Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Mtskheta-Mtianeti is located in Eastern Georgia and unites 4 municipalities, namely: Mtskheta, Dusheti, Tianeti and Kazbegi. This is a region according to the modern division, the administrative center of which is the city of Mtskheta. A separate word Mtianeti is derived from Georgian (“Mta” in Georgian means mountain) and means a mountainous part. So the remaining 3 municipalities of the region are included in the mountainous part, which starts from Dusheti and continues to the extreme north, in the Caucasus Mountains. The Georgian military road and the territory of Pshav-Khevsureti also belong to this part.
Historically there wasn’t such regional division. Mtskheta was a separate capital city and Mtianeti was an independent unit like other mountainous regions with a different culture. But due to their close location, they had a close political and strategic relationship. It is noteworthy that during the spread of Christianity in Georgia, which began from Mtskheta, it was first practiced in this mountainous region in the IV century. A large wooden cross was erected at that time in the place, where now is located Gergeti Trinity church, in Kazbeg municipality. It was a sign for locals and for the enemies coming in from the north, that the region was becoming Christian.
In addition to religious relations, the route from the north has been controlled by the relations and efforts of these two regions since the existence of the Kingdom of Iberia. Georgian military highway, as it was called when first the army of the Russian Empire has entered, previously was performing the same function. This was the route by which the kings of Kartli controlled the movement of mercenaries from the north through the Caucasus to the south.