kingdom · Caucasus

Kingdom of Abkhazia

778 CE – 1008 CE (approx.) · capital Kutaisi

A western Georgian kingdom whose rulers, though Abkhaz in origin, built a Georgian church and culture and through Bagrat III united Georgia in 1008.

Origins

Around 778 Leon II, ruler of the Principality of Abasgia, broke from the Byzantine Empire with Khazar help, took the title king and joined Abasgia to Egrisi, the old lands of Lazica. He moved his capital to Kutaisi, shifting the state's centre into the Georgian-speaking interior.

Rule and society

Over the 9th century the kings replaced Greek with Georgian in church and government and separated the western Georgian church from Constantinople. Under George II and Constantine III the kingdom expanded into Kartli and fought the Armenian Bagratids. Churches such as Mokvi and Bedia show its wealth, and the kingdom controlled the Black Sea coast and Rioni valley.

Decline and legacy

In 978 the throne passed to Bagrat III, son of the Bagratid Gurgen and an Abkhazian princess. In 1008 he inherited Kartli as well, founding the united Kingdom of Georgia.

Lineage

Byzantine Empire 330 CE – 1453 CEPrincipality of Abasgia 550 CE – 778 CEKingdom of AbkhaziaKingdom of Georgia 1008 CE – 1490 CE

More states of Caucasus →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Kingdom of Abkhazia. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-abkhazia
MLA
“Kingdom of Abkhazia.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-abkhazia. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Kingdom of Abkhazia.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-abkhazia.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Kingdom of Abkhazia’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-abkhazia (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