View source for Samtskhe–Javakheti

{{Short description|Region (mkhare) of Georgia}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Samtskhe–Javakheti
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = სამცხე-ჯავახეთი
| native_name_lang   = ka
| settlement_type    = [[Mkhare|Mkhare (region)]]
| image_skyline      = <!-- images and maps  -----------> {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width       = 250
| image1 = Mosque Ahmedia, Rabati Fortress 01.JPG
| image2 = Borjomi Central Park - Main Spring.jpg
| image3 = კარწახი1.jpg
| image4 = Timotesubani church 12.jpg
| image5 = Ва́рдзиа — пещерный монастырский комплекс XII—XIII веков на юге Грузии, в Джавахетии 06.jpg
| footer = From the top to bottom-right: [[Akhaltsikhe Castle]], [[Borjomi|Borjomi Central Park]], [[Kartsakhi Managed Reserve]], [[Timotesubani monastery|Timotesubani Monastery]], [[Vardzia]]}}
| image_map          = Samtskhe-Javakheti in Georgia.svg
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{GEO}}
| seat               = [[Akhaltsikhe]]
| parts_type         = Subdivisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = 6 municipalities
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = Besik Amiranashvili
| area_total_km2     = 6413
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=census2014detail />
| population_total   = 151110
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_footnotes = <ref name=geostatpop />
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec1    = 0.775<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|high}} · [[List of Georgian regions by Human Development Index|9th]]
| iso_code           = GE-SJ
| 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 = [[Georgian lari|₾]] 1.82 billion (2022)
| demographics1_title2 = Per Capita
| demographics1_info2 = [[Georgian lari|₾]] 12,329 (2022)
}}
'''Samtskhe–Javakheti''' ({{lang-ka|სამცხე-ჯავახეთი}}, {{IPA|ka|s̪ämt̪͡s̪ʰχe̞ d͡ʒäväχet̪ʰi|}}, {{Langx|hy|Սամցխե-Ջավախեթի|Samts’khe-Javakhet’i}}) is a region ([[mkhare]]) in southern [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] with a population of 147,400 (2023<ref name="geostatpop">{{Cite web|url=https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/41/population|title=Population and Demography - Population as of 1 January by regions and urban-rural settlements|language=en|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref>) and an area of {{Convert|6413|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="census2014detail">{{Cite web | url=http://census.ge/files/pdf/2014-wlis-aRweris-ZiriTadi-Sedegebi.pdf |title=Main Results of the 2014 Census (Publication) |work=Census.ge, National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) |page=280 |date=2016-04-28 |access-date=2022-02-04  |language=ka }}</ref> The region has [[Akhaltsikhe]] as its administrative center. Samtskhe–Javakheti is made up of the historical Georgian provinces [[Meskheti]], [[Javakheti]] and [[Tori (Georgia)|Tori]].

The [[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline|Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline]], the [[South Caucasus Pipeline|South Caucasus natural gas pipeline]], and the [[Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway|Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway]] pass through the region.

The population of the region is made up of [[Georgians]] and [[Armenians in Georgia|Armenians]], as well as smaller numbers of [[Russians in Georgia|Russians]].

== Geography ==
[[File:Relief Map of Samtskhe-Javakheti.svg|upright=1.35|thumb|Relief map of Samtskhe–Javakheti region]]
Samtskhe–Javakheti borders [[Adjara]] and [[Guria]] in the northwestern tip, [[Imereti]] in the north, [[Shida Kartli]] in the northeast and [[Kvemo Kartli]] in the east. The southern border is formed by [[Armenia]], the southwestern flank borders [[Turkey]]. The region covers the [[Javakheti Plateau]], a highland of volcanic origin and the northern extension of the [[Armenian highlands]]. The plains are between 1500 and 2000 meters above sea level. Samtskhe–Javakheti is bordered by several mountain ranges, the most important being the [[Meskheti Range]] and [[Trialeti Range]] in the north and the [[Samsari Range]] and [[Javakheti Range]] in the east.

The highlands are home to some of Georgia's largest lakes, such as [[Paravani Lake]], [[Ktsia-Tabatskuri Managed Reserve|Tabatskuri Lake]], [[Khanchali Lake]] and [[Kartsakhi Lake]]. Georgia's largest river, the [[Kura (South Caucasus river)|Mtkvari]], flows through the region from Turkey, a few miles north of Kartsakhi Lake. The river has carved a canyon through in the highlands and forms the eastern boundary of the [[Erusheti|Erusheti Highlands]], a mountain range along the border with Turkey. In this gorge the large historic cave monastery [[Vardzia]] is situated, an important tourist attraction. The river flows initially in a northwesterly direction through the gorge to [[Akhaltsikhe]] via [[Khertvisi Fortress]] where the [[Paravani]] River joins the Mtkvari. The river gorge has a depth of approximately 500 meters. At Akhaltsikhe the river turns to the northeast and streams to [[Borjomi]] between the [[Meskheti Range]] (left bank) and [[Trialeti Range]] (right bank), after which the river leaves the region through the [[Shida Kartli]] plain.

