 Distribution of theMeskhetian dialect | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 89,995 - 100,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 GeorgiaSamtskhe-Javakheti: 77 498 or 48,3 % (2014[1])  TurkeyArdahan province: unknown | |
| Languages | |
| Meskhetian dialect ofGeorgian language | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly†Georgian Orthodox Church Catholic,Jewish andMuslim minority. |
| Part of a series on |
| Georgians ქართველები |
|---|
 The Kartvelian people |
| Nation |
| Georgia |
| Ancient Kartvelian people |
| Subgroups |
| Culture |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Symbols |
| History of Georgia |
Meskhians (Georgian:მესხები,Meskhebi) are an ethnographic subgroup ofGeorgians who speak theMeskhetian dialect of theGeorgian language, which among Georgia's regional dialects is relatively close to official Georgian. Meskhetians are the indigenous population ofMeskheti, a historical region in southernGeorgia.[2][3] Today they are mainly followers ofGeorgian Orthodox Church, while part of them areCatholics. Meanwhile the diaspora of the ethnic Meskehtians outside of Georgia confess toIslam.
Several authors have connected Meskhetians or Meskhians toMushki tribe orMoschoi (Μόσχοι) in Greek sources, who were anIron Age people ofAnatolia. Meskhian tribes came to the fore, gradually moving northeast and forming their settlements in the very heart ofKartli. Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Iberia (literarily means "town of Meskhs") was one such settlement, deriving its name from the ethnonym "Meskhians". According to theCyril Toumanoff, Moschians were the early proto-Georgian tribe which played a leading role in the consolidation ofIberian tribes largely inhabiting eastern and southern Georgia.[4]
Between 9th-11th centuries Mesketi, also known asTao-Klarjeti, was governed by theBagrationi dynasty and the region played a crucial role in the unification of the Georgian principalities into a singleGeorgian state in 1008. Meskheti gave many prominent people to the Georgia: such asShota Rustaveli, who is considered to be the preeminent poet of theGeorgian Golden Age and one of the greatest contributors toGeorgian literature. Rustaveli is the author ofThe Knight in the Panther's Skin, which is considered to be a Georgian nationalepic poem.
Thereafter, the kingdom of Georgia declined and eventuallydisintegrated under hegemony of various regional powers, including theMongols,Timurids,Black andWhite Sheeps. After theMongol invasion of Georgia, Meskhetian princes gained virtual independence from the Georgian crown and establishedPrincipality of Samtskhe under the Mongol patronage.
By thePeace of Amasya (1555), Principality of Samtskhe was divided into two, with theSafavids keeping the eastern part and theOttomans gaining the western part.[5] In 1578, the Ottomans performeda successful invasion into the Safavid possessions in Georgia, initiating theOttoman-Safavid War of 1578-1590, and by 1582 they were in possession of the eastern (Safavid) part ofMeskheti as well.[6]
The Georgian population of Meskheti was displaced to inner regions of Georgia such asImereti andKartli. Those who remained gradually becameMuslim, the process is also known asTurkification of Meskhetians (thenMeskhetian Turks).[7]
