Samurzakano

Samurzakano (Georgian: სამურზაყანო, samurzak'ano) is a historical region in southeastern Abkhazia,^[1] in western Georgia.^[2][3] It is populated by Mingrelians.

Samurzakano სამურზაყანო
Historical region
Samurzakano Militia standard, 1841
Samurzakano Map highlighting the historical region of Samurzakano Show map of Abkhazia Samurzakano Samurzakano (Georgia) Show map of Georgia
Coordinates: 42°41′N 41°39′E An approximate geographical area.
Country	Georgia
Mkhare	Abkhazia
Capital	Tbilisi

History

Samurzakano and Abkhazia under the Russian Empire in 1899.

Samurzakano and Abkhazia under the Russian Empire in 1843.

Samurzakano was established as a fief of one of the branches of the Chachba family in the early 18th century. It included the territory of the contemporary Gali district and part of Ochamchire district.

The Georgian Soviet Encyclopaedia wrote "in 1705 three brothers of the Abkhazian ruling family, surnamed Chachba (in Georgian Shervashidze) divided up their territory, one taking the north (from Gagra to the R. Kodori), the second the central Abzhywa region (from the Kodori to the R. Ghalidzga), and the third, Murzaqan, the southern part (from the Ghalidzga to the R. Enguri), and so this province, which was roughly equivalent to the modern Gali District, became known as Samurzaqano."^[2][4]

Gallery

Cultural depictions of Samurzakano

• 
  Barns in Saberio, 1884
• 
  Bazaar in Okumi, 1884
• 
  Okumi, 1884
• 
  Samurzakanians, 1913
• 
  School in Okumi, 1884

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