View source for Meskhetians

{{Short description|Ethnographic subgroup of Georgians}}
{{distinguish|Meskhetian Turks}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
|group      = Meskhetian or Meskhian <br />{{lang-ka|მესხები}} ''meskhebi''
|image      = Georgian dialects.svg
|image_caption  = {{legend|#CCFF00|Distribution of the [[Georgian dialects#Central dialects|Meskhetian dialect]]}}
|population = {{circa|89,995}} - 100,000
|popplace   = {{flag|Georgia}} <br />  [[Samtskhe-Javakheti]]:  77 498 or 48,3 % (2014<ref name="dm">[http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic-loc2014.htm Georgian census, 2014]</ref>)<br /> {{flag|Turkey}} <br /> [[Ardahan|Ardahan province]]: unknown
|pop1       = 
|languages  = [[Georgian dialects#Central dialects|Meskhetian dialect]]  of [[Georgian language]]
|religions  = Predominantly '''† [[Georgian Orthodox Church]]'''<br />[[Catholicism|Catholic]], [[Judaism|Jewish]] and [[Sunni Islam|Muslim]] minority.
|related-c  = 
}}
{{Georgians}}

'''Meskhians''' ({{Lang-ka|მესხები}}, ''Meskhebi'') are an ethnographic subgroup of [[Georgians]] who speak the [[Georgian dialects#Central dialects|Meskhetian dialect]] of the [[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 (country)|Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eastofcenter.tol.org/2011/03/1196/|title=''East of Center » Archive » Meskhetian Turks Bouncing From Exile to Exile''|access-date=2016-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecmi.de/publications/detail/the-meskhetian-turks-at-a-crossroads-20/|title=''ECMI - European Centre for Minority Issues: Publications''|website=www.ecmi.de|access-date=2016-06-10}}</ref> Today they are mainly followers of [[Georgian Orthodox Church]], while part of them are [[Catholic Church|Catholics]]. Meanwhile the diaspora of the ethnic Meskehtians outside of Georgia confess to [[Islam]].

== History ==
Several authors have connected Meskhetians or Meskhians to [[Mushki]] tribe or [[Moschia|Moschoi]] (Μόσχοι) in Greek sources, who were an [[Iron Age]] people of [[Anatolia]]. Meskhian tribes came to the fore, gradually moving northeast and forming their settlements in the very heart of [[Kartli]]. Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Iberia (literarily means "town of Meskhs") was one such settlement, deriving its name from the ethnonym "Meskhians". According to the [[Cyril Toumanoff]], Moschians were the early proto-[[Georgians|Georgian]] tribe which played a leading role in the consolidation of [[Kingdom of Iberia|Iberian tribes]] largely inhabiting eastern and southern Georgia.<ref>Cyril Toumanoff, Studies in Christian Caucasian History, p 80</ref>

Between 9th-11th centuries Mesketi, also known as [[Tao-Klarjeti (historical region)|Tao-Klarjeti]], was governed by the [[Bagrationi dynasty]] and the region played a crucial role in the unification of the Georgian principalities into a single [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgian state]] in 1008. Meskheti gave many prominent people to the Georgia: such as [[Shota Rustaveli]], who is considered to be the preeminent poet of the [[Georgian Golden Age]] and one of the greatest contributors to [[Culture of Georgia (country)|Georgian literature]]. Rustaveli is the author of ''[[The Knight in the Panther's Skin]]'', which is considered to be a Georgian national [[Epic poetry|epic poem]].

Thereafter, the kingdom of Georgia declined and eventually [[Kingdom of Georgia#Final disintegration|disintegrated]] under hegemony of various regional powers, including the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]], [[Timurid Empire|Timurids]], [[Kara Koyunlu|Black]] and [[Aq Qoyunlu|White Sheeps]]. After the [[Mongol invasions of Georgia|Mongol invasion of Georgia]], Meskhetian princes gained virtual independence from the Georgian crown and established [[Samtskhe atabegate|Principality of Samtskhe]] under the Mongol patronage.

By the [[Peace of Amasya]] (1555), Principality of Samtskhe was divided into two, with the [[Safavid dynasty|Safavids]] keeping the eastern part and the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] gaining the western part.{{sfn|Mikaberidze|2015|page=xxxi}} In 1578, the Ottomans performed [[Lala Mustafa Pasha's Caucasian campaign|a successful invasion]] into the Safavid possessions in Georgia, initiating the [[Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–90)|Ottoman-Safavid War of 1578-1590]], and by 1582 they were in possession of the eastern (Safavid) part of [[Meskheti]] as well.{{sfn|Floor|2001|page=85}}

The Georgian population of Meskheti was displaced to inner regions of Georgia such as [[Imereti]] and [[Kartli]]. Those who remained gradually became [[Islam|Muslim]], the process is also known as [[Turkification]] of Meskhetians (then [[Meskhetian Turks]]).<ref name="Khazanov 1995 loc=195">{{Harvnb|Khazanov|1995|loc=195}}.</ref>

== Notable Meskhetians ==

* [[Shota Rustaveli]] (c.1160—after c. 1220), medieval Georgian poet and author of ''[[The Knight in the Panther's Skin]]''. 
* [[Anthim the Iberian]] (1650—1716), Georgian [[Theology|theologian]], [[scholar]], [[Georgian calligraphy|calligrapher]] and [[Philosophy|philosopher]].
* [[Michel Tamarati]], Georgian [[Georgian Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] priest and historian.
* [[Vano Merabishvili]], Georgian politician and former [[Prime Minister of Georgia]] from 4 July to 25 October 2012.

== See also ==
* [[Meskhetian Turks]]
* [[Samtskhe–Javakheti]]
* [[Meskheti]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book|last1=Floor|first1=Willem|author-link=Willem Floor|title=Safavid Government Institutions |date=2001|publisher=Mazda Publishers|location=Costa Mesa, California|isbn=978-1568591353}}
* {{cite book |last=Khazanov|first=Anatoly Michailovich|year=1995|title= After the USSR: Ethnicity, Nationalism and Politics in the Commonwealth of Independent States|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |isbn=0-299-14894-7}}
* {{cite book|last1=Mikaberidze|first1=Alexander|author-link=Alexander Mikaberidze|title=Historical Dictionary of Georgia|date=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=9781442241466|edition=2nd}}

{{Ethnic groups in Georgia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Meskhetians| ]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Georgia (country)]]