Racha

    Racha  is often a  highland  location   inside  western Georgia, located  on the  upper Rioni river valley  AND  hemmed  in   because of the   superior  Caucasus mountains. Under Georgia’s current subdivision, Racha  is  included  at the  Racha-Lechkhumi  AND ALSO  Kvemo Svaneti region (mkhare)  Just as   your own  municipalities  associated with  Oni  ALONG WITH  Ambrolauri.
Racha occupies 2,854 km2  at the  north-eastern corner  connected with  western Georgia. Spurs  of an   far better  Caucasus crest separates Racha  by the  Georgian historical regions  connected with  Svaneti  AS WELL AS  Lechkhumi  on the  north-west  AS WELL AS   via  Imereti  on the  south,  though   your current  main Caucasus ridge forms  a good  boundary  in  Russia’s North Ossetia.  towards the  east, Racha  is  bordered  by  breakaway South Ossetia, officially  part   connected with  Georgia’s Shida Kartli region.    
    Racha had been  section   involving  Colchis  IN ADDITION TO  Caucasian Iberia  because the  ancient times  IN ADDITION TO   its  main  The town  Oni  are  said  to have  been  founded   through  King Parnajom  of  Iberia  for the  2nd century BC.  on to  creation  of any  unified Georgian kingdom  with the  11th century, Racha became  sole   of any  duchies (saeristavo)  throughout  it. Rati  of a  Baghvashi family  \'m   your   1st  duke (eristavi) appointed  from  King Bagrat III. Descendants  connected with  Rati  IN ADDITION TO  his  youngster  Kakhaber, eponymous father  involving  Racha’s ruling dynasty  connected with  Kakhaberisdze, governed  ones  province until 1278.  inside  1278 King David VI Narin abolished  ones  duchy  during  his war against  your current  Mongols.  for the  mid-14th century,  the  duchy  are  restored under  your current   signal   of a  Tcharelidze family.
The  then  dynasty  involving  Chkhetidze governed Racha  coming from  1465  to help  1769. Vassals  of your  King  associated with  Imereti, they revolted  many  times against  ones  royal power.  your current  1678-1679 civil war resulted  with the   almost all  serious consequences.  with   the  war, Duke Shoshita II  involving  Racha (1661-1684) supported Prince Archil,  the  rival  of the  pro-Ottoman Imeretian king Bagrat IV.  for the  defeat  associated with  Archil, Racha  was  overrun  AND ALSO  plundered  through   a good  Ottoman punitive force. Under Rostom (1749-1769),  ones  duchy became virtually independent  by  Imereti. However,  to the  end  of  1769, King Solomon  my spouse and i   involving  Imereti managed  in order to  arrest Rostom  AND   to  abolish  your own  duchy.  in  1784, King David  of  Imereti revived  the  duchy  AND  gave  The item   to be able to  his nephew Anton. Local opposition attempted  to use   a  Ottoman  The load   to help   get  control  regarding  Racha, but  your  victory  associated with  King David  in  Skhvava (January 26, 1786) temporarily secured his dominance  at the  area.  with  1789,  ones   after that  Imeretian king Solomon II finally abolished  your own  duchy  AS WELL AS  subordinated  ones  province  immediately   towards the  royal administration.