The Kingdom of Lazica (; ; ), sometimes called Lazian Empire,
Name
In the
Svan language, the
Svans refer to the
Mingrelia (Samegrelo) region as Lazan, La- is the Svan territorial prefix and Lazan means "the land of the Zans".
[W. E. D. Allen - A History of the Georgian People from the Beginning Down to the Russian Conquest in the Nineteenth Century]
History
By the mid-3rd century, Lazica was given partial autonomy within the Roman Empire and developed into a kingdom. Throughout much of its existence, it was mainly a
Byzantine Empire strategic vassal kingdom that briefly came under
Sasanian Empire rule during the
Lazic War. The treaty that ended the war abolished the kingdom of Lazica which became a Byzantine territory rules by a patrician.
The parts of the Lazian Empire were Suani, Scymni, Western Abasgia, Eastern Abasgia( Apsilia), Misimiani and their rulers would be appointed by the kings of Lazica with the formally upon the approval of the Byzantine emperor.
Ecclesiastical history
In the early 4th century, the Christian eparchy (eastern bishopric) of
Pityus was established in this kingdom, and as in neighboring Iberia Christianity was declared as an official religion in AD 319.
[E. Glenn Hinson, The Church Triumphant: A History of Christianity Up to 1300. p 223][George Hewitt, Georgian Reader. p. xii] Other ancient episcopal sees in Lazica include
Rhodopolis,
[ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ), p. 959] Saesina,
[ Annuario Pontificio 2013, p. 979] and Zygana.
[ Annuario Pontificio 2013, p. 1013] Bishop Stratophilus of Pityus was among the participants of the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The first Christian king of Lazica was Gubazes I; in the 5th century, Christianity was made the official religion of Lazica. Later, the nobility and clergy of Lazica switched from the Hellenic ecclesiastic tradition to the Georgian, and Georgian became the language of culture and education.
Cities and forts
The information about the cities of Lazica were preserved in the works of Byzantine historians.
The list of cities mentioned in Byzantine sources were:
The most significant fertile and rich area of Lazica was the
Rioni river valley. A densely populated part of the territory of Colchis, where most of the Laz cities were located.
In the IV-V centuries AD large cities appeared in Lazica such as: Archeopolis, Rhodopolis and Kotayon, and the population of the coastal areas increased, mainly in the areas of Phasis.
The architecture of the fortresses of Lazica, located at the key points of the main trade and military routes from the shores of the Black Sea to Iran, show the influence of Byzantine architecture
Economy
Maritime trade played a significant role in the country's economy, the center of which was the port of Phasis.
Trade was carried out mainly with Pontus and
Bosporan Kingdom (Crimea), which were under Roman control at the time.
Leather,
fur and other raw materials, as well as
Slavery, were exported from the country in large quantities. In exchange, they imported
salt,
bread,
wine, expensive fabrics and
.
It is believed that the destruction of free trade and the introduction of a monopoly by the Romans in Lazica was one of the reasons for the Lazic war.
The primary currency used in Lazica for trade was the Roman Antoninianus until the 4th century. Afterwards it was replaced by the Byzantine Solidus.
Rulers
|
| 1. Malassas | mentioned by Arrian in 131 | vassal of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. |
| 2. Pacorus | a contemporary of the Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | his name is found on a coin issued by him. |
| 3. Gubazes I | attested c. 456 – 466 | |
| 4. Damnazes | ?–521/522 | |
| 5. Tzath I | attested 521/522 – 527/528 | |
| 6. Opsites | dates of reign unknown, likely some time before 541 | |
| 7. Gubazes II | c. 541 – 555 | |
| 8. Tzath II | 556–? | |
| 9. Lebarnicius | c. 662 | mentioned as "patricius of Lazica" in the
Hypomnensticum of Theodosius and Theodore of Gangra |
| 10. Grigor | 670 – c. 675 | |
| 11. Sergius | c. 696/697 | |
See also
