Samtskhe–Javakheti bordersAdjara andGuria in the northwestern tip,Imereti in the north,Shida Kartli in the northeast andKvemo Kartli in the east. The southern border is formed byArmenia, the southwestern flank bordersTurkey. The region covers theJavakheti Plateau, a highland of volcanic origin and the northern extension of theArmenian highlands. The plains are between 1500 and 2000 meters above sea level. Samtskhe–Javakheti is bordered by several mountain ranges, the most important being theMeskheti Range andTrialeti Range in the north and theSamsari Range andJavakheti Range in the east.
The highlands are home to some of Georgia's largest lakes, such asParavani Lake,Tabatskuri Lake,Khanchali Lake andKartsakhi Lake. Georgia's largest river, theMtkvari, flows through the region from Turkey, a few miles north of Kartsakhi Lake. The river has carved a canyon through in the highlands and forms the eastern boundary of theErusheti Highlands, a mountain range along the border with Turkey. In this gorge the large historic cave monasteryVardzia is situated, an important tourist attraction. The river flows initially in a northwesterly direction through the gorge toAkhaltsikhe viaKhertvisi Fortress where theParavani River joins the Mtkvari. The river gorge has a depth of approximately 500 meters. At Akhaltsikhe the river turns to the northeast and streams toBorjomi between theMeskheti Range (left bank) andTrialeti Range (right bank), after which the river leaves the region through theShida Kartli plain.
Due to its high location, the region has cold and snowy winters. In the northern situatedBakuriani, not far from the tourist attraction Borjomi, there is a ski resort.
According to data from the National Statistical Bureau of Georgia, Samtskhe–Javakheti had 151,110 inhabitants as of January 1, 2021,[2] a decrease of 6% compared to the 2014 census.[1] Of these, 35.9% live in urban areas and 64.1% in rural villages.Akhaltsikhe andAkhalkalaki are the most densely populated municipalities.
Population development of the region Samtskhe–Javakheti[5]
* Research after 2014 census showed the 2002 census was inflated by 8-9 percent.[6] ** Corrected data based on retro-projection 1994-2014 in collaboration with UN[7]
Part of historical Samtskhe (light blue) in modernTurkey.
The current division of Georgia into "regions" (Mkhare) was introduced by theShevardnadze government in the mid-1990s, partly as a response to thesecession ofAbkhazia and theSouth Ossetia conflict. Samtskhe–Javakheti was basically formed by combining the two traditional provinces ofMeskheti (Samtskhe) andJavakheti.
The ancient tribes ofMeskhi (orMoschi) andMosiniks are the first known inhabitants of the area. Some scholars credit the Mosiniks (orMossynoeci) with the invention of ironmetallurgy. From the 2nd millennium to the 4th century BC, Meskheti was believed to be part of theKingdom of Diauehi, in the 4th century BC to the 6th century AD part of theKingdom of Iberia. From the 10th to the 15th century it was part of the unitedGeorgian Kingdom. In the 16th century Meskheti was integrated into theSafavid Empire, followed by theOttoman Empire. After the conclusion of theRusso-Persian War of 1826-28, it was a part of RussianTiflis Governorate from 1817 till 1829, from 1918 to 1921 part of theDemocratic Republic of Georgia, and from 1921 to 1990 part of theGeorgian SSR. After independence from the USSR Meskheti was reinstalled as a province of Georgia, and later cast into the new Samtskhe–Javakheti region.
In ancient sources, the region was recorded asZabakha in 785 BC, by the kingArgishti I of Urartu. According toCyril Toumanoff, Javakheti was part of theIberian duchy of Tsunda from the 4th or 3rd century BC.Saint Nino enteredIberia from Javakheti, and, following the course of theRiver Kura, she arrived inMtskheta, the capital of the kingdom, once there, she eventually began to preach Christianity, which culminated byChristianization of Iberia.
In struggle against theArab occupation,Bagrationi dynasty came to rule overTao-Klarjeti and established theKouropalatate of Iberia. rulers of Tao-Klarjeti fought the Arabs from there, gradually incorporating the surrounding lands ofSamtskhe and Javakheti, along with a few other lesser lands, from the Arab dominance. For a long time the region became aculturalsafe-house and one of the most importantreligious centers of Georgia.
In the mid-10th century, Javakheti was incorporated intoKingdom of Abkhazia. In 964Leon III of Abkhazia extended his influence to Javakheti, during his reign was builtKumurdo Cathedral.[12][13] In subsequent centuries, Javakheti was integral part ofunified Georgian monarchy and had a period of significant development: lot of bridges, churches, monasteries, and royal residences (Lgivi, Ghrtila, Bozhano,Vardzia) were built. From the 11th century, the center of upper Javakheti becameAkhalkalaki. From the 10th century, the center of lowland Javakheti wasTmogvi. From the 12th century, the domain was ruled by representatives of the feudal family ofToreli.
In the 15th century, Javakheti was incorporated to principality ofSamtskhe-Saatabago. In the 16th century, the region, as well as the adjacent territories of western Georgia, was occupied by theOttoman Empire. The Georgian population of Javakheti was displaced to inner regions of Georgia such asImereti andKartli. Those who remained gradually becameMuslim.
As a result of the struggles of theRussian Empire with the Ottomans, Russian authorities settled Christian Armenians andCaucasus Greeks in the area after 1828.[14]Armenian refugees from theArmenian genocide in theOttoman Empire came in the early 20th century. Also a large number of RussianDoukhobor sect members settled the region.
Georgia came fully underSoviet control in 1921, after theRed Army invasion of Georgia. The remainingMuslim minority in Meskheti, also known as "Meskhetian Turks", were deported in cattle-trucks toCentral Asia by order ofStalin and settled within an area that overlaps the boundaries of the modern nations ofKazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, andUzbekistan. Today, many are still dispersed across those countries. Of the 100,000 forcibly deported, as many as 30,000-50,000 perished.[15]
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