A REVIEW ON THE HISTORICAL REGION OF GEORGIA AND THE CONCEPT OF GEORGIA

Abstract

In today’s division, many ethnic groups live within the borders of Georgia. Since not all of them will be Georgian (Kartvel), it is not a correct approach to call other minorities living in the region, especially Adjara and Ahıska Turks, “Georgians” in today’s sense. Because, it is seen that the historical Georgian and Georgian concepts are not directly related to today’s “Georgian” and “Georgia” concepts. As it can be understood from the historical records, the Ottomans called the Kipchak Atabegs “Georgian Sultans” or “Georgian Beys” in this sense, since they used the Georgian/Georgian concept more in the sense of “region”. As a matter of fact, knowing the conditions of the region and the language of the period is important for a correct understanding of the subject. The region, which is generally known as Georgia today, consists of two parts as Right/Left Georgia or East/West Georgia in terms of historical geography. Therefore, although the name Georgian is used for all peoples living in Georgia today, the word “Georgian” is not used among the people of Kartvel. On the other hand, the Meskhetian Turks were also considered as “Georgians” and the Meskhetian region became the focus of attention of Georgian researchers, probably because the Meskhetian region was called “Georgia” and the Kipchak Atabegs were called “Georgian begs”. In the study, information is given about the Georgian Region and the concept of Georgian, based on both classical sources and land registry books, as well as historical works written in later periods. As a matter of fact, it is understood that the historical Georgian and Georgian concepts are not directly related to today’s “Georgian” and “Georgia” concepts. In this sense, it can be said that “every Kartvel is Georgian, but not every Georgian is Kartvel”. When the Ottoman period sources are examined carefully, it is seen that the names “Georgian” and “Georgia” are generally used for the Kipchak Atabeg and Samshe Sa-Atabago, that is, the Kipchak Atabeg Government.