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History of Georgia
From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Georgia.
Overview
THE THREE REPUBLICS of Transcaucasia--Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia--were included in the Soviet Union in the early 1920s after their inhabitants had passed through long and varied periods as separate nations and as parts of neighboring empires, most recently the Russian Empire. By the time the Soviet Union dissolved at the end of 1991, the three republics had regained their independence, but their economic weakness and the turmoil surrounding them jeopardized that independence almost immediately.
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Historical Eras
The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.
Ancient Kingdoms
1000 BCE – 330
The early Georgian peoples organized into the kingdoms of Colchis along the Black Sea coast and Kartli-Iberia in the eastern interior, absorbing significant Greek cultural influence through Black Sea trade. Roman expansion brought the Caucasus under Roman suzerainty by 66 BCE. These centuries established the distinct Georgian ethnic and cultural identity that would persist through later conquests.
Christian Kingdom
330 – 813
King Mirian III of Kartli-Iberia accepted Christianity around 330, binding Georgia spiritually and culturally to the Roman and later Byzantine Empire. Christianity became the cornerstone of Georgian national identity, with the Georgian Orthodox Church serving as a unifying institution. This era saw Georgia contested between Byzantine and Sassanid Persian spheres of influence before Arab invasions in the 7th century.
Bagratid & Golden Age
813 – 1386
The Bagratid Dynasty unified the Georgian kingdoms, reaching its zenith under David IV the Builder (1089–1125), who expelled the Seljuk Turks and forged an expansive Georgian Empire stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian. Queen Tamar (1184–1213) extended this empire further, presiding over a golden age of Georgian literature, architecture, and statecraft. Mongol invasions in the 13th century and Timur's devastating sack of Tbilisi in 1386 shattered this imperial order.
Ottoman & Persian Rule
1386 – 1801
A fragmented Georgia fell increasingly under Ottoman and Persian domination; by 1553 the two empires had formally divided Georgian territory between them. The kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti was briefly reunified by Herekle II in 1762, but his realm faced constant Persian pressure. Seeking protection, Herekle II appealed to Russia, leading to the Treaty of Georgievsk in 1783 and ultimately the Russian abolition of the Bagratid Dynasty in 1801.
Russian Imperial Era
1801 – 1918
Annexed into the Russian Empire, Georgia lost its dynastic sovereignty but gained relative security from Ottoman and Persian raids. Russian rule brought administrative modernization and infrastructure alongside cultural suppression and periodic nationalist resistance. The collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 opened a brief window for independence, and Georgia declared itself a sovereign democratic republic in 1918.
Soviet & Modern Georgia
1918 – present
Georgia's first republic lasted only until 1921, when the Red Army invaded and incorporated it into the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, later the Georgian SSR. The country regained independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, but immediately faced ethnic conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, economic collapse, and enduring Russian geopolitical pressure, including a brief war with Russia in 2008.
Timeline Preview
The first 7 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.
66 BCE
Romans complete conquest of Caucasus Mountains region
Romans complete conquest of Caucasus Mountains region, including Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Iberia.
330
King Marian III of Kartli-Iberia accepts Christianity for the Georgian people.
King Marian III of Kartli-Iberia accepts Christianity for the Georgian people.
813
Armenian prince Ashot I begins 1,000 years of rule in Georgia by Bagratid Dynasty.
Armenian prince Ashot I begins 1,000 years of rule in Georgia by Bagratid Dynasty.
1099 – 1125
David IV the Builder establishes expanded Georgian Empire and begins golden age of Georgia.
David IV the Builder establishes expanded Georgian Empire and begins golden age of Georgia.
1100 – 1300
Cilician Armenian and Georgian armies aid European armies in Crusades.
Cilician Armenian and Georgian armies aid European armies in Crusades to limit Muslim control of Holy Land.
1386
Timur (Tamerlane) sacks Tbilisi, ending Georgian Empire.
Timur (Tamerlane) sacks Tbilisi, ending Georgian Empire.
1401 – 1500
Most of modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become part of Ottoman Empire.
Most of modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become part of Ottoman Empire.