CENSUS OF “MEPHIS SADROSHO” (ROYAL MILITARY REGION) IN THE 2ND HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY

Abstract

Publication deals with document (“davtar”) of census of “Mephis Sadrosho”. Only one part of this document is studied here. The document is not completely preserved, hence frontal and posterior pages are missing. Despite some defects, the document contains important information about socioeconomic, demographic and ethnic history of Georgia. Document is dated by 1781.The document contains description of the following villages: Kareli, Ruisi, Tvalatubani, Khvakhvreli (Kvakhvreli), Doesi, Khovle, Karaghaji, Grakali, Sasireti, Khandagi (Khandaki). According to this description, all those villages had 315 families. Owners of peasants of this region were: David Tsitsishvili, Zacharia Tsitsishvili, Dimitri Tsitsishvili, Zaza Tsitsishvili and Mzechabuk, Teimuraz, Vakhushti and Zaal Javakhishvilis etc. Overall number of feudal lords is approx. 50. Some peasants from those villages belonged to the royal household