The Role of the Town Ateni and Ateni Gorge in Georgian Political Life (10th–12th cc)

Abstract

The Basin of Tana River is located in the central part of the northern slope of the Trialeti Range, between the Trialeti, Satskhenisi and Tsereteli ridges. Tana starts at the east of Jamjama Mountain and joins the Mtkvari River from the right at the intersection of Gori and Khidistavi. Traces of the first inhabitants of the Tana Gorge can already be seen from the Middle Bronze – Late Bronze Age. The “Tana Gorge” was already known in the 4 th -7th centuries and was included in the administration of Spaspeti. In addition to strategic importance, this place was attractive for its fertile lands, forests and pastures, and the road from the Shida Kartli to Kvemo Kartli, Armenia and Meskhet-Javakheti which through the Kldekari Saeristavo passed through the Tana Gorge. The Tana Gorge was owned by the Georgian Royal Court and the Church of Georgia for centuries, however at different times the feudal houses of Baghvash, Tsitsishvili, Orbelian and others also had large estates here. In the 10th century, this region – “country of Ateni” was owned by the most powerful feudal house of Bagvash. The first king of the united Georgian kingdom, Bagrat III, confiscated the fortress of Ateni from the Bagvashs and took possession of it. The Bagvashs did not give up the strategic Gorge without a fight, however eventually were defeated. The inscrip - tions of the Ateni Sioni Church indicate the large-scale construction at the initiative of Bagrat IV in the "country" of Ateni. Ateni became even more important during the reign of David the Builder. The Royal treasury was kept here. The town Ateni and entire Tana Gorge have since been the subject of constant attention and care from the royal house of Bagrations. Thus, the town Ateni with its fortress as well as entire Ateni (//Tana) Gorge was one of the strategic places of Shida Kartli (region in Eastern Georgia) and played important role in the politics of Georgian state in pre-modern times. In the present paper the history of this place is studied according to the archival documents and narrative sources. In particular, the period from 10th to 12th cc is concerned.