Imereti

{{Short description|Administrative region of Georgia}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Imereti | native_name = იმერეთი | native_name_lang = ka | settlement_type = Mkhare (region) | image_skyline =  {{multiple image | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2/2/2 | total_width = 250 | image1 = Aerial tramway, Kutaisi, Sakartvelo 2012 136.jpg | image2 = Okatse canyon Gruzia 2019 4.jpg | image3 = Katskhi Pillar.jpg | image4 = Sulori gorge, near resort of Sulori.jpg | image5 = Tkibuli Reservoir (Photo A. Muhranoff, 2011).jpg | footer = From the top to bottom-right: Kutaisi, Okatse Canyon, Katskhi Pillar, Sulori Gorge, Tkibuli Reservoir}} | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = | flag_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Imereti in Georgia (disputed hatched).svg | mapsize = | map_alt = | map_caption = Overlapping borders of ''de jure'' Imereti region and ''de facto'' South Ossetia{{efn|{{South Ossetia-note}}}} | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_base_alt = | dot_map_alt = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{GEO}} | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | seat_type = Capital | seat = Kutaisi | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_party = Georgian Dream | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Zviad Shalamberidze<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bm.ge/en/article/new-governor-of-imereti-appointed/37325|title = New Governor of Imereti Appointed}}</ref> | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | total_type = | area_total_km2 = 6,680 | area_footnotes = {{efn|Nominal area 6,680 km², ''de facto'' controlled by Georgia 6,415 km².}} | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 442373 | population_as_of = 2024 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_footnotes = <ref name="population">{{Cite web|url=https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/41/population|title=Population and Demography - Population by cities and boroughs as of 1 January|publisher=National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat)|language=en|access-date=2021-11-26}}</ref> | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_demonym = | population_note = | demographics_type1 = Gross Regional Product | demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Regional Gross Domestic Product|url=https://www.geostat.ge/media/59471/Regional-Gross-Domestic-Product%2C--2022.pdf}}</ref> | demographics1_title1 = Total | demographics1_info1 = ₾ 5.51 billion (2022) | demographics1_title2 = Per capita | demographics1_info2 = ₾ 11,444 (2022) | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = GE-IM | website = [http://www.imereti.ge/?sec_id=4&lang_id=ENG imereti.ge] | footnotes = | blank_name_sec1 = Districts | blank_info_sec1 = 11 districts, 1 city | blank1_name_sec1 = HDI (2023) | blank1_info_sec1 = 0.841 <ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br/>{{color|#0c0|very high}} · 3rd }}

'''Imereti''' (Georgian: იმერეთი, {{IPA|ka|imeɾetʰi|pron}}) is a region of Georgia situated in the central-western part of the republic along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni River. Imereti is the most populous region in Georgia. It consists of 11 municipalities and the city of Kutaisi, which is the capital of the region.

==Subdivisions== The Imereti region has one self governing city (Kutaisi) and 11 municipalities with 163 administrative communities (temi), totalling to 549 populated settlements: * Eleven cities: Baghdati, Chiatura, Khoni, Kutaisi, Sachkhere, Samtredia, Terjola, Tkibuli, Tsqaltubo, Vani and Zestaponi; * Three dabas: Kharagauli, Kulashi and Shorapani; * Villages: 535

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:110%" |- ! Map ! Municipality |- |rowspan=13|300px |----- | City of Kutaisi |----- | Baghdati Municipality |----- | Vani Municipality |----- | Zestaponi Municipality |----- | Terjola Municipality |----- | Samtredia Municipality |----- | Sachkhere Municipality |----- | Tkibuli Municipality |----- | Chiatura Municipality |----- | Tsqaltubo Municipality |----- | Kharagauli Municipality |----- | Khoni Municipality |}

==Economy== Aside from the capital Kutaisi, significant towns and regional centres include Samtredia, Chiatura (manganese production centre), Tkibuli (coal mining centre), Zestaponi (known for metals production), Vani, Khoni, and Sachkhere. Traditionally, Imereti is an agricultural region, known for its mulberries and grapes.

