Samurzakano

Samurzakano is a historical region in southeastern Abkhazia, in western Georgia. It is populated by Mingrelians.

History

Samurzakano was established as a fief of one of the branches of the Chachba family in the early 18th century. It included the territory of the contemporary Gali district and part of Ochamchire district.
The Georgian Soviet Encyclopaedia wrote "in 1705 three brothers of the Abkhazian ruling family, surnamed Chachba divided up their territory, one taking the north, the second the central Abzhywa region, and the third, Murzaqan, the southern part, and so this province, which was roughly equivalent to the modern Gali District, became known as Samurzaqano."