# Lechkhumi

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lechkhumi
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lechkhumi.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lechkhumi
> Source revision: 1346543364
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Historical province in Georgia (country)

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Lechkhumi" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2007)

Historical Region in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Georgia

Lechkhumi ლეჩხუმი Historical Region 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](/source/Georgian_language): ლეჩხუმი [\[ˈle̞t͡ʃʰχumi\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Georgian)) is a historic province in northwestern [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)) which comprises the area along the middle basin of the [Rioni](/source/Rioni_river) and [Tskhenistskali](/source/Tskhenistskali) and also the [Lajanuri](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lajanuri&action=edit&redlink=1) river valley. Now part of the [Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti](/source/Racha-Lechkhumi_and_Kvemo_Svaneti) region, it corresponds roughly to the present day [Tsageri](/source/Tsageri_Municipality) district as well as parts of districts of [Tsqaltubo](/source/Tsqaltubo_Municipality) and [Ambrolauri](/source/Ambrolauri_Municipality). It is bordered by [Mingrelia](/source/Mingrelia) to the west, [Svaneti](/source/Svaneti) to the north, [Racha](/source/Racha) to the east, and [Imereti](/source/Imereti) to the south.

The area has been inhabited since the [Neolithic Age](/source/Neolithic_Age) and was later dominated by the so-called [Colchian culture](/source/Colchian_culture). The first [recorded history](/source/Recorded_history) of the area dates back to the early medieval period. The contemporary historic sources call the land **Takveri**, a name gradually being replaced by a term *Lechkhumi*. The province is usually identified with **Scymnia** mentioned by [Procopius](/source/Procopius) (sixth century AD) as a dependency of the [Lazican](/source/Lazica) kings [\[1\]](http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16167/16167-h/raw7b.htm). Within the unified Georgian feudal state (between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries), Takveri/Lechkhumi was subordinated consecutively to the dukes (*[eristavi](/source/Eristavi)*) of [Svaneti](/source/Svaneti) and [Racha](/source/Racha). On the breakup of the Kingdom of Georgia, the province came under the [Kingdom of Imereti](/source/Kingdom_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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bejan_I_Dadiani&action=edit&redlink=1) became Prince of [Mingrelia](/source/Mingrelia) and assumed the dynastic name of [Dadiani](/source/Dadiani). Thus, these two western Georgian polities united under the princes of Mingrelia.

King [Solomon II of Imereti](/source/Solomon_II_of_Imereti) (1792-1810) attempted on several occasions, though unsuccessfully, to bring the area back under the Imeretian rule. The [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire) intervened on Mingrelian side that resulted in the fall of Solomon's kingdom and incorporation of Mingrelia into the [Tsarist](/source/Tsar) empire as an autonomous entity. In 1857, the Russian authorities abolished the Principality of Mingrelia and Lechkhumi became a part of [Kutais](/source/Kutaisi) [Guberniya](/source/Guberniya). Together with the neighbouring region [Svaneti](/source/Svaneti), it formed the Lechkhumi [uyezd](/source/Uyezd) from 1867 to 1930, when the [Tsageri](/source/Tsageri) [Rayon](/source/Raion) was created.

## See also

- [Khvamli](/source/Khvamli)

- [History of Georgia](/source/History_of_Georgia_(country))

- [Skvimnia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skvimnia&action=edit&redlink=1)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-census2014detail_1-0)** ["Main Results of the 2014 Census (Publication)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200213232229/http://census.ge/files/pdf/2014-wlis-aRweris-ZiriTadi-Sedegebi.pdf) (PDF). *Census.ge, National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat)* (in Georgian). 2016-04-28. p. 204. Archived from [the original](http://census.ge/files/pdf/2014-wlis-aRweris-ZiriTadi-Sedegebi.pdf) (PDF) on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2022-02-04.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Lechkhumi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lechkhumi).

v t e Historical regions of Georgia Abkhazia Abkhazeti Abzhua Samurzakano Tsebelda Adjara Lazeti Machakhela Guria Lazika Surebi Imereti Argveti Vake Mukhurisi Okriba Sachino Sajavakho Kakheti Garekakheti Gagmamkhari Gujareti Hereti Kiziki Saingilo Tusheti Kvemo Kartli Borchalo Dmaniskhevi Gardabani Gachiani Trialeti Mtskheta-Mtianeti Chartali Ertso-Tianeti Khada Khandro Khevi Khevsureti Kherki Khorkhi Ksniskhevi Mtiuleti Mukhrani Pshavi Pkhovi Tskhavati Tskhradzmiskhevi Tsanareti Tsilkani Tsobeni Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Kvemo Svaneti Lechkhumi Racha Takveri Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Egrisi Odishi Sabediano Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti Shida Kartli Bazaleti Dvaleti Maghrandvaleti Samachablo Zena Sopeli Tao-Klarjeti Tao Klarjeti Speri Kola Shavsheti Artaani Nigali Basiani Sokhoista Zemo Kartli Tori Samtskhe Javakheti

[42°38′59″N 42°45′35″E / 42.64972°N 42.75972°E / 42.64972; 42.75972](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Lechkhumi&params=42_38_59_N_42_45_35_E_type:adm1st_source:itwiki)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lechkhumi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lechkhumi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lechkhumi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.