Kelasuri (or Great Abkhazian) Wall is a stone wall located to the east of Sukhumi in Abkhazia. The time of its construction is not known definitely; several dates ranging from antiquity to the seventeenth century were suggested, although more recent works have provisionally favoured a date in 6th century AD. [1] The wall consisted of about 300 towers; most of them are wholly or mostly ruined[2].
Location
editThe wall begins near the mouth of Kelasuri River where the ruins of a large tower remained. It goes to the east crossing Kodori River near Tsebelda, then passes near Tkvarcheli and terminates near the village of Lekukhona on the right bank of Inguri.[2]
Most of the fortifications are located in the western part of the wall between Kelasuri and Mokva rivers. Kelasuri's left bank and mountain passes were most heavily fortified. On the other hand only four towers were found between Tkvarcheli and Inguri.[2]
Towers
editThe wall was not continuous as its builders made use of natural obstacles such as steep slopes and gorges. 279 towers belonging to the wall have been identified, about a hundred of them are extant. The usual distance between towers is 40-120 m, where there was no continuous wall some towers were 300, 500 and 1000 m apart.[2]
All the towers are rectangular (7 by 8 or 8 by 9 metres), 4-6 m high and have shallow foundations. Each tower had a door in its southern wall framed by massive stone beams, sometimes a narrow staircase was also added. Embrasures were usually located in the towers' northern and western walls on the second floor.[2]
History of construction
editSince the wall was first examined scientifically in early 19th century many hypotheses on who and when built it were published.[3][4]
According to Mikhail Ivashchenko the wall was built by Byzantines in VI с. to protect its possessions and control mountain passes. He connected the name of the river Kelasuri with Byzantine Greek kleisoura, a Byzantine territorial unit smaller than a theme.[3][5] Several other historians supported this date although they could not agree on the length and orientation of the wall.[3]
Yury Voronov (ru), well-known historian and archaeologist of Abkhazia, examined the Abkhazian wall in 1966-1971 and proposed a new date of its construction. According to Voronov Levan II Dadiani of Megrelia built it between 1628 and 1653 to protect his fiefdom from Abkhaz (though at that time Principality of Abkhazia was a nominal vassal of Megrelia). Per Voronov's work the embrasures in the wall were made for firearms; he also quoted Georgian historian Vakhushti and Italian missionary Arcangelo Lamberti who both wrote about the wall built by Megrelian princes for the protection from Abkhaz.[6]
References
edit- ^ Talbert, Richard J. A. (2000). Barrington atlas of the Greek and Roman world map-by-map directory. Princeton University Press. p. 1228. ISBN 0691049459.
- ^ a b c d e Voronov, Yury (1978). В мире архитектурных памятников Абхазии (In the world of Abkhazian landmarks) (in Russian). Moscow: Iskusstvo.
- ^ a b c История изучения средневековых памятников Абхазии, Материалы по археологии Абхазии. Тбилиси, 1967, с. 115-128 (in Russian)
- ^ For example Swiss traveller Frédéric Dubois de Montpéreux asserted that the wall was built by Greeks in the last centuries BC to protect their colony of Dioscurias (that he erroneously placed near the Kodori cape) - Voyage autour du Caucase : chez les Tcherkesses et les Abkhases, en Colchide, en Géorgie, en Arménie et en Crimée ; avec un atlas géographique, pittoresque, archéologique, géologique, etc. / par Frédéric Dubois de Montpéreux. Paris, Libr. de Gide, 1839-1843. 6 v.
- ^ Rapp, Stephen H. (2003). Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography. Peeters Publishers. p. 231. ISBN 9042913185.
- ^ Ю.Н. Воронов (Yury Voronov), "Келасурская стена" (Kelasuri wall). Советская археология 1973, 3. (in Russian)
External links
edit
http://bibliotekar.ru/rusNovgorod/4.htm
The administrative division of Novgorod Republic is not definitely known; the country was divided into several tysyachas (lit. thousands) and volosts. The city of Novgorod with its vicinity, as well as a few other towns were not part of any of those. Pskov achieved an autonomy from Novgorod in the 13th century; its independence was confirmed by the Treaty of Bolotovo in 1348. After the fall of the republic Novgorod Land, as part of Russia, consisted of 5 pyatinas (literally "fifths") that were further divided into uyezds and pogosts. This division was replaced only in the beginning of 18th century when Peter I introduced guberniyas.