Due to its high location, the region has cold and snowy winters. In the northern situated [[Bakuriani]], not far from the tourist attraction Borjomi, there is a ski resort.

==Subdivisions==
[[File:Akhaltsike, view from Rabati.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Akhaltsikhe]], the administrative center of the region]]
[[File:Density of Samtskhe-Javakheti Municipalities (2014).svg|thumb|upright=1.35|2014 population density of the Samtskhe–Javakheti Municipalities]]
The region has six municipalities with 82 administrative communities (''temi'')<ref name=census2014detail /> and a total of 271 populated settlements:
* Five cities: [[Akhaltsikhe]], [[Akhalkalaki]], [[Borjomi]], [[Vale, Georgia|Vale]] and [[Ninotsminda]]
* Seven dabas: [[Bakuriani]], [[Bakurianis Andeziti]], [[Tsagveri]], [[Akhaldaba]], [[Adigeni]], [[Abastumani]] and [[Aspindza]]
* Villages: 259

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:110%;text-align=right;" 
|-
! Map
! Municipality
! Area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>)
! Density<br/>(p/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-----
| rowspan="6" |[[File:SJ-ka.svg|left|250px]]
| [[Adigeni Municipality|Adigeni]]
| 799
| 20.1
|-----
| [[Akhalkalaki Municipality|Akhalkalaki]]
| 1,235
| 33.2
|-----
| [[Akhaltsikhe Municipality|Akhaltsikhe]]
| 998
| 39.5
|-----
| [[Aspindza Municipality|Aspindza]]
| 825
| 12.8
|-----
| [[Borjomi Municipality|Borjomi]]
| 1,202
| 20.8
|-----
| [[Ninotsminda Municipality|Ninotsminda]]
| 1,354
| 14.0
|-----
| colspan=4 | Population density based on 2021 population.<ref name=geostatpop /> Municipality area<ref name=census2014detail />
|}

==Demographic==
According to data from the National Statistical Bureau of Georgia, Samtskhe–Javakheti had 151,110 inhabitants as of January 1, 2021,<ref name=geostatpop /> a decrease of 6% compared to the 2014 census.<ref name=census2014detail /> Of these, 35.9% live in urban areas and 64.1% in rural villages. [[Akhaltsikhe]] and [[Akhalkalaki]] are the most densely populated municipalities.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=19 | Population development of the region Samtskhe–Javakheti<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
|-
! Samtskhe–Javakheti !! 213,329 || {{increase}} 231,593 || {{decrease}} 227,676 || {{increase}} 238,750 || {{decrease}} 207,598 || {{decrease}} 183,096 || {{decrease}} 160,504 || {{decrease}} 151,110 
|-
| [[Akhalkalaki Municipality|Akhalkalaki]] || 62,977 || {{increase}} 69,992 || {{decrease}} 68,234 || {{increase}} 69,256 || {{decrease}} 60,975 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 45,070 || {{decrease}} 41,026
|-
| [[Akhaltsikhe Municipality|Akhaltsikhe]] || 50,420 || {{increase}} 51,907 || {{decrease}} 49,836 || {{increase}} 54,747 || {{decrease}} 46,134 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 38,895 || {{increase}} 39,463
|-
| [[Adigeni Municipality|Adigeni]] || 19,593 || {{increase}} 20,272 || {{increase}} 20,278 || {{increase}} 21,284 || {{decrease}} 20,752 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 16,462 || {{decrease}} 16,092
|-
| [[Aspindza Municipality|Aspindza]] || 11,265 || {{increase}} 12,494 || {{decrease}} 12,264 || {{increase}} 13,262 || {{decrease}} 13,010 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 10,372 || {{increase}} 10,587
|-
| [[Borjomi Municipality|Borjomi]] || 37,010 || {{increase}} 39,661 || {{increase}} 40,796 || {{increase}} 41,266 || {{decrease}} 32,422 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 25,214 || {{decrease}} 24,998
|-
| [[Ninotsminda Municipality|Ninotsminda]] || 32,064 || {{increase}} 37,267 || {{decrease}} 36,268 || {{increase}} 38,935 || {{decrease}} 34,305 || align=center | - || {{decrease}} 24,491 || {{decrease}} 18,944
|-
| 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> 
|}

