Principality of Mingrelia

The Principality of Mingrelia (Georgian: სამეგრელოს სამთავრო, romanized: samegrelos samtavro), also known as Odishi and as Samegrelo, was a historical state in Georgia ruled by the Dadiani dynasty.

Principality of Mingrelia

სამეგრელოს სამთავრო
1557–1867
Flag (1560s according to Diogo Homem)
18th century coat of arms according to Vakhushti
Coat of arms of the House of Dadiani
Samegrelo (aka Mingrelia) and other countries after the dissolution of Georgia
StatusVassal of the Russian Empire (1803–1867)
CapitalZugdidi
Common languagesMingrelian, Georgian
Religion
Georgian Orthodox
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince (Mtavari) 
• 1533–1572 (first)
Levan I Dadiani
• 1853–1867 (last)
Niko I Dadiani
History 
• Established
1557
• Annexation by Imperial Russia
January 4 1867
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Kingdom of Imereti
Russian Empire

History

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 with Levan I Dadiani serving as a hereditary mtavari (Prince). It remained independent until it became a subject to Imperial 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 Prince Niko 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]

See also

References
  1. Rayfield, Donald (2013). Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. London: Reaktion Books. p. 162. ISBN 9781780230306.
  2. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition – Mingrelia.
  3. Minahan, James B. (2016). Encyclopedia of Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups around the World, 2nd Edition: Ethnic and National Groups around the World. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 272. ISBN 9781610699532.
  4. Saparov, Arsène (2014-08-27). From Conflict to Autonomy in the Caucasus: The Soviet Union and the Making of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh. Oxon: Routledge. p. 18. ISBN 9780415658027.


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