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Lechkhumi ლეჩხუმი | |
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 Map highlighting the historical region of Lechkhumi in Georgia | |
| Country |  Georgia |
| Mkhare | Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti[1] |
| Capital | Tsageri |
| Area | |
• Total | 722 km2 (279 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 17,000 |
| • Density | 24/km2 (61/sq mi) |
Lechkhumi (Georgian:ლეჩხუმი[ˈle̞t͡ʃʰχumi]) is a historic province in northwesternGeorgia which comprises the area along the middle basin of theRioni andTskhenistskali and also theLajanuri river valley. Now part of theRacha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region, it corresponds roughly to the present dayTsageri district as well as parts of districts ofTsqaltubo andAmbrolauri. It is bordered byMingrelia to the west,Svaneti to the north,Racha to the east, andImereti to the south.
The area has been inhabited since theNeolithic Age and was later dominated by the so-calledColchian culture. The firstrecorded history of the area dates back to the early medieval period. The contemporary historic sources call the landTakveri, a name gradually being replaced by a termLechkhumi. The province is usually identified withScymnia mentioned byProcopius (sixth century AD) as a dependency of theLazican kings [1]. Within the unified Georgian feudal state (between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries), Takveri/Lechkhumi was subordinated consecutively to the dukes (eristavi) ofSvaneti andRacha. On the breakup of the Kingdom of Georgia, the province came under theKingdom of Imereti, 1455. Through incessant feudal warfare, the nobles from the Chikovani (Chikvani) family were eventual winners and established themselves as semi-independent Lords of Lechkhumi (Georgian:Lechkhumis Tavi). In 1714,Bejan Chikovani became Prince ofMingrelia and assumed the dynastic name ofDadiani. Thus, these two western Georgian polities united under the princes of Mingrelia.
KingSolomon II of Imereti (1792-1810) attempted on several occasions, though unsuccessfully, to bring the area back under the Imeretian rule. TheRussian Empire intervened on Mingrelian side that resulted in the fall of Solomon's kingdom and incorporation of Mingrelia into theTsarist empire as an autonomous entity. In 1857, the Russian authorities abolished the Principality of Mingrelia and Lechkhumi became a part ofKutaisGuberniya. Together with the neighbouring regionSvaneti, it formed the Lechkhumiuyezd from 1867 to 1930, when theTsageriRayon was created.
Historical regions ofGeorgia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abkhazia |  | |
| Adjara | ||
| Guria | ||
| Imereti | ||
| Kakheti | ||
| Kvemo Kartli | ||
| Mtskheta-Mtianeti | ||
| Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti | ||
| Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti | ||
| Shida Kartli | ||
| Tao-Klarjeti | ||
42°38′59″N42°45′35″E / 42.64972°N 42.75972°E /42.64972; 42.75972