Principality of Abkhazia: Map & History
The Principality of Abkhazia emerged as a separate feudal entity in the 15th–16th centuries, amid the civil wars in the Kingdom of Georgia that concluded with the dissolution of the unified Georgian monarchy.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Principality of Abkhazia emerged as a separate feudal entity in the 15th–16th centuries, amid the civil wars in the Kingdom of Georgia that concluded with the dissolution of the unified Georgian monarchy. The principality retained a degree of autonomy under Ottoman and then Russian rule, but was eventually absorbed into the Russian Empire in 1864, following the Caucasian War.
Principality of Abkhazia in Depth
Background
As a duchy (saeristavo) within the Kingdom of Georgia, Abkhazia was previously referred as the Duchy of Tskhumi. It was ruled by the house of Sharvashidze since the 12th century. The sources are very scarce about the Abkhazian history of that time. The Genoese established their trading factories along the Abkhazian coastline in the 14th century, but they functioned for a short time. When the Georgian kingdom was embroiled in a bitter civil war in the 1450s, the Sharvashidzes joined a major rebellion against King George VIII of Georgia, which saw him defeated at the hands of the rebels at Chikhori in 1463. The victorious king of Imereti created a principality (samtavro) for each of his allies, thus the Principality of Abkhazia was founded.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Principality of Abkhazia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Principality of Abkhazia: Key Facts
| Capital | Sokhumi |
|---|---|
| Official language | Georgian |
| Founded | 1463 |
| Dissolved | 1570 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q1760473 (CC0).
Principality of Abkhazia Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Principality of Abkhazia appears, with the other states of the time.
Principality of Abkhazia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 10,255 km² in 1713 CE.
Principality of Abkhazia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Principality of Abkhazia exist?
Principality of Abkhazia is dated to 1468 CE – 1829 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of Principality of Abkhazia?
The capital of Principality of Abkhazia was Zupu (Lykhny).
How large was Principality of Abkhazia at its peak?
At its peak in 1713 Principality of Abkhazia covered about 10,255 km².
How did the map of Principality of Abkhazia change over time?
Principality of Abkhazia appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1500 CE to 1800 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad