Principality of Mingrelia სამეგრელოს სამთავრო | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1557–1867 | |||||||||
 18th century coat of arms according toVakhushti | |||||||||
 Principality of Mingrelia after the dissolution ofGeorgia | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Status | Vassal of theRussian Empire (1803–1867) | ||||||||
| Capital | Zugdidi 42°34′30″N41°40′40″E / 42.57500°N 41.67778°E /42.57500; 41.67778 | ||||||||
| Common languages | Mingrelian,Georgian | ||||||||
| Religion | Georgian Orthodox | ||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||
| Prince (Mtavari) | |||||||||
• 1533–1572(first) | Levan I Dadiani | ||||||||
• 1853–1867(last) | Niko I Dadiani | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1557 | ||||||||
• Annexation by Imperial Russia | January 4, 1867 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
ThePrincipality ofMingrelia (Georgian:სამეგრელოს სამთავრო,romanized:samegrelos samtavro), also known asOdishi and asSamegrelo, was a historical state inGeorgia ruled by theDadiani dynasty.
The principality emerged out of a non-aggression pact and an ensuing treaty signed by Konstantine II of Kartli, Alexandre of Kakhetia, and Qvarqvare II,atabag of Samtshke, which divided Georgia into three kingdoms and a number of principalities.[1] Mingrelia was established as an independent Principality in 1557 withLevan I Dadiani serving as a hereditarymtavari (Prince). It remained independent until it became a subject toImperial Russia in 1803.[2] This came after it signed a patronage treaty with the Russian Empire,[3] which was concluded in return for Russian protection against the harassment of Mingrelia's more powerful neighbors, Imeretia and Abkhazia.[4] The principality ultimately came to an end when PrinceNiko I Dadiani was deposed, and the principality abolished, by Russia in 1867. Prince Niko officially renounced his rights to the throne in 1868 and the state became a Russian district until 1917.[3]
| Districts | Population | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | ||
| Lechkhumi | 14,236 | 10,916 | 25,152 |
| Senaki | 47,143 | 37,698 | 84,841 |
| Zugdidi | 38,735 | 32,064 | 70,799 |
| Total | 100,114 | 80,678 | 180,792 |
|  | |||||||||
Historical regions ofGeorgia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abkhazia |  | |
| Adjara | ||
| Guria | ||
| Imereti | ||
| Kakheti | ||
| Kvemo Kartli | ||
| Mtskheta-Mtianeti | ||
| Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti | ||
| Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti | ||
| Shida Kartli | ||
| Tao-Klarjeti | ||
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