Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe (Georgian ახალციხე, also Akhaltsikhe, formerly Lomsia, Armenian Ախալցխա ) is a city in Georgia. The capital of Samtskhe - Javakheti region and of the district of Akhaltsikhe has 17,298 inhabitants ( 1 January 2005) and is located in 1029 meters at the river Pozchowi.
History
The city was first mentioned in the 12th century. From 12th to 13th century, it was the seat of Achalzichelis, the ruler of Samtskhe. From the 13th to the 17th century, the city was dominated by the noble family Dschaqeli. In 1576 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and in 1628 the center of the Ottoman province of Akhaltsikhe.
During the 8th Russian Turkish war, Russian troops took under the command of General Paskevich on August 27, 1828 Akhaltsikhe one. An attempt by the Ottoman Turks under Ahmed Pasha to retake the fortress and town in March 1829, was defeated by General Bebutow. In the Peace of Adrian Opel (1829 ), the city and other Ottoman occupied territories of Georgia Russia were slammed. It belonged first to the government Kutaisi, later to Tbilisi Governorate (Russian Tiflisskaja Gubernija ). 1879, the city had 13,757 inhabitants, in 2009 about 19,200.
Attractions
Akhaltsikhe, has a castle, a noble palace from the 13th and 14th centuries, several Armenian churches, a synagogue and numerous, mostly destroyed mosques ( formerly 28). One of them is very well preserved in the fortress. It was converted into an Orthodox Church in the 19th century and is associated with a higher educational institution. In the hills ten kilometers southeast of the city, the monastery Sapara is from the 10th to 14th centuries.
Economy
In previous centuries, a central market place for human trafficking, Akhaltsikhe leads now from cattle, hides, tallow, wax and honey. In the area of wine is grown as well as corn, wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco and flax.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Grégoire -Pierre Agagianian, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholic Church and Cardinal of the Roman Church
- Hovhannes Katchaznouni, first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
- Lussine Sakarjan, singer (soprano )