Principality of Abkhazia
Principality of Abkhazia აფხაზეთის სამთავრო | |||||||||||
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| 1463–1864 | |||||||||||
18th-century coat of arms according to Vakhushti
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The Principality of Abkhazia (Abassia) in the 1850s | |||||||||||
| Status | Abolished in June 1864 | ||||||||||
| Capital | Zupu (Lykhny) 43°09′N 40°37′E / 43.150°N 40.617°E | ||||||||||
| Official languages | Georgian (language of governance, literacy and culture) | ||||||||||
| Other languages | Abkhaz, Mingrelian | ||||||||||
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox Christianity | ||||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||||
| Prince; | |||||||||||
• c.1451-1465 (first) | Rabia Sharvashidze | ||||||||||
• 1823–1864 (last) | Mikhail Sharvashidze | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Early Modern Period | ||||||||||
• Established | 1463 | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1864 | ||||||||||
Map of the territory of Great and Small Abasia (Abkhazia) in 1808 | |||||||||||
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The Principality of Abkhazia (Georgian: აფხაზეთის სამთავრო, romanized: apkhazetis samtavro) emerged as a separate feudal entity in the 15th-16th centuries, amid the civil wars in the Kingdom of Georgia that concluded with the dissolution of the unified Georgian monarchy. The principality retained a degree of autonomy under Ottoman and then Russian rule, but was eventually absorbed into the Russian Empire in 1864.