Tukharis

Tukharis, a fortress in historical southwestern Georgia on the border of the ancient Georgian provinces of Tao and Klarjeti; according to ancient Georgian tradition, Tukharis is one of the oldest fortress-cities in Georgia; it was founded by one of the legendary Georgian ethnarchs, Odzrkhos. In the 4^th century, Tukharis and Klarjeti were conquered by Byzantium. In the second half of the 5^th century, Tukharis returned to the Kingdom of Kartli. Later, it was included in the “Curopalate of the Georgians” (the Principality of Tao-Klarjeti). In the 9^th–11^th centuries, Tukharis was the center of the Jaqeli dynasty and the residence of the Eristavi. After the dissolution of Georgia into kingdoms and principalities (15^th century), it became one of the centers of Samtskhe-Saatabago. In the 16^th century, it was annexed by the Ottoman Empire, along with other lands of Georgia.

 

Literature: ჯავახიშვილი ივ., თხზულებანი თორმეტ ტომად, ტ. 2, თბ., 1983.

 

D. Muskhelishvili