This website introduces readers to the Dadiani family and to Samegrelo, from ancient times to the present. Like its companion site on the Chavchavadze family of eastern Georgia, this site contains texts, photographs, and maps that strive to capture the spirit of an extraordinary family and its times. It is aimed at scholars, students, and members of the general public who want to learn about Samegrelo’s historical journey. In providing an overview of the province’s history and roots, this site also seeks to lay a foundation for additional research into areas of history that remain shrouded in uncertainty. It is divided into three main sections:
Gathering information for this site was not easy. Primary sources are limited, even for relatively modern times; and secondary sources vary widely in terms of detail. In secondary sources, chronologies are sometimes sketchy and factual narrative is at times mixed with interpretation. Interviews with Dadiani descendants, communications with scholars, and visits to the Dadiani Palace Museum were helpful, but in the end it was impossible to obtain the whole picture, and some errors of fact may remain. (Readers are invited to contact us with questions or corrections.) Instead, like a painter, the creators of this site used a limited selection of shapes and colors to create an impression of an extraordinary family and the times and places associated with them.
Welcome to the world of Dadiani...
[1] Known in Russian as Mingrelia. Before the 19th century, called Odishi. On this website, the term “Odishi” will often be used in references to the province before the 19th century.