==Demographics== The '''Imeretians''' (Georgian: იმერლები) are one of the ethnographic groups of Georgians, inhabiting Imereti. Imeretians are Orthodox Christians and speak the Imeretian dialect, one of the Northwest dialects of the Georgian language.<ref>Topchishvili, R., Encyclopaedia "Georgia", vol. 4, Tbilisi, 2018, pp. 249–250.</ref> It is itself subdivided into Upper and Lower Imeretian.<ref>{{Cite conference |last=Kevin Tuite |year=1987 |title=The geography of Georgian q'e |url=http://www.mapageweb.umontreal.ca/tuitekj/publications/Tuite-1989-q'e.pdf |conference=5th Conference on the Non-Slavic Languages of the USSR, Chicago |access-date=2007-03-27}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=19 | Demographic history of the Imereti region<ref name="historicpopulation">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-division.htm | title=Divisions of Georgia | access-date=2022-02-04 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en }}</ref> |- ! !! 1959 !! 1970 !! 1979 !! 1989 !! 2002* || 2002** !! 2014 !! 2021 |- ! Imereti !! {{increase}} 651,959 || {{increase}} 718,558 || {{increase}} 739,189 || {{increase}} 772,251 || {{decrease}} 699,410 || {{decrease}} 632,126 || {{decrease}} 533,906 || {{decrease}} 481,473 |- | City of Kutaisi || {{increase}} 128,203 || {{increase}} 162,787 || {{increase}} 194,297 || {{increase}} 234,870 || {{decrease}} 185,965 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 147,635 || {{decrease}} 134,378 |- | Baghdati Municipality || {{increase}} 29,560 || {{increase}} 30,973 || {{decrease}} 30,056 || {{decrease}} 29,053 || {{increase}} 29,235 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 21,582 || {{decrease}} 18,363 |- | Chiatura Municipality || {{increase}} 64,562 || {{increase}} 72,059 || {{decrease}} 69,582 || {{decrease}} 68,501 || {{decrease}} 56,341 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 39,884 || {{decrease}} 38,231 |- | Kharagauli Municipality || {{increase}} 36,486 || {{decrease}} 35,591 || {{decrease}} 31,948 || {{decrease}} 28,702 || {{decrease}} 27,885 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 19,473 || {{decrease}} 18,571 |- | Khoni Municipality || {{increase}} 32,548 || {{increase}} 32,718 || {{increase}} 37,968 || {{decrease}} 34,979 || {{decrease}} 31,749 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 23,570 || {{decrease}} 21,123 |- | Sachkhere Municipality*** || {{increase}} 38,202 || {{increase}} 45,552 || {{decrease}} 44,859 || {{increase}} 44,968 || {{increase}} 46,590 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 37,775 || {{decrease}} 34,848 |- | Samtredia Municipality || {{increase}} 62,556 || {{increase}} 67,141 || {{decrease}} 65,400 || {{decrease}} 64,504 || {{decrease}} 60,456 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 48,562 || {{decrease}} 43,448 |- | Terjola Municipality || {{increase}} 43,847 || {{increase}} 46,438 || {{decrease}} 44,709 || {{decrease}} 44,019 || {{increase}} 45,496 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 35,563 || {{decrease}} 31,427 |- | Tkibuli Municipality || {{increase}} 44,411 || {{decrease}} 42,733 || {{decrease}} 39,451 || {{decrease}} 36,686 || {{increase}} 31,132 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 20,839 || {{decrease}} 17,898 |- | Tsqaltubo Municipality || {{increase}} 62,389 || {{increase}} 67,086 || {{increase}} 69,738 || {{increase}} 75,061 || {{increase}} 73,889 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 56,883 || {{decrease}} 46,803 |- | Vani Municipality || {{increase}} 40,999 || {{increase}} 41,505 || {{decrease}} 38,346 || {{decrease}} 35,369 || {{decrease}} 34,464 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 24,512 || {{decrease}} 21,241 |- | Zestaponi Municipality || {{increase}} 68,196 || {{increase}} 73,975 || {{decrease}} 72,835 || {{increase}} 75,539 || {{increase}} 76,208 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 57,628 || {{decrease}} 55,142 |- | colspan=10 class="wikitable" style="align:left;text-align:left;background-color:#eaecf0"|* Research after 2014 census showed the 2002 census was inflated by 8-9 percent.<ref name=research2017>{{Cite web | url=https://geostat.ge/media/20624/3.-Population-Dynamics_ENGL-_print_F.pdf | title=Population Dynamics in Georgia - An Overview Based on the 2014 General Population Census Data | pages=1–4 |date=2017-11-29 | access-date=2022-02-04 | work=National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat | language=en }}</ref><br/>**Corrected data based on retro-projection 1994–2014 in collaboration with UN<ref name=retro2017>{{Cite web | url=https://www.geostat.ge/en/single-archive/3199 | title=Retro-projection of main demographic indicators for the period 1994-2014 | pages=3, Table 1 |date=2018-05-18 | access-date=2022-02-04 | work=National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat | language=en }}</ref><br />*** Part of Sachkhere is outside Georgian government authority and has not been counted since 2002. |}

