Racha
1307384
192501263
2008-02-19T06:44:29Z
Ian Spackman
774227
dab Rioni
{{Infobox Region of Georgia
|name = Racha
|fullname = Racha Region
|fullname_local = რაჭის მხარე
|fullname_tran = Rachis Mkhare
|governor = [[Otar Siradze]]
|administrativemap = [[Image:Georgia Racha Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti map.png|300px]]
|historicalmap = [[Image:RachaHistorical.jpg|300px]]
}}
'''Racha''' (also '''Ratcha''', [[Georgian language|Georgian]]: რაჭა, ''Račʼa'') is a historic province in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], in the mountainous northwestern part of the country. Comprising the present-day districts of [[Oni, Georgia|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]].
== History ==
[[Image:Gamba- the fortress in ratcha.JPG|thumb|200px|left|An old fortress in Racha in the 19th century.]]
Racha had been part of [[Colchis]] and [[Caucasian Iberia]] since ancient times and its main town [[Oni, Georgia|Oni]] was said to have been founded by King [[Parnajom 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 of Georgia|Bagrat III]]. Descendants of Rati and his son Kakhaber, eponymous father of Racha’s ruling dynasty of [[Kakhaberisdze]], governed the province until [[1278]]. In [[1278]] King [[David VI Narin]] abolished the duchy during his war against the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]]. 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 [[Kingdom of Imereti|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 II of Imereti|Archil]], a rival of the pro-[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Imeretian king [[Bagrat IV of Imereti|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 of Imereti|Solomon II]] finally abolished the duchy and subordinated the province directly to the royal administration.
== Eristavis of Racha ==
'''The Kakhaberisdze dynasty'''
* Rati Baghvashi (early [[11th century]])
* Kakhaber (I) (died [[1088]])
* Niania (1088-[[1120]])
''1120-[[1175]] – unknown dukes''
* Kakhaber (II) (1175-[[1210]])
''1210-[[1245]] – unknown dukes''
* Kakhaber (III) (1245-[[1278]])
'''The Tcharelidze dynasty'''
* 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'''
* Anton ([[1784]], first rule)
* George III (1784-[[1787]])
* Anton (1787-[[1789]], second rule)
== See also ==
* [[Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti]], region in Georgia
* [[Lechkhumi]]
* [[Nikortsminda]]
* [[Barakoni]]
* [[1991 Racha earthquake]]
<br/>{{Historical regions of Georgia}}
<!--Catrgories-->
<!--Other languages-->
[[Category:Former provinces of Georgia (country)]]
[[ca:Ratxa]]
[[he:רצ'ה]]
[[ka:რაჭა]]
[[fi:Ratša]]
[[tr:Raça]]