Abasgoi
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Abasgoi
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| image = Banduri and Lisle. Imperii Orientalis et Circumjacentium Regionum.C (Chazaria, Alania, Zichia, Uzia, Abasgia).jpg
| image_caption = Map «Imperii Orientalis et Circumjacentium Regionum»
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| genealogy = Abkhazians, Abazins
| regions = North-West Black Sea coast
| languages = Abazgi language
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| related_groups = {{bulleted list|Agri (Maeotae)|Heniochi|Arrechi|Aspurgiani|Cercetae|Dandarii|Dosci|Maeotians|Obidiaceni|Sittaceni|Tarpetes|Toreatae|Apsilae|Sanigs|Misimians|Zygii}}
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The Abasgoi or Abasgians ({{langx|grc|Αβασγοί}}, Abasgoi, and {{langx|grc|Ἁβασκοί}}, Abaskoi; {{langx|la|Abasci, Abasgi}};{{Cite DGRG|wstitle=Abasci}} {{lang-ka|აბაზგები}}, Abazgebi; compare Abkhaz {{lang|ab|Абазақәа}} {{IPA|ab|aˈbazaː|}} "the Abaza people") were one of the ancient tribes inhabiting western region of Abkhazia, who originally inhabited lands north of Apsilae, corresponding to today's Ochamchire District. In 550, during the Lazic War, the Abasgians revolted against the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and called upon Sasanian assistance.{{sfn|Odisheli|2018|pages=1-2}} General Bessas however suppressed the Abasgian revolt.{{sfn|Odisheli|2018|pages=1-2}}
By the 6th century Abasgia shifted to the north and occupied territory between Gumista and Bzyb rivers,{{cite book |editor1-last=Nicholson |editor1-first=Oliver |title=The Oxford dictionary of late antiquity |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0198816251}} The Oxford dictionary of late antiquity places Abasgoi to the south of Apsilae which is contradicted by all other sources and is an apparent mistake while another tribe, the Sanigs, lived to the north of them. In the time of Arrian, they were said to live on the banks of the Abascus or Abasgus river, an otherwise unidentified river flowing into the Euxine.
They are mentioned by Lycophron, Pliny the Elder, Strabo and Arrian; the 6th-century Byzantine historian Procopius wrote that they were warlike, worshiped tree deities and provided eunuchs to Justinian's court.{{cite book |last=Olson |first=James Stuart |author-link=James S. Olson |title=An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires |author2=Nicholas Charles Pappas |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-313-27497-8 |pages=6}}
The Abasgoi are considered the ancestors of modern Abkhaz, Abazin{{cite book |title= A History of the Georgian People: From the Beginning Down to the Russian Conquest in the Nineteenth Century|last= Allen|first= William Edward David|author-link=William Edward David Allen|year= 1932|publisher= Taylor & Francis|isbn= 978-0-7100-6959-7|pages= 28}} and the Georgian ethnonym ({{lang-ka|აფხაზი}} apxazi) "Abkhaz" is derived from the name «abasgi, abaza».
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity|title=Abasgia|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001/acref-9780198662778-e-4?rskey=LIcawH&result=1|first=Manana|last=Odisheli}}
{{Historical regions of Georgia}}
Category:Ancient peoples of Georgia (country)