Racha (Ratcha is a more correct spelling) (Georgian: რაჭა, Rača) is a historic province in Georgia, in the mountainous northwestern part of the country. Comprising the present-day districts of Oni and Ambrolauri, it is included in the region of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti. It is bordered by the mountain-range of Greater Caucasus to the north and east, Imereti to the south, Lechkhumi and Svaneti to the west. It is situated in the northern valley of Rioni river and is surrounded by mountains. Formerly, Racha included also a northwestern corner of the present day breakaway region of South Ossetia. Oni is a town in the Western part of the Republic of Georgia. ... Ambrolauri is a town in western Georgia which serves as a regional capital of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti. ... Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti is a region in northwestern Georgia which includes the historical provinces of Racha, Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti (i. ... Greater Caucasus (Russian: , sometimes translated as Caucasus Major, Big Caucasus or Large Caucasus) is the major mountain range of Caucasus mountains. ... Imereti is a historic province in Western Georgia, situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. ... Lechkhumi, also spelled Lecxumi (Georgian: ლეჩხუმი) is a historic province in northwestern Georgia which comprises the area along the middle basin of the Rioni and Tskhenistskali and also the Lajanuri river valley. ... Svaneti (სვანეთი. Also known as Svanetia or Svania in Russian and Western languages) is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. ... The Rioni River is the principal river of western Georgia. ... Official language Ossetian Capital Tskhinvali President Eduard Djabeevich Kokoity Prime Minister Igor Viktorovich Sanakoyev Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water  3,900 km²  n/a Population  â€“ Total  â€“ Density (2004)  70,000 (approx)  18/km² Independence  â€“ Declared  â€“ Recognition From Georgia  â€“ November 28, 1991  â€“ none Currency Russian...

History

Racha has been part of Colchis and Caucasian Iberia since ancient times and its main town Oni is said to be founded by King Pharnajom of Iberia in the 2nd century BC. Upon creation of the unified Georgian kingdom in the 11th century, Racha became one of the duchies (saeristavo) within it. Rati of the Baghvashi family was the first duke (eristavi) appointed by King Bagrat III. Descendants of Rati and his son Kakhaber, eponymous father of Racha’s ruling dynasty of Kakhaberisdze, governed the province until 1278, when King David VI Narin abolished the duchy amid his anti-Mongol liberation war. In the mid-14th century, the duchy was restored under the rule of the Tcharelidze family. The next dynasty of Chkhetidze governed Racha from 1465 to 1769. Vassals of the King of Imereti, they revolted several times against the royal power. The 1678-1679 civil war resulted in the most serious consequences. In this war, Duke Shoshita II of Racha (1661-1684) supported Prince Archil, a rival of the pro-Ottoman Imeretian king Bagrat IV. On the defeat of Archil, Racha was overrun and plundered by an Ottoman punitive force. Under Rostom (1749-1769), the duchy became virtually independent from Imereti. However, towards the end of 1769, King Solomon I of Imereti managed to arrest Rostom and to abolish the duchy. In 1784, King David of Imereti revived the duchy and gave it to his nephew Anton. Local opposition attempted to use an Ottoman force to take control of Racha, but the victory of King David at Skhvava (January 26, 1786) temporarily secured his dominance in the area. In 1789, the next Imeretian king Solomon II finally abolished the duchy and subordinated the province directly to the royal administration. In ancient geography, Colchis (sometimes spelled also as Kolchis) (Greek: Κολχίς, kŏl´kĬs; Georgian: კოლხეთი, Kolkheti) was a nearly triangular district in Caucasus. ... Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania Iberia was a name given by the ancient Greeks and Romans to the ancient Georgian kingdom of Kartli (4th century BC-5th century AD) corresponding roughly to the eastern and southern parts of the present day Georgia. ... Oni is a town in the Western part of the Republic of Georgia. ... Baghvashi were a noble family in the medieval Georgia, with notable members from the 9th to 12th centuries. ... Bagrat III (ca. ... Kakhaberisdze (Georgian: კახაბერისძე; pl: Kakhaberisdzeebi, კახაბერისძეები, literally sons of Kakhaber) were a noble family (didebuli’s) in medieval Georgia ruling over the northwestern provinces of Racha and Lechkhumi (Takveri) from the early 11th to the late 13th centuries. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... David VI Narin ( 1225- 1293), from the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia in 1245- 1293. ... Mongol Empires largest extent outlined in red; Timur-i-Lenks empire is shaded The Mongol Empire (Cyrillic: Их Монгол Улс) (1206–1368) was the largest contiguous (the land streched uninterrupted by borders or stretches of water) land empire in world history, ruling 35 million km² (13. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... Events July 13 - Battle of Montlhéry Troops of King Louis XI of France fight inconclusively against an army of the great nobles organized as the League of the Public Weal. ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Kingdom of Imereti was established in 1455 by a member of the house of Bagration when the Kingdom of Georgia was dissolved into rival kingdoms. ... Imereti is a historic province in Western Georgia, situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. ... Events August 10 - Treaty of Nijmegen ends the Dutch War. ... Events January 24 - King Charles II of England disbands Parliament August 7 - The brigantine Le Griffon, which was commissioned by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes. ... Events January 6 - The fifth monarchy men unsuccessfully attempt to seize control of London. ... Events France under Louis XIV makes Truce of Ratisbon separately with the Empire and Spain. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Sogut (1299-1326), Bursa (1326-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanlı Dynasty... Events While in debtors prison, John Cleland writes Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure). ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Imereti is a historic province in Western Georgia, situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. ... Solomon I (1735-1784) was the Georgian king of Imereti (in the Western Georgia) from Bagrationi dynasty in 1752-1784. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Solomon II (1772-1815) was the last king of Imereti from 1789 to 1810 and the last Georgian ruler from the Bagrationi dynasty. ...