===Ethnic groups===
In 1926, the Akhaltsikhe Uyezd (corresponding to [[Meskheti]] or Samtskhe) had a population of:<ref>[http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/axalcixe26.html] AKHALTSIKHE   UEZD   (1926 year.)</ref>
* [[Meskhetian Turks]] - 49,170 (50.7%)
* [[Georgians]] - 24,353 (25.1%)
* [[Armenians]] - 15,565 (16.1%)
* [[Kurds]] - 3,094 (3.2%)
* other ethnic groups - 4,591 (4.9%)

In 1926, the Akhalkalaki Uyezd (corresponding to [[Javakheti]]) had a population of:<ref>[http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/axalkalaki26.html] AKHALAKAKI   UEZD   (1926 year.)</ref>
* [[Armenians]] - 57,791 (73.2%)
* [[Georgians]] - 7,565 (9.6%)
* [[Meskhetian Turks]] - 6,940 (8.8%)
* [[Russians]] - 2,492 (3.2%)
* other ethnic groups - 4,149 (5.2%)

In 2002, Samtskhe–Javakheti province ethnic makeup of 207,598 total population:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statistics.ge/_files/english/census/2002/Ethnic+groups.pdf|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113172547/http://www.statistics.ge/_files/english/census/2002/Ethnic%20groups.pdf|title=statistics.ge|archivedate=November 13, 2009|website=www.statistics.ge}}</ref>
* [[Armenians]] - 113,347
* [[Georgians]] - 89,995
* [[Abkhazians]] - 42
* [[Ossetians]] - 822
* [[Russians]] - 2,230
* [[Azerbaijanis]] - 59
* [[Greeks]] - 740
* [[Ukrainians]] - 162
* [[Kist people|Kists]] - 
* [[Yazidis]] - 1

In 2014, Samtskhe–Javakheti province of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] had the following ethnic makeup of 160,504 total population:<ref name="Census 2014">{{Georgian census 2014}}</ref>
* [[Armenians]] - 81,089 (50.52%)
* [[Georgians]] - 77,498 (48.28%)
* [[Russians]] - 712 (0.44%)
* other ethnic groups - 1,194 (0.74%)

==History==
[[File:The historical Georgian region of Meskheti and its subregions.png|alt=Part of historical Samtskhe in modern Turkey.|thumb|276x276px|Part of historical Samtskhe (light blue) in modern [[Turkey]].]]
The current division of Georgia into "regions" (''Mkhare'') was introduced by the [[Eduard Shevardnadze|Shevardnadze]] government in the mid-1990s, partly as a response to the [[secession]] of [[Abkhazia]] and the [[South Ossetia]] conflict. Samtskhe–Javakheti was basically formed by combining the two traditional provinces of [[Meskheti|Meskheti (Samtskhe)]] and [[Javakheti]].

===Meskheti===
The ancient tribes of [[Meskhetians|Meskhi]] (or [[Mushki|Moschi]]) and [[Mossynoeci|Mosiniks]] are the first known inhabitants of the area. Some scholars credit the Mosiniks (or ''Mossynoeci'') with the invention of iron [[metallurgy]]. From the 2nd millennium to the 4th century BC, Meskheti was believed to be part of the [[Diauehi|Kingdom of Diauehi]], in the 4th century BC to the 6th century AD part of the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Iberia]]. From the 10th to the 15th century it was part of the united [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgian Kingdom]]. In the 16th century Meskheti was integrated into the [[Safavid dynasty|Safavid Empire]], followed by the [[Ottoman Empire]]. After the conclusion of the [[Russo-Persian War (1826–1828)|Russo-Persian War of 1826-28]], it was a part of Russian [[Tiflis Governorate]] from 1817 till 1829, from 1918 to 1921 part of the [[Democratic Republic of Georgia]], and from 1921 to 1990 part of the [[Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic|Georgian SSR]]. After independence from the USSR Meskheti was reinstalled as a province of Georgia, and later cast into the new Samtskhe–Javakheti region.

===Javakheti===
In ancient sources, the region was recorded as ''Zabakha'' in 785 BC, by the king [[Argishti I of Urartu]]. According to [[Cyril Toumanoff]], Javakheti was part of the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberian]] duchy of Tsunda from the 4th or 3rd century BC. [[Saint Nino]] entered [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberia]] from Javakheti, and, following the course of the [[Kura (South Caucasus river)|River Kura]], she arrived in [[Mtskheta]], the capital of the kingdom, once there, she eventually began to preach Christianity, which culminated by [[Christianization of Iberia]].

