Lazica

By the mid-3rd century, Lazica was given partial autonomy within the Roman Empire and developed into a kingdom. Throughout much of its existence, it was mainly a Byzantine strategic vassal kingdom that briefly came under Sasanian Persian rule during the Lazic War. The kingdom fell to the Muslim conquest in the 7th century. Lazica in the 8th century successfully repelled the Arab occupation and formed part of the Kingdom of Abkhazia from c. 780, one of the early medieval polities which would converge into the unified kingdom of Georgia in the 11th century.

In the early 4th century, the Christian eparchy (eastern bishopric) of Pityus was established in this kingdom, and as in neighboring Iberia Christianity was declared as an official religion in AD 319.[1][2] Other ancient episcopal sees in Lazica include Rhodopolis,[3] Saesina,[4] and Zygana.[5] Bishop Stratophilus of Pityus was among the participants of the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The first Christian king of Lazica was Gubazes I; in the 5th century, Christianity was made the official religion of Lazica. Later, the nobility and clergy of Lazica switched from the Hellenic ecclesiastic tradition to the Georgian, and Georgian became the language of culture and education. The Bichvinta Cathedral is one of oldest monuments of Georgian Christian architecture. It was constructed by King Bagrat III of Georgia (978-1014, an Orthodox saint).[6]

The information about the cities of Lazica were preserved in the works of Byzantine historians.[7] The list of cities mentioned in Byzantine sources were:

• Petra (modern Tsikhisdziri)
• Archeopolis (Nokalakevi)
• Nesos (Isula)
• Telefis (Tolebi)
• Rhodopolis (Vartsikhe)
• Skanda
• Sarapanis (Shorpani)
• Phasis (Poti)
• Pitius
• Kotayon (Kutaisi)
• Onoguris

The most significant fertile and rich area of Lazica was the Rioni river valley. A densely populated part of the territory of Colchis, where most of the Laz cities were located.[8] In the IV-V centuries AD large cities appeared in Lazica such as: Archeopolis, Rhodopolis and Kotayon, and the population of the coastal areas increased, mainly in the areas of Phasis.[9]

The architecture of the fortresses of Lazica, located at the key points of the main trade and military routes from the shores of the Black Sea to Iran, show the influence of Byzantine architecture[7]

Maritime trade played a significant role in the country's economy, the center of which was the port of Phasis.[10] Trade was carried out mainly with Pontus and Bosporus (Crimea), which were under Roman control at the time. Leather, fur and other raw materials, as well as slaves, were exported from the country in large quantities. In exchange, they imported salt, bread, wine, expensive fabrics and weapons.[11] It is believed that the destruction of free trade and the introduction of a monopoly by the Romans in Lazica was one of the reasons for the Lazic war.[11]

• Roman Georgia
• Laz people