THE PEOPLES OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS IN THE GEORGIAN CHRONICLE: THE LIVES OF THE KINGS OF KARTLI (GEORGIA)

Abstract

Georgian chronicles are undoubtedly one of the most important chronicles, containing significant information about the history of the Caucasus and its surroundings, particularly about the communities that lived and are still living in the North Caucasus. A compilation called Kartlis Tskhovreba (K'art'lis Chovreba) narrates events that took place in the Caucasus and surrounding regions from the fourth century (from the origins of the Georgians - Togarma, the great-grandson of Prophet Noah) to the seventeenth century. The new Kartlis Tskhovreba was built by King VI Vahtang (1675-1737) in the eighteenth century. It was created by compiling the old Kartlis Tshovreba manuscripts written before the aforementioned king. It is known that the records of the Georgian church were also used during the compilation of this anonymous chronicle. The chronicle that will be examined here is the Georgian chronicle titled as Lives of the Kings of Kartli (Georgia), which is thought to have been written by Leonti Mroveli in the eleventh century and found in the first part of the Kartlis Tskovreba. In general, the chronicle includes events that took place in the North Caucasus from fourth century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. Despite its significance, this chronicle is ignored by the present scholarship on the North Caucasus. This article aims to question the effects the Durdzuks, who are considered to be the predecessors of today's Chechen-Ingush peoples (Vaynakh), the Ovses (Alans), who were among the important building blocks of the history of the North Caucasus, as well as the Djiks (Jiks), who are known to have a significant influence on the ethnic origins of today's Adyghes and Abazin-Abkhazians. -Zihs/Zikhs), Leks and Didoys, who are among the peoples of Dagestan, besides their place in the Caucasus history, left in the region. The names of the peoples of the North Caucasus, their regions and activities as mentioned in this chronicle will be compared with the works written by contemporary authors such as Herodotus, Strabo, Plinius and Plutarch. The activities of the peoples and communities in the region will be examined.