# Meskheti

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Historical Region in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Georgia

Meskheti/Samtskhe მესხეთი/სამცხე Historical Region Map highlighting the historical region of Meskheti in Georgia Country Georgia Mkhare Samtskhe-Javakheti Capital Akhaltsikhe Meskheti is not an official subdivision of the Georgia; it constitutes a historical region only.

Map of The historical Georgian region of Meskheti, showing the subregions, the former border of Georgia and large rivers.

**Meskheti** ([Georgian](/source/Georgian_language): მესხეთი [\[me̞s̪χe̞t̪ʰi\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Georgian), [Turkish](/source/Turkish_language): *Meshetya*) or **Samtskhe** ([Georgian](/source/Georgian_language): სამცხე [\[s̪ämt̪͡s̪ʰχe̞\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Georgian)), also known as **[Moschia](/source/Moschia)** in ancient sources, is a mountainous area in southwestern [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)).

## History

Historical Meskheti in the 8th-10th centuries

The ancient tribe of [Meskhetians](/source/Meskhetians) is the first known inhabitants of the modern [Samtskhe-Javakheti](/source/Samtskhe-Javakheti) region.[1]

Between the 2nd millennium BC and the 4th century BC, Meskheti was part of the kingdom of [Diauehi](/source/Diauehi). It was subsequently, until the 6th century, part of the [Kingdom of Iberia](/source/Kingdom_of_Iberia_(antiquity)).

During the 10th-15th centuries, this region was a part of the united Georgian Kingdom. In the 16th century it was the independent [Principality of Samtskhe](/source/Samtskhe_atabegate) until it was occupied and annexed by the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire).

In 1829-1917 the region was a part of [Tiflis Governorate](/source/Tiflis_Governorate), and then briefly (1918–1921) part of the [Democratic Republic of Georgia](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_Georgia). Between 1921-1990 it was a part of the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union), as the [Georgian SSR](/source/Georgian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic).

Meskheti is now part of the [Samtskhe-Javakheti](/source/Samtskhe%E2%80%93Javakheti) region, together with [Javakheti](/source/Javakheti) and [Tori](/source/Tori_(Georgia)).

## Demographics

### Ethnic groups

#### Georgians

[Meskhetians](/source/Meskhetians) or Meskhs (Meskhi) are an ethnographic subgroup of [Georgians](/source/Georgians) who speak the [Meskhetian dialect](/source/Georgian_dialects#Central_dialects) of the [Georgian language](/source/Georgian_language), which among Georgia's regional dialects is relatively close to official Georgian. Meskhetians are the indigenous population of Meskheti, a historical region in southern [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)).[2][3] Today they are mainly followers of [Georgian Orthodox Church](/source/Georgian_Orthodox_Church), while part of them are [Catholics](/source/Catholic_Church_in_Georgia).

#### Meskhetian Turks

Unofficial flag of the [Meskhetian Turks](/source/Meskhetian_Turks)

[Meskhetian Turks](/source/Meskhetian_Turks) are the former inhabitants of the Meskheti region of [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)) along the border with [Turkey](/source/Turkey). They were [deported to Central Asia](/source/Deportation_of_the_Meskhetian_Turks) during November 15–25, 1944 by [Joseph Stalin](/source/Joseph_Stalin) and settled within [Kazakhstan](/source/Kazakhstan), [Kyrgyzstan](/source/Kyrgyzstan), and [Uzbekistan](/source/Uzbekistan). Of the 120,000 forcibly deported in cattle-trucks a total of 10,000 perished.[4] Today they are dispersed over a number of other countries of the former [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union). There are 500,000 to 700,000 Meskhetian Turks in exile in [Azerbaijan](/source/Azerbaijan) and [Central Asia](/source/Central_Asia).[5][6] Most Meskhetian Turks are [Sunni](/source/Sunni) [Muslims](/source/Muslims).

## See also

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

- [Culture of Georgia](/source/Culture_of_Georgia_(country))

- [Meshech](/source/Meshech)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Melikishvili, Giorgi, *Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia*, Vol. 7, Tbilisi, 1984, p. 146.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["*East of Center » Archive » Meskhetian Turks Bouncing From Exile to Exile*"](http://eastofcenter.tol.org/2011/03/1196/). Retrieved 2016-06-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["*ECMI - European Centre for Minority Issues: Publications*"](http://www.ecmi.de/publications/detail/the-meskhetian-turks-at-a-crossroads-20/). *www.ecmi.de*. Retrieved 2016-06-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Brennan, Dan (5 April 2003). ["Guram Mamulia"](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/apr/05/guardianobituaries.usa). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 22 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Krauthamer, Ky. ["Meskhetian Bouncing From Exile to Exile"](http://eastofcenter.tol.org/2011/03/1196/). *East of Center*. Retrieved 22 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Trier, Tom; Andrei Khanzin (2008). [*The Meskhetian Turks at a Crossroads*](http://www.ecmi.de/publications/detail/the-meskhetian-at-a-crossroads-20/). European Center for Minority Issues. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783825896287](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783825896287).

## External links

- [Pavle Ingorokva: Deform of historical reality about southern parts (Meskheti and South Kartli) of Georgia.](http://www.amsi.ge/istoria/pi/merCule6.pdf)

## Literature

- (Georgian) *თაყაიშვილი ე.,* არქეოლოგიური ექსპედიცია კოლა-ოლთისში და ჩანგლში, ტფ., 1907;

- (Georgian) *ლომსაძე. შ.,* სამცხე ჯავახეთი (XVIII ს. შუაწლებიდან XIX საუკუნის შუა წლებამდე), თბ., 1975;

- (Georgian) *მუსხელიშვილი დ.,* ქსე, ტ. 6, გვ. 601-602, თბ., 1983

- (Georgian) *ნოზაძე ვ.* საქართველოს აღდგენისათვის ბრძოლა მესხეთის გამო, თბილისი, 1989;

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

v t e Subregions of Tao-Klarjeti Tao Lower Tao Upper Tao Narimani Panaskerti Parkhali Klarjeti Borchkha Machakheli Nigali Shavsheti Adjara Samtskhe Tori Trialeti Meskheti Javakheti Artaani Erusheti Kola Chrdili (Palakazio) Abotsi Other Speri Basiani Tchaneti

[41°35′N 43°16′E / 41.583°N 43.267°E / 41.583; 43.267](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Meskheti&params=41_35_N_43_16_E_type:adm1st_source:itwiki)

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