Kartvelia, officially the Bagratid Kingdom of Kartvelia, is a small-sized sovereign nation on the border of Europe and Asia, located at the western end of the Caucasus Mountains in Western Asia & Eastern Europe. Kartvelia is bordered by Russia, Ossetia, Avaristan & Vainakha to the north, Lezgistan & Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia & Turcia to the south. The capital of Kartvelia is situated in Tbilisi, and the nation has a modest population of ___.
History[]
1917-1945[]
In May of 1917, several territories of Russia's Caucasus saw troops normally stationed there shifted to the western border of the Russian Empire during WW1. This allowed the opportunity to declare independence from the Empire, as had been observed in Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Mountaineer Republic (which itself later split into 5 countries). The further collapse of Russian authority in the region would help solidify Kartvelian independence, which was declared on 27 May. The nation shortly restored it's Bagrationi dynasty as the ruling heads of the nation, which had previously been deposed under the empire.
Of course, the new nation was also placed in a difficult position: the Ottoman Empire directly bordering it, would recognize the independence of Kartvelia, but only if it ceded majority-Muslim regions to it. A resulting expulsion and assimilation program was soon implemented by the government in Muslim-majority regions such as Lazica, Ardahan and Adjara, though nonetheless a sizeable population still exists to this day, the majority being recent returnees.
The new kingdom, not even 20 years into it's lifespan had begun to show signs of authoritarianism. In the 30's and 40's, ethnic conflict plagued the nation, with tensions very high between Karto-Zan peoples and those of other ethnic backgrounds. Of particular importance was that of the Iranic-speaking Ossetes, who were disturbed by the government's activities in their region. Lasting 2 years, the majority of Ossetes faced extreme oppression, and an exodus to the independent Ossetia occurred.
Conflict & Present Day[]
The Ossetian nation bordering it to the north would continue to receive Ossetes from Kartvelia. Ossetia declared a genocide, with evidence mounting that war crimes against the migrant chain to the nation had occurred. With support of the local Russian Cossacks of the Terek region, a military operation was conducted in the 4 regions of Khevi, Mtiuleti, Khevsureti & Pshavi regions to occupy key cities until the Kartvelian government stopped the genocide. Initially reluctant, the Kartvelians would continue to force Ossetes out of their lands. Increasingly agitated, other non-Karto-Zan peoples would voice frustrations, though they were much less difficult to suppress.
Over a period of 3 years from April of 1946, the territories of northeastern Kartvelia would frequently seitch hands between Kartvelians and the Ossete-Cossack alliance.