Novgorod Republic
editCore
editThe lands near Ilmen Lake, Volkhov River and Ladoga Lake, often referred to as Novgorod volost in chronicles, formed the core of the state. The assumptions of the internal structure of independent Novgorod are mostly based on the list of the builders of the Great Bridge over Volkhov (1260s) and the 1471 treaty between Novgorod and Casimir IV of Poland.[1] The former lists ten parts of Novgorod itself and nine other entities. According to Burov, these were tysyachas that, together with the capital made t'ma (lit. ten thousand), mentioned in the 1471 treaty. Below is the list of tysyachas and their approximate locations[1]:
- Rzhev'skaa (Ржевьскаа), to the southwest of Novgorod, near modern Novorzhev
- Bezhichkaa (Бежичкаа), to the east of Novgorod, with the town of Bezhetsk
- Voch'skaa (Вочьскаа; from the the indigenous Votes), in Ingria
- Обониская (Oboniskaya), the southwestern shore of Ladoga Lake and near Onega Lake (that gave the name to the tysyacha)
- Luskaa (Лускаа), to the west of Novgorod, west of Luga River (that gave the name to the tysyacha)
- Lop'skaya (Лопьская), the southern shore of Ladoga Lake and possibly territories to the north and west of the lake (Karelian Isthmus
- Povolkhovskaya (Поволховская), in the lower reaches of Volkhov River, around the town of Staraya Ladoga
- Yazholvich'skaa (Яжолвичьскаа), to the southeast of Novgorod
- Knyazha (Княжа), to the south of Novgorod, with the centre in Staraya Russa, the second most important town in the country.
Novgorod with its vicinity (located on upper Volkhov and near Ilmen Lake) belonged to a separate territorial unit.
Other important towns were Porkhov, Koporye, Yama, Oreshek and Korela. Most of the towns were in the more economically developed western part of the country, in other parts only ryadki (small town-like settlements) existed or there were no town-like settlements at all.[2]
Several towns were also not part of any tysyacha (and, thus, of t'ma) as they were owned jointly by Novgorod and one of the neighbouring states. Velikiye Luki were owned jointly by Novgorod and Smolensk Principality and later by Novgorod and Lithuania. Volokolamsk and Torzhok were owned by Novgorod and Vladimir-Suzdal Principality that became part of Muscowy.
Volosts
editVast lands to the east that were being colonised by Novgorod or just paid tribute to it were divided into volosts. Some of those volosts were[3]:
Zavolochye, in the basins of Northern Dvina and Onega. Its name means "beyond the portages", meaning the portages between the river systems of Volga and those rivers. It was inhabited mainly by various Finno-Ugric peoples although many Slavs also migrated there in 13th century escaping Mongol invasions.
Perm, in the basins of Vychegda and upper Kama (see Great Perm).
Pechora, in the basin of the eponymous river, west of the Ural Mountains.
Yugra, to the east of Ural Mountains.
Tre, in the Kola Peninsula.[4]
Pskov
editAfter the disintegration of Kievan Rus in the 12th century, the city of Pskov with its surrounding territories along the Velikaya River, Lake Peipus, Pskovskoye Lake and Narva River became a part of the Novgorod Republic. It kept its special autonomous rights, including the right for independent construction of suburbs (Izborsk is the most ancient among them). Due to Pskov's leading role in the struggle against the Livonian Order, its influence spread significantly. The long reign of Daumantas (1266-99) and especially his victory in the Battle of Rakovor (1268) ushered in the period of Pskov's actual independence. The Novgorod boyars formally recognized Pskov's independence in the Treaty of Bolotovo (1348), relinquising their right to appoint the posadniks of Pskov. The city of Pskov remained dependent on Novgorod only in ecclesiastical matters until 1589, when a separate bishopric of Pskov was created and the archbishops of Novgorod dropped Pskov from their title and were created "Archbishops of Novgorod the Great and Velikie Luki".
Pyatinas
editAfter the conquest of Novgorod Land by Muscowy it was divided into 5 pyatinas:[5]
Shelonskaya, from Shelon River, was located between Lovat and Luga rivers to the west and southwest of Novgorod. It was one of the most economically advanced parts of the country, its main towns were Staraya Russa (second most important town in the whole Novgorod Land) and Porkhov.
Vodskaya (or Votskaya), was located between Luga and Volkhov rivers, to the north of Novgorod and on the shores of Ladoga Lake. It was also one of the most developed parts of the country and contained numerous towns like Koporye, Yama, Oreshek, Korela and Staraya Ladoga.
Obonezhskaya, from the Onega Lake was the biggest pyatina of all. It was located to the northeast of Novgorod on the shores of White Sea, Ladoga and Onega lakes.
Bezhetskaya, to the east of the capital.
Derevskaya, between Msta and Lovat rivers, to the southeast of Novgorod.
References
edit- ^ a b V. A. Burov, О сотнях, тысячах и тьме Новгородской Земли. «Новгород и Новгородская Земля. История и археология». Материалы научной конференции, July 1993 (in Russian)
- ^ Bernadsky, Viktor Nikolayevich (1961). Новгород и новгородская земля в XV веке (Novgorod and the Novgorod Land in XV century) (in Russian language). Leningrad (Saint Petersburg): published by the USSR Academy of Sciences. pp. 112, 145.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) (in Russian) - ^ Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic DictionaryВеликий Novgorod the Great (in Russian)
- ^ В. О. Ключевский «Курс русской истории»: сочинения в 9-ти томах т.1. Лекция XXIII (Vasily Klyuchevsky, Course of Russian History, v. 1., Lecture XXIII (in Russian)
- ^ Nevolin, K. A. (1854). О пятинах и погостах новгородских в XVI веке, с приложением карты (Novgorodian pyatinas and pogosts in XVI century, with a map). Saint Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences. (in Russian)
Terekhovo is a village in the North-Western District of Moscow. After the construction of Karamyshevo hydroelectric complex in 1937 the Mnyovniki floodplain where the village is located became an island. the The village was incorporated into Moscow in 1960.
