Duchy of Akhalkalaki explained

Native Name:	Georgian: ახალქალაქის საერისთავო
Conventional Long Name:	Duchy of Akhalkalaki
Common Name:	Javakheti
Subdivision:	Duchy
Nation:	the Kingdom of Georgia
Era:	Middle Ages
Capital:	Akhalkalaki
Coordinates:	41.4056°N 43.4861°W
Image Map Caption:	Location in contemporary Georgia
Life Span:	10th–14th century
Year Start:	10th century
Year End:	14th century
S1:	Principality of Samtskhe
Flag S1:	Flag_of_the_Principality_of_Samtskhe.svg
Today:	Georgia

The Duchy of Akhalkalaki (Georgian: ახალქალაქის საერისთავო, referred as the Duchy of Javakheti) was a duchy (saeristavo) in medieval Georgia. Duchy was created by King Leon III of Abkhazia (957–967).

History

It was first mentioned on the inscriptions in Kumurdo Cathedral. Until 1021, the Dukes of Javakheti were members of Marushiani family. It passed to the Tmogveli and then the Toreli family. From the 12th to 13th centuries, the Toreli family also owned estates in Tori, Lesser and Inner Kartli. Pressured by the princes of Samtskhe of the Jaqeli dynasty in the 14th century, the Torelis were forced to move to Shida Kartli and the duchy was absorbed into Principality of Samtskhe.^[1]

Rulers

• Zuiai (~964)
• Vache (960 – 70's)
• Zviad (10–11th century)
• Pharsman Tmogveli (1023–1065)
• Varazbakur Toreli (1065 – ?)
• Kakha Toreli (1152)
• Gamrekeli Toreli (1170's – 1191)
• Kakha II Toreli (1191 – ?)
• Shalva Toreli-Akhaltiskheli (? – 1226)
• Gamrekeli III Toreli (1225 – ?)
• Kakha III Toreli (1250 – 70's)
• Gamrekel Ghobiari (13th century)

See also

• Duchy of Tskhumi
• Duchy of Racha

Notes and References

1. http://www.nplg.gov.ge/wikidict/index.php/%E1%83%90%E1%83%AE%E1%83%90%E1%83%9A%E1%83%A5%E1%83%90%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1_%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%97%E1%83%90%E1%83%95%E1%83%98 nplg.gov.ge: ახალქალაქის ერისთავი