Sightseeing in Georgia - the ancient fortress of Rabati in Akhaltsikhe, a modern historical complex.

History.

The fortress originates its own history in the IX century, when its predecessor was the Lomisa fortress. At the end of the 9th century, Lomisa became the ancestral domain of the princes of Djakeli from the house of Chorchaneli, very authoritative and great feudal lords. During the reign of Queen Tamara at the end of the 12th century, the Jakeli family came into conflict with the ruling monarch dynasty. When the rebellion was suppressed, by order of Queen Tamara, all the possessions of the Dzhakeli were transferred to another branch of the house of Chorchaneli, who founded a fresh dynasty of the Dzhakeli. Thanks to the efforts of the new family, Jakeli Lomisa has turned into an authentic city with a new name “Akhal-tsikhe”.

At the beginning of the 14th century, the fortress, at the behest of Tsar George V, turned into the capital of the principality of Samtskhe. The residence of the Athabetes and a Christian church-monastery were built. At the end of the 12th century, the fortress was seriously damaged during Tamerlane's campaign of conquest in Transcaucasia. 100 years later, the fortress city was almost burned by the army of Yakub Shah. In 1579, during the attack of the Ottoman Empire, the princes voluntarily surrendered the fortress to the Turks and became one of the first feudal lords to convert to Islam. Under the Turks, the fortress expanded significantly, an impregnable citadel appeared on top of a cliff.

Russian Russian troops took part in the Russo-Turkish war, in which the Turkish troops were defeated and the fortress was occupied by Russian troops. In 1853, at the walls of the fortress, there was a confrontation between the Turkish army and the detachment of Prince I.M. Andronikov during the Crimean War. The latter won, thereby stopping the Ottoman Empire in the offensive in Transcaucasia. The history of the fortress gives many reasons to visit it and answers the question “What to see in Georgia”

Reconstruction.

In May 2011, the fortress underwent a global reconstruction with the completion and restoration of buildings destroyed in immemorial times. Turkey, which is interested in preserving the cultural heritage of the Ottomans, partially participated in the reconstruction. The renovated fortress, developed infrastructure, beautiful surrounding nature elevates the fortress to the most beautiful places in Georgia.