http://tushinec.ru/index.php?news_read=2434&page=1
Jews came to Sukhumi in the 1840s after Russia established a fort in the town. Jews from many regions of Georgia came there, most of them from Kulashi. During the WWII the Jewish community was registered(recognised?) by the law. Authorities approved the building of the synagogue, built in the first decade of 20th century. Its address was Kuybyshev street, 1. In October, 1951 the synagogue was destroyed by the plan of local authorities. In February, 1952 a complaint was filed by the association of religious Jews of the city. In response to them the 4th Shalutashvili, head of the Committee of Religions of Georgian SSR, as the synagogue was closed ... workers' committee of city council, without the agreement of the Union authorities. However, authority forced the association of religious Jews of Sukhumi to run around in order to obtain justice. At the same time the interests of the of the community were served in building at Gogol street, 59/24.
- Вы принимали участие в эвакуации евреев из Абхазии?
- В1991 году, когда стрельба шла в аэропорту Сухуми, их через Тбилиси вывозили лично Кароль Унгер (сейчас начальник отдела стран СНГ Еврейского агентства) и Эли Ицхаки (начальник отдела абсорбции Сохнута), Потом они сами выезжали через Сочи, а потом Абхазия заявила о своей независимости, и местные евреи остались без документов. Россия старые советские паспорта при пересечении государственных границ не признавала, а брать паспорт в Тбилиси и возвращаться с ним в Сухуми люди боялись. МИД Грузии согласился прислать своего представителя для оформления всех необходимых документов в Сочи, но, пока он ехал, между Россией и Грузией был введен визовый режим, и с грузинскими паспортами без российских виз в Сочи делать стало нечего. Их отправили обратно в Тбилиси для получения российских виз, а потом, чтобы оформить переход евреев через российско-грузинскую границу, отвезли в Абхазию.
- И пока вы таскали туда-сюда эти паспорта, люди ждали в Сухуми?
- Да. При этом я всем объяснил, что этой группе выезд гарантирую, но больше к этому вопросу не вернусь.
- Вы хотите сказать, что с тех пор в Абхазии не осталось евреев?
- Я знаю, что все, кто хотел, выехали,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Verification_needed
Ô enthórthezkáy-vies ling - ni minnerex!
Soslan Sosnaliyev | |
---|---|
? Minister of Defence of Abkhazia | |
In office February 2005[1] – May 2007[2] | |
Preceded by | Vladimir Mikanba |
Succeeded by | Mirab Kishmaria |
2nd Minister of Defence of Abkhazia | |
In office April 1993 – July 1996[1] | |
Preceded by | Vladimir Arshba |
Succeeded by | ? |
Personal details | |
Born | 23.04.1942 Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR |
Sultan Sosnaliyev (Russian: Султан Асламбекович Сосналиев) was a commander of Abkhaz and allied forces during the War in Abkhazia and a defence minister of Abkhazia in 1993-1996 and 2005-2007.
Early life
editSultan Sosnaliyev was born in Nalchik to Kabardin parents. He graduated from the Syzran aircraft school and from the Zhukov anti-aircraft military academy and served in the Soviet anti-aircraft forces for 29 years. He retired in 1990 in the rank of a colonel and worked in Kabardino-Balkaria's construction industry till 1992.
Role in the war
editSosnaliyev became the head of the military department of the newly-formed Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus. After the beginning of the War in Abkhazia he arrived to Abkhazia with the group of Kabardin volunteers through on 15 August 1992. He was appointed the head of the staff of the Gudauta-based State Committee of the Defence and was one of the planners of the victorious Battle of Gagra.
He was appointed the minister of defence in April 1993 and later awarded the rank of major general. Sosnaliyev and Sergei Dbar planned the July and September Sukhumi offensives. On 24-25 March 1994 Sosnaliyev was in charge of the last operation of the war - capture of the village of Lata in the Kodori Valley.
Post-war life
editSosnaliyev resigned in July 1996 and returned to Kabardino-Balkaria. After Sergei Bagapsh had been elected the President of Abkhazia he offered the office of the minister of defence to Sosnaliyev as "reforms were desperately needed"[3] in the Abkhazian army. The latter agreed and served in the Abkhazian government as a minister of defence and a vice-premier till May 2007.
References
edit- ^ a b Official site of the president of Abkhazia, Полководец Султан Сосналиев (Commander Sultan Sosnaliyev)
- ^ Regnum.ru, Министр обороны Абхазии ушел в отставку, (Abkhazian minister of defence resigns), 08.05.2007
- ^ Regnum.ru, интервью президента Абхазии Сергея Багапш, (Interview of Sergei Bagapsh, the President of Abkhazia), 04.03.2005
Sources
edit- Полководец Султан Сосналиев, Commander Sultan Sosnaliyev