==History== [[File:2014 Kutaisi, Katedra Bagrati (24).jpg|thumb|Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi]] In ancient times, the region was a part of the Kingdom of Colchis, until it was conquered by the Kingdom of Pontus. After the Third Mithridatic War, Colchis was under loose Roman control, and unsuccessfully revolted in 69 AD under Anicetus.<ref>Woods, David (2006). "Tacitus, Nero, and the 'Pirate' Anicetus" in ''Latomus'' 65(3)</ref> After the collapse of Colchis, the kingdom of Lazica was established in 131 AD as a Roman vassal. Tzath I was the first Christian king of Lazica,{{sfn|Odisheli|2018|page=1541}} being baptized in Constantinople in 523 AD, and fighting alongside Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I in the Iberian War.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|page=82}} In 541 AD, the region became the theatre of the Lazic War between Justinian I and Sasanian Persian emperor Khosrow I.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Imeretia|volume=14|page=331}}</ref>

Between 750 and 985, Imereti was ruled by a dynasty of native princes, but was devastated by hostile incursions, reviving only after it became united to Georgia.<ref name="EB1911"/> After the Mongol invasions of Georgia, Imereti was intermittently part of the independent Kingdom of Western Georgia, until being reunited in 1415 as the Duchy of Samokalako under the united Georgian Kingdom.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brosset |first=Marie-Félicité |author-link=Marie-Félicité Brosset |date=1849 |title=Histoire de la Géorgie, depuis l'Antiquité jusqu'au XIXe siècle - 1re partie |location=St. Petersburg |publisher=Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences |url={{GBurl|hc1CAAAAcAAJ}} }}</ref> Since that kingdom's disintegration in the 15th century, Imereti was an independent kingdom from 1466 onwards.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brosset |first=Marie-Félicité |date=1856 |title=Histoire de la Géorgie depuis l'Antiquité jusqu'au XIXe siècle - IIe partie: Histoire moderne |publisher=Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences |url=https://archive.org/details/BrossetHistGeo2/ }}</ref>

In the 17th–18th centuries, the kingdom of Imereti experienced frequent invasions by the Turks and paid patronage to the Ottoman Empire until 1810, when it was invaded and annexed by the Russian Empire. The last King of Imereti was Solomon II (1789–1810).

From 1918 to 1921, Imereti was part of the independent Democratic Republic of Georgia. Within the USSR, the region was part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from 1922 to 1936, and part of the Georgian SSR from 1936 to 1991. Since Georgian independence in 1991, Imereti has been a region of Georgia with Kutaisi as the regional capital.

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|2}} ===Bibliography=== *{{cite book|last1=Greatrex|first1=Geoffrey|last2=Lieu|first2=Samuel N. C.|title=The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars (Part II, 363–630 AD)|location=London, United Kingdom|publisher=Routledge|year=2002|isbn=0-415-14687-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NnLDQgAACAAJ}} *{{ODLA|last=Odisheli|first=Manana|title=Tsathes I|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001/acref-9780198662778-e-5559}}

==External links== {{Sister project links|auto=y}} * [http://www.Imereti.com Imereti.com - The Guide to Imereti, Georgia, Sakartvelo] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070710050115/http://www.imereti.ge/?sec_id=4&lang_id=ENG Official website] * [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=21844 Civil.GE]

{{Administrative divisions of Georgia}} {{Navboxes |list = {{Administrative divisions of Georgia}} {{Georgian historical regions}} }} {{Authority control}}

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Category:Imereti Category:Regions of Georgia (country) Category:Former provinces of Georgia (country) Category:Historical regions of Georgia (country)