Basiani

Basiani (Georgian: ბასიანი), also known as Phasiane, was a region in historical southwestern Georgia. The name is derived from ancient Colchis tribes called Phasians (Phazians). The name of this tribe seems to have survived in latter-day regional toponyms – Georgian Basiani, Greek Phasiane, Armenian Basean, and Turkish Pasin. In the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. the province was part of Urartu, then after formation of the Armenian Kingdom in the 2nd century B.C., Basiani became part of Greater Armenia. In 384, it was a battlefield between Rome and Persia; at the end the province was conquered by Persians. In the 7th and 8th century, the province was conquered by an Arab Caliphate. After Arab weakening, it was conquered by the Georgian princedoms of Tao-Klarjeti. In the 10th century, the border between the Byzantine Empire and Tao-Klarjeti went along the Aras river, therefore part of northern Basiani became a domain of the Georgian Bagratids. In 1001, after the death of David Kuropalates, Hither Tao and Basiani were inherited by Byzantine Emperor Basil II, who organized them into the theme of Iberia with the capital at Theodosiopolis. However, after formation of the Georgian Kingdom, Bagrat’s son George I inherited a longstanding claim to David’s succession. While Basil was preoccupied with his Bulgarian campaigns, George gained momentum to invade Tao and Basiani in 1014, which caused unsuccessful Byzantine-Georgian wars. Despite the territorial losses to Basil II, many of the territories ceded to the empire were conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the 1070s-1080s, but were then retaken by the Georgian King David IV. In the 13th century, at Battle of Basian, Georgians defeated the army of the Rum Sultanate. The province was part of the united Kingdom of Georgia as an ordinary duchy till 1545, when Basiani was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. In the 17th century, it became a sanjak of Erzurum Vilayet.

See also

• Byzantine-Georgian wars
• Battle of Basian 1203

Further reading

• D. Muskhelishvili, Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, Tbilisi, 1977

Historical regions of Georgia
	Abkhazia Abotsi Adjara Shua Sopeli Apsilia Argveti Artaani Adjara Basiani Baidari Bambaki Basiani Borchalo Chaneti Dvaleti Ertso-Tianeti Erusheti Guria Hereti Imereti Javakheti Kakheti Kartli Khevi Khevsureti Gagi Gardabani Garekakheti Gaghmamkhare (Kakheti) Gaghmamkhare (Kartli) Gachiani Gudamakari Gujareti Dvaleti Dighmiskhevi Dmaniskhevi Egrisi Eliseni Ertso Ertso-Tianeti Jikheti Kambechovani Kangari Khada Khando Kherki Khordzene Khorkhi Khunani Kiziki Klarjeti Kola Kolbopori Ksniskhevi Kvemo Kartli Kukheti Lechkhumi Livana Lore Lazika Lazostan Machakheli Meskheti Mtiuleti Maghrandvaleti Mukhrani Mukhurisi Narimani Odishi Okriba Palakacio Parkhali Pshavi Racha Pkhovi Poso Saarishiano Sabediano Saingilo Samachablo Samegrelo Samurzakano Samtske Sanigeti Sachino Sajavakho Shavsheti Shida Kartli Speri Svaneti Surebi Takveri Tao Tashiri Tori Tchar-Belaqani Tchartali Tortomi Trialeti Tusheti Tsebelda Tsilkani Tskhradzmiskhevi Tskhavati Tsobeni Tsopopori Tzanareti Vake Upper Kartli Zena Sopeli