article Onomastics of Speri in Historical Sources and Georgian Historiography

Abstract

The information preserved in Georgian historical sources concerning Speri is rather limited, which explains the relative scarcity of historiographical studies on the subject. Even so, Georgian scholars—among them Ivane Javakhishvili, Pavle Ingorokva, Ekvtime Takaishvili, and Simon Janashia—have offered insightful analyses and valuable observations regarding Speri. Far richer material, however, is preserved in foreign sources—ranging from the works of historians and geographers to the accounts of travelers. Since Speri was the earliest of the Chorokhi regions to come under Ottoman rule in 1514, and the assimilation of its inhabitants began soon afterward, resulting in the gradual disappearance of their ancestral language, folklore, and traditions—the significance of early historical sources becomes particularly evident when studying Speri.

First and foremost, it is essential to determine: (a) who constituted the indigenous population of Speri and (b) which territories were encompassed within its historical boundaries?  Addressing these issues requires the use of historical sources and onomastic data, with particular attention to the earliest layer of geographical names.

In The Georgian Chronicles (Kartlis Tskhovreba), the term სპერი (Speri) appears with several meanings:

– სპერი (Speri) as a country;

– სპერი (Speri) as a city, corresponding to present-day ისპირი (Ispir);

– სპერის მდინარე (The River of Speri), identified with the ჭოროხი (Chorokhi River);

– სპერის ზღვა (The Sea of Speri), referring to the Black Sea, also known as the Pontic Sea.

According to Vakhushti Bagrationi, in the 18th century, the people of Speri were ‘…entirely Muslim, Georgian in language, and Ottoman in customs.’

Pavle Ingorokva connects the etymology of Speri to the ethnonym იბერი (Iberi), suggesting the forms სპერი//*სბერი//ჰიბერი (Speri // Sberi // Hiberi.) (Likewise, S. Janashia regards სპერი (Speri) as a term shaped in a foreign linguistic milieu).

It is noteworthy that, according to the researcher’s observation, ბასიანი (Basiani) (previously known as ფასიანი (Pasiani)) was part of the Speri region (სასპერეთი Saspereti), whose indigenous population comprised the ფასიანი (Fasiani) or ფასიანელნი (Fasianelni). Another name for the tribe residing in Basiani is ბოლხარი (Bolkhari (Bol-kh-ar’i)), also referred to as ბოლხი (Bolkhi) or ბოხაელნი (Bokhaelni).

According to P. Ingorokva’s observations, Speri is divided into three parts:
– Upper Speri – the headwaters of the Chorokhi and Baiburt;
– Middle Speri – Gharti;
– Lower Speri – the city of Speri, including Parkhali (?).

The ancient geographical names of Speri are of Georgian origin: კარი (Kari, later Karsi), შქვიდისი (Shkvidisi), ღართა (Gharta), გაჩევანი (Gachevani), ხორტევანი (Khortevani), ზარიშტიანი (Zarishtiani (წინუბანი, Tsinubani), ვაშლოვანი (Vashlovani), ტირახთი (Tirakhti), კობლათი (Koblati), ორცორი (Ortsori (< *Orts’ori < Orts’veri), and მესოხორი (Mesokhori), among others.

Onomastic evidence clearly indicates that Speri was historically a Georgian territory.