MIGRATION PROCESSES IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF MINGRELIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF XIX CENTURY

Abstract

Researching the dynamic of the ethno-demographic processes of Georgia is important in Georgian historiography as this topic has a special significance in terms of presenting one episode of the historical-ethnographic parts of the country - Mingrelia and Abkhazia as it provides very interesting information about ethnic processes.
The study is based on newly identified document sources kept in the archival materials. It complements the narrative source about the plague epidemic and famine spread at the beginning of the XIX century which caused the migration of one part of the population. The dynamic of the migration processes resulted in the pandemic and famine in Georgia has never been reported in any historical documents before. In addition, this issue has not been discussed in Georgian and Abkhazian
historiography.
The work refers to peasants’ escape from one landed estate of Mingrelia Principality to another, from Odishi to Samurzakano while breaking out a plague from Akhaltsikhe Pashalik throughout Georgia, in 1811. Particularly, in the work, which is based on unpublished material, is reviewed the statement by Davit Dadiani (1846-1853), the principle of Mingrelia about returning those peasants who ran away from Odishi to Samurzakano while ranging a plague, famine and crop failure in 1811-1812. The statement is followed the list of the peasants that includes 70 surnames but the accurate number of escaped peasants from Odishi to Samurzakano is hard to get clear as it includes the whole families. Finding such documentary recourses are featured with a great importance to study ethno-demographic processes. Also, they supply the information about the policy adopted by authorities to prevent the peasants’ massive migration. Moreover, the list is very compelling in term of researching social relations and onomastic.