In struggle against the [[Arab rule in Georgia|Arab occupation]], [[Bagrationi dynasty]] came to rule over [[Tao-Klarjeti (historical region)|Tao-Klarjeti]] and established the [[Principality of Tao-Klarjeti|Kouropalatate of Iberia]]. rulers of Tao-Klarjeti fought the Arabs from there, gradually incorporating the surrounding lands of [[Meskheti|Samtskhe]] and Javakheti, along with a few other lesser lands, from the Arab dominance. For a long time the region became a [[Culture of Georgia (country)|cultural]] [[Safe house|safe-house]] and one of the most important [[Georgian Orthodox Church|religious]] centers of Georgia.

In the mid-10th century, Javakheti was incorporated into [[Kingdom of Abkhazia]]. In 964 [[Leon III of Abkhazia]] extended his influence to Javakheti, during his reign was built [[Kumurdo Cathedral]].<ref name="Eparchy of Shemoqmedi">{{cite web|url=http://www.shemoqmedi.ge/Shemoqmedi%20site%20english/geo%20church%20monastery/Kumurdo.htm|title=Kumurdo Church|publisher=Georgian patriarchate, Eparchy of Shemoqmedi|access-date=5 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721030203/http://www.shemoqmedi.ge/Shemoqmedi%20site%20english/geo%20church%20monastery/Kumurdo.htm|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.ge/~lika/ancient/kumurdo/kumurdo_show.htm|title=Kumurdo|publisher=Parliament of Georgia|access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref> In subsequent centuries, Javakheti was integral part of [[Kingdom of Georgia#Unification of the Georgian State|unified Georgian monarchy]] and had a period of significant development: lot of bridges, churches, monasteries, and royal residences (Lgivi, Ghrtila, Bozhano, [[Vardzia]]) were built. From the 11th century, the center of upper Javakheti became [[Akhalkalaki]]. From the 10th century, the center of lowland Javakheti was [[Tmogvi]]. From the 12th century, the domain was ruled by representatives of the feudal family of [[House of Toreli|Toreli]].

In the 15th century, Javakheti was incorporated to principality of [[Samtskhe atabegate|Samtskhe-Saatabago]]. In the 16th century, the region, as well as the adjacent territories of western Georgia, was occupied by the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The Georgian population of Javakheti was displaced to inner regions of Georgia such as [[Imereti]] and [[Kartli]]. Those who remained gradually became [[Islam|Muslim]].

As a result of the struggles of the [[Russian Empire]] with the Ottomans, Russian authorities settled Christian Armenians and [[Caucasus Greeks]] in the area after 1828.<ref>{{cite book |title=Turcology in Mainz |last1=Boeschoten |first1=Hendrik |last2=Rentzsch |first2=Julian |year=2010 |isbn=978-3-447-06113-1 |page=142 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XtW6cox7CIUC&q=Turcology+in+Mainz |access-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> [[Armenians|Armenian]] refugees from the [[Armenian genocide]] in the [[Ottoman Empire]] came in the early 20th century. Also a large number of Russian [[Doukhobors|Doukhobor]] sect members settled the region.

=== Soviet era ===
Georgia came fully under [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] control in 1921, after the [[Red Army invasion of Georgia]]. The remaining [[Muslim]] minority in Meskheti, also known as "[[Meskhetian Turks]]", were deported in cattle-trucks to [[Central Asia]] by order of [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] and settled within an area that overlaps the boundaries of the modern nations of [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], and [[Uzbekistan]]. Today, many are still dispersed across those countries. Of the 100,000 forcibly deported, as many as 30,000-50,000 perished.<ref>{{cite web |author=Dan Brennan |date=5 Apr 2003 |title=Guram Mamulia |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/apr/05/guardianobituaries.usa |access-date=29 Apr 2008}}</ref>

==Tourist attractions==
The major tourist attractions are the cave monasteries of [[Vardzia]] (which was founded by [[Tamar of Georgia|Queen Tamar]] in 1185), [[Vanis Kvabebi]] (which dates from the 8th century), [[Rabati Castle]] and [[Khertvisi Fortress]]. Also, among national visitors is very popular 10th century [[Sapara Monastery]], [[Tmogvi]] fortress, and 8th century [[Zarzma monastery]].<ref>[https://www.georgianjournal.ge/discover-georgia/34874-discover-samtskhe-javakheti.html Discover Samtskhe-Javakheti] ''Georgian Journal'' 14 August, 2018</ref>

==See also==
*[[Subdivisions of Georgia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=y}}
*[http://www.eurasianet.org/georgia/samtskhe/story.html ''Friends at Dinner, Foes at Politics''] (about socio-economic problems of the region)
*[http://edoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/HALCoRe_derivate_00001858/Obstacles%20Impeding.pdf ''Obstacles Impeding the Regional Integration of the Javalkheti Region''], an [[ECMI]] working paper ([[PDF]] format)

{{Administrative divisions of Georgia}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Samtskhe Javakheti}}
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[[Category:Regions of Georgia (country)]]
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