Khevsurians ( ka, ხევსურები) are an
ethnographic group
An ethnographic group or ethnocultural group is a group that has cultural traits that make it stand out from the larger ethnic group it is a part of. In other words, members of an ethnographic group will also consider themselves to be members of a ...
of
Georgians
Georgians, or Kartvelians (; ka, ქართველები, tr, ), are a nation and Peoples of the Caucasus, Caucasian ethnic group native to present-day Georgia (country), Georgia and surrounding areas historically associated with the Ge ...
, mainly living in
Khevsureti
Khevsureti () is a historical and ethnographic region in eastern Georgia. Khevsurs are the branch of Kartvelian ( Georgian) people located along both the northern (''Pirikita khevsureti'') and southern (''Piraketa khevsureti'') slopes of the Grea ...
, on both sides of the
Caucasus Mountain Chain in the watersheds of the rivers
Aragvi
The Aragvi ( ka, wikt:არაგვი, არაგვი, tr ) and its basin are in Georgia (country), Georgia on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. The river is long, and its basin covers an area of . The ground strata are most ...
and
Argun. There are some villages in
Khevi
Khevi ( ka, ხევი) is a small historical-geographic area in northeastern Georgia. It is included in the modern-day Kazbegi district, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region ( mkhare). Located on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountains, i ...
,
Ertso-Tianeti
Ertso-Tianeti ( ka, ერწო-თიანეთი) is a small historical-geographic area in eastern Georgia. It lies along the upper Iori Valley in what is now Tianeti District in the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The area's name is compound, ...
,
Kakheti
Kakheti (; ) is a region of Georgia. Telavi is its administrative center. The region comprises eight administrative districts: Telavi, Gurjaani, Qvareli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signagi, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta.
Kakhetians speak the ...
(
Shiraki),
Kvemo Kartli
Kvemo Kartli ( ka, ქვემო ქართლი ) or "Lower Kartli", is a historic province and current administrative region (mkhare) in southeastern Georgia. The city of Rustavi is the regional capital.
Location
Kvemo Kartli is a region ...
(Gardabani) also where Khevsurians reside. Khevsurians speak the
Georgian language
Georgian (, ) is the most widely spoken Kartvelian language, Kartvelian language family. It is the official language of Georgia (country), Georgia and the native or primary language of 88% of its population. It also serves as the literary langu ...
in Khevsurian dialect. For a long time, Khevsurians have maintained their traditional culture: clothing, weapons, and polyphonic music.
[Большая советская энциклопедия. Гл. ред. Б. А. Введенский, 2-е изд. Т. 46. Фусе — Цуруга. 1957. 672 стр., илл. и карты; 48 л. илл. и карт.]
History
Khevsurians first are mentioned in the 10th-century manuscripts. In 1745 they were described by
Vakhushti Bagrationi
Vakhushti ( ka, ვახუშტი; 1696 – 1757) was a Georgian royal prince ('' batonishvili''), geographer, historian and cartographer. His principal historical and geographic works, ''Description of the Kingdom of Georgia'' and the ''Geo ...
in his work ''
Description of the Kingdom of Georgia
The ''Description of the Kingdom of Georgia, the habits and canons of Georgia'' ( ka, აღწერა სამეფოსა საქართველოსა, ზნენი და ჩვეულებანი საქართვე ...
''.
In the old Georgian chronicle, Khevsureti and Pshavi are referred to together as "Pkhovi", while the Pshavians and Khevsurians themselves were called "Pkhoveli". This is evidenced by the reference of Vakhushti. He says in the description of the north-eastern part of Heret-Kakheti: "But they are called Pshav Khevsur, who previously were called Pkhoelni".
The
Kists bordering
Khevsureti
Khevsureti () is a historical and ethnographic region in eastern Georgia. Khevsurs are the branch of Kartvelian ( Georgian) people located along both the northern (''Pirikita khevsureti'') and southern (''Piraketa khevsureti'') slopes of the Grea ...
still call Khevsureti "Pkhia" or "Pkhye", which means the same as "Pkhoeli".
Anthropologically, Khevsurians have a slim, east Georgian type of face; due to harsh living conditions in mountain areas, many of them are thin. Khevsurians generally have light colored eyes and hair color ranging from blonde to black.
In Autumn of 1811, the Khevsurians and
Ingush
Ingush may refer to:
* Ingush language, Northeast Caucasian language
* Ingush people, an ethnic group of the North Caucasus
See also
*Ingushetia (disambiguation)
Ingushetia is a federal republic and subject of Russia.
Ingushetia may also refer ...
joined the uprising that broke out in the region of
Kakheti
Kakheti (; ) is a region of Georgia. Telavi is its administrative center. The region comprises eight administrative districts: Telavi, Gurjaani, Qvareli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signagi, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta.
Kakhetians speak the ...
led by the fugitive Georgian prince (''
eristavi
''Eristavi'' (; literally, "head of the nation") was a Georgia (country), Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine Empire, Byzantine ''strategos'' and normally translated into English language, English as "prince" or less comm ...
'') Alexander.
References
Bibliography
*
*
Further reading
* Sherman, R. (2021). "
Kicking the Crusaders out of the Caucasus: Deconstructing the 200-Year-Old Meme that the Khevsurs Descended from a Lost Band of Medieval Knights." ''Nationalities Papers,'' ''49''(1), 54–71.
External links
Sword and Buckler Fighting among the Lost Crusaders
{{Authority control
Ethnic groups in Georgia (country)