Eristavi‘s of Racha

The Kakhaberisdze dynasty

• Rati Baghvashi (early 11th century)

• Kakhaber (I) (died 1088)
• Niania (1088-1120)

1120-1175 – unknown dukes As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Events Succession of Pope Urban II (1088-1099) Work begins on the third and largest church at Cluny Rebellion of 1088 against William II of England lead by Odo of Bayeux. ... Events Welcher of Malvern creates a system of measurement for the earth using degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude and longitude. ... Events Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (Rory OConner), last High King of Ireland, submits to Henry II as vassal of Ireland with the Treaty of Windsor Ly Cao Ton becomes ruler of Vietnam William of Tyre becomes archbishop of Tyre Massacre of Abergavenny ends with several noblemen dead at the hands...

• Kakhaber (II) (1175-1210)

1210-1245 – unknown dukes Events End of the reign of Emperor Tsuchimikado, emperor of Japan Emperor Juntoku ascends to the throne of Japan Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor excommunicated by Pope Innocent III for invading southern Italy in 1210 Gottfried von Strassburg writes his epic poem Tristan about 1210 Beginning of Delhi Sultanate Births... Events Rebellion against king Sancho II of Portugal in favor of his brother Alphonso. ...

• Kakhaber (III) (1245-1278)

The Tcharelidze dynasty For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ...

• Aghbugha (14??-14??)

• George I (14??-14??)

• Tsatsi (14??-14??)

• Kveli (14??-14??)

• George II (14??-14??)

The Chkhetidze dynasty

• John (1465-1485)

• Kakhaber IV (1485-1510)

• Bedian (1510-1534)

• Shoshita I (1534-1565)

• Papuna I (1651-1661)

• Shoshita II (1661-1684)

• Papuna II (1684-1696)

• Shoshita III (1696-1731)

• Gregory (1731-1741)

• Vakhtang (1741-1749)

• Rostom (1749 - 1769)

The Bagrationi dynasty Events July 13 - Battle of Montlhéry Troops of King Louis XI of France fight inconclusively against an army of the great nobles organized as the League of the Public Weal. ... // Events August 5-7 - First outbreak of sweating sickness in England begins August 22 - Battle of Bosworth Field is fought between the armies of King Richard III of England and rival claimant to the throne of England Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. ... 1510 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 27 - Group of Anabaptists of Jan Matthys seize Münster and declare it The New Jerusalem - they begin to exile dissenters and forcible baptize all others May 10 - Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... Events January 6 - The fifth monarchy men unsuccessfully attempt to seize control of London. ... Events France under Louis XIV makes Truce of Ratisbon separately with the Empire and Spain. ... The year 1696 had the earliest equinoxes and solstices for 400 years in the Gregorian calendar, because this year is a leap year and the Gregorian calendar would have behaved like the Julian calendar since March 1500 had it have been in use that long. ... Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ... // Events April 10 - Austrian army attack troops of Frederick the Great at Mollwitz August 10 - Raja of Travancore defeats Dutch East India Company naval expedition at Battle of Colachel December 19 - Vitus Bering dies in his expedition east of Siberia December 25 - Anders Celsius develops his own thermometer scale Celsius... Events While in debtors prison, John Cleland writes Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure). ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Bagratuni or Bagrationi or Bagratid royal dynasty (Armenian: Բագրատունյաց Արքայական Տոհմ or Bagratunyac Arqayakan Tohm, Georgian: ბაგრატიონთა სამეფო დინასტია or Bagrationta Samepo Dinastia) is a royal family whose ascendancy in Transcaucasia lasted for more than a millenium, since the 8th century until the early 19th century. ...

• Anton (1784, first rule)

• George III (1784-1787)

• Anton (1787-1789, second rule)

1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1787 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

See also

• Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, region in Georgia
• Lechkhumi
• Nikortsminda
• Barakoni