Grigor | 670 – c. 675 | |
| 11.Sergius | c. 696/697 |
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Historical regions ofGeorgia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abkhazia |  | |
| Adjara | ||
| Guria | ||
| Imereti | ||
| Kakheti | ||
| Kvemo Kartli | ||
| Mtskheta-Mtianeti | ||
| Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti | ||
| Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti | ||
| Shida Kartli | ||
| Tao-Klarjeti | ||
|  | |||||||||
