Abstract:
The Odishi Principality was formed on the territory of Odishi and
Tskhumi saeristavos (dukedoms). Initially those two administrative units
existed separately. The Odishi eristavi (duke) annexed the Tskhumi saeristavo
in the 14th c. It was confirmed by Giorgi V (1314-1346). The sources show that
his decision was based on the fact that the Dadianis had had owned Tskhumi
previously and they had been deprived of it later. Supposedly, the Dadianis got
Tskhumi during the reign of Tamar (1184-1210) and lost it during the reign of
Rusudan (1223-1245). The specific administrative change has to have some
connection with the monetary reform conducted by Rusudan. Since 1226, when
Tbilisi was occupied by Jalal ad-Din, Rusudan is in the Western Georgia, where
she issued the silver coin in 1230. There exists a view-point that the terms
“Botinaturi tetri” and “Tskhumuri tetri” are the synonyms, and they mean the
1230 coinage of Rusudan. Therefore, the deprivation of Tskhumi saeristavo
from the Dadianis is to be connected with the issue of this coins in Tskhumi (i.e.
adminisrative activity of queen in Tskhumi), and it happened in 1230.
