Dusheti
Encyclopedia
Dusheti is a town in Georgia
, situated in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti
region
, 54 km northeast of the nation’s capital of Tbilisi
.
Dusheti is located on both banks of the small mountainous river of Dushetis-Khevi at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus
crest at an elevation of 900 m above sea level. It functions as the center of the Dusheti Municipality which, beyond the town itself, includes several villages of the historical community of Pkhovi
(Pshavi
and Khevsureti
). As of the 2002 all-Georgia census, the town had a population of about 4,600.
Dusheti first appears in Georgian written records in 1215. In the 17th century, it served as a residence of the local mountainous lords – the dukes of Aragvi
– whose defiance to the Georgian crown more than once led to invasions and devastation of the town by the royal troops. After the abolition of the duchy of Aragvi in the 1740s, Dusheti passed to the crown but significantly declined. In 1801, the Russians
took over and granted Dusheti a town status. Next year, it became the center of the Dushet uyezd
. The town and its environs were a scene of disturbances during the Russian Revolution of 1905
, the peasants’ revolt in 1918, and an armed clash during the 1924 August Uprising against the Soviet
rule. Dusheti was a home to nutrition and light industry during the Soviet era, but suffered an economic decline and the population outflow in the years of post-Soviet crisis. Now most people work in service industries (banks, schools, mechanics, and storeowners) as well as subsistence farming. The town is also known for its production of khinkali
, a meat-filled dumpling very popular in Georgia.
There are several historical and recreational places in and around Dusheti such as the Ananuri
castle and the Bazaleti Lake
. The town itself houses a 9th-10th-century church of St. George and the 18th-century palace of the Chilashvili family.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, situated in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Mtskheta-Mtianeti is a region in eastern Georgia comprising the town of Mtskheta, which serves as a regional capital, together with its district and the adjoining mountainous areas.- External links :...
region
Mkhare
Mkhare is a subdivision in the country of Georgia. It is usually translated as region.The country is divided, according to the Presidential decrees from 1994 to 1996, into regions on a provisional basis until the secessionist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are resolved...
, 54 km northeast of the nation’s capital of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
.
Dusheti is located on both banks of the small mountainous river of Dushetis-Khevi at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus , sometimes translated as "Caucasus Major", "Big Caucasus" or "Large Caucasus") is the major mountain range of the Caucasus Mountains....
crest at an elevation of 900 m above sea level. It functions as the center of the Dusheti Municipality which, beyond the town itself, includes several villages of the historical community of Pkhovi
Pkhovi
Pkhovi , also known as Pkhoet'i , is a medieval term for the mountainous district in northeast Georgia comprising the latter-day provinces of Pshavi and Khevsureti along the upper reaches of the Aragvi, and in three alpine valleys just north of the main crest of the Greater Caucasus...
(Pshavi
Pshavi
Pshavi is a small historic-geographic area in Georgia, included in today’s Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and laying chiefly on the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains along Aragvi River and the lower Iori River. The Pshavs, who are locally called the Pshaveli, speak a Georgian dialect...
and Khevsureti
Khevsureti
Khevsureti/Khevsuria is a historical-ethnographic region in eastern Georgia. They are the branch of Kartvelian people located along both the northern and southern slopes of the Great Caucasus...
). As of the 2002 all-Georgia census, the town had a population of about 4,600.
Duchy of Aragvi
The Duchy of Aragvi was an important fiefdom in medieval and early modern Georgia, strategically located in the upper Aragvi valley, in the foothills of the eastern Greater Caucasus crest, and ruled by a succession of eristavi from c...
– whose defiance to the Georgian crown more than once led to invasions and devastation of the town by the royal troops. After the abolition of the duchy of Aragvi in the 1740s, Dusheti passed to the crown but significantly declined. In 1801, the Russians
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
took over and granted Dusheti a town status. Next year, it became the center of the Dushet uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
. The town and its environs were a scene of disturbances during the Russian Revolution of 1905
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
, the peasants’ revolt in 1918, and an armed clash during the 1924 August Uprising against the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule. Dusheti was a home to nutrition and light industry during the Soviet era, but suffered an economic decline and the population outflow in the years of post-Soviet crisis. Now most people work in service industries (banks, schools, mechanics, and storeowners) as well as subsistence farming. The town is also known for its production of khinkali
Khinkali
Khinkali are Caucasian dumplings filled with various fillings such as mushrooms or cheese, but mostly with spiced meat with greens, onions and garlic. They are eaten plain, or with coarse black pepper. The meat filling is uncooked when the Khinkali is assembled, so when cooked the meat's juices...
, a meat-filled dumpling very popular in Georgia.
There are several historical and recreational places in and around Dusheti such as the Ananuri
Ananuri
Ananuri is a castle complex on the Aragvi River in Georgia, about 45 miles from Tbilisi.-History:Ananuri was a castle and seat of the eristavis of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty which ruled the area from the 13th century. The castle was the scene of numerous battles.In 1739, Ananuri was attacked by...
castle and the Bazaleti Lake
Bazaleti Lake
The Bazaleti Lake is a lake in eastern Georgia some 60 km northwest of the nation's capital Tbilisi and 5 km south of the town of Dusheti.The surface area of the lake is 1.22 km². and its maximum depth is 7 m. The area around the lake housed a flourishing medieval town and is surrounded by many...
. The town itself houses a 9th-10th-century church of St. George and the 18th-century palace of the Chilashvili family.
Notable people
- Shota KhinchagashviliShota KhinchagashviliShota Yuriyevich Khinchagashvili is a retired Georgian football player.-Honours:* Soviet Top League winner: 1978.* Soviet Cup winner: 1976, 1979.* UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner: 1981.-International career:...
- a retired Georgian football player. - Grdzelidze,Merab Tarielovitch
See also
- PkhoviPkhoviPkhovi , also known as Pkhoet'i , is a medieval term for the mountainous district in northeast Georgia comprising the latter-day provinces of Pshavi and Khevsureti along the upper reaches of the Aragvi, and in three alpine valleys just north of the main crest of the Greater Caucasus...
- PshaviPshaviPshavi is a small historic-geographic area in Georgia, included in today’s Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and laying chiefly on the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains along Aragvi River and the lower Iori River. The Pshavs, who are locally called the Pshaveli, speak a Georgian dialect...
- KhevsuretiKhevsuretiKhevsureti/Khevsuria is a historical-ethnographic region in eastern Georgia. They are the branch of Kartvelian people located along both the northern and southern slopes of the Great Caucasus...
- PasanauriPasanauriPasanauri is a townlet in Georgia, situated in the Dusheti district, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.Pasanauri lies about 90 km north of the nation’s capital of Tbilisi, at elevation of 1,050 m. above sea level. Located on the Georgian Military Road, Pasanauri is flanked by the Aragvi River, and...
- BodornaBodornaBodorna is a small village in Georgia, situated on the Georgian Military Road, 8 km from the town of Dusheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, in the east of the country....