In the late feudal period Tskhinvali was referred to as one of the towns in the East Georgia. In the written sources the name of the town is presented in different ways: Krtskhinvali, Qrtskhinvali or Qtskhinvali, etc. All variations of the name of the town must be derived from the hornbeam which was widely spread in the Liakhvi gorge [Tsotniashvili, 1961: 13-14]. A French traveller Jan Sharden did not mention Tskhinvali as a town [see, Sharden, 1965]. We can state with confidence that in the second half of the 18^th century Tskhinvali was already given the status of a [1]. The foreign travelers and observers visiting the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti referred to Tskhinvali as a town. In the demographic record dated from the 5th April, 1770 which was composed for passing to the representative of the Board of Russia's Foreign Affairs, Tskhinvali was named as town [Gamrekeli... 1973: 152][2]. Concerning the Tskhinvali population Vakhushti renders: "It is mostly populated by Georgians, Armenians, and Jews" [Vakhushti, 1941: 76]. According to Jacob Reinegs's data who was invited to the court of  the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti in 1778-1781, in the villages of the Liakhvi gorge "there are lots of Jews the majority of whom reside in the town of Qsinvali or Krts[kh]invali" [Reinegs, 2002: 149]. In demographic record of 1770 it was mentioned: "There is the town of Qtskhinvani  and it is populated by Orthodox Georgians, Armenians and Jewish migrants counted 700 households" [Gamrekeli... 1973: 152].

Detailed information concerning Tskhinvali population of the second half of the 18^th century is presented in the document #1606 of Hd Fund kept at the National Centre of Manuscripts. This is rather big incomplete scroll which represents the census of Shida Kartli population including the town of Tskhinvali. While working on his book, the researcher of the history of Tskhinvali of the feudal period, Mikheil Tsotniashvili had the mentioned document at his disposal and even used it. However, he did not consider it necessary to publish the text. In our view, the publication of this extremely important document will be of interest for the researchers in the history of social, demographic, ethnic or local families of both Tkhinvali population and Shida Kartli, and a wide circle of readers[3]. As was mentioned the scroll in which the census of Tskhinvali population is included, is incomplete and, hence, the date of compilation is not indicated. M.Tsotniashvili dated the Book to the nineties of the 18^th century. The author states that the surnames and names mentioned in the Book give the ground for this, although he does not specify them [Tsotniashvili, 1986: 193]. We consider that the proposed dating is not correct and needs revision. In this book a well known statesman of the 1970-1990s of the 18^th century Otar Revazis-dze Amilakhvari is referred to as a minbash (head of 1000 men) and from the other part of the Book it appears that Iase Amilakhvari had the title of amilakhvari which means the right-wing commander. In the historical documents Otari is referred to as a minbash in the middle of the seventies and beginning of the eighties of the 18^th century. Then he was appointed as a commander and took the honourable title of Amilakhvari[4]. From the written sources it is evidenced that Otari had been Amilakhvari since 1786-1787. Hence, the census must have been taken before he was appointed a commander, approximately at the verge of the 1970-1980s of the 18^th century. It is known that the census of the Kartl-Kakheti population was conducted in 1781 [Javakhishvili, 1967: 105-247; Takaishvili, 1951: 35][5] and the Book at our disposal must be dated namely from 1781.

The Book gives some information on economic history of the town: some persons are referred to by their profession. For example, Tamaz the mechite (cotton weaver), Masura the mekvabe (coppersmith), Gaspar the mechakhmakhe (locksmith), etc.

In accordance with the rules of that time, the Book contains the data not per head but per household and tavi[6] or the number of males. The Book provided with accurate information on the number of the town population. By that time Tskhinvali was populated by 130 households. This figure considerably yields the data of demographics from April 5, 1770, according to which the Tskhinvali population counted 700 households. Based on these data M. Tsotniashvili expressed an opinion as if after the year of 1770 during several years the Tskhinvali population abruptly reduced by 83.5% [Tsotniashvili, 1986: 197]. We consider this assumption is not valid. This is evidenced from the following facts: 1. All data provided by foreign travellers or Georgian sources indicate that Gori was the second-largest town in Kartli after Tbilisi which population according to the record of 1770 and some other sources did not excess 500 households. Therefore there is little probability that Tskhinvali, which was referred to as a small town, had had more households (700) than Gori; 2. From 1770 till the beginning of 1780 there did not occur any disaster in Kartli that could have caused the reduction of at least the population of one town. Moreover, that this period for the Kingdom of Katl-Kakheti is considered as calm and advanced period. It is true, according to Oman Kherkheulidze's narration, in 1772 the Akhaltsikhe Pasha who came from Ottoman Turkey, captured  around 600 inhabitants being outside of the Tskhinvali fortress [Kherkheulidze, 1984: 66] but even this fact cannot ex plain such an abrupt decrease of the population (by 83%). Moreover that captain Lvov in his report recorded only 300 people taken in captivity [Tsotniashvili, 1961: 62]. Besides this, Oman Kherkheulidze indicates that after negotiations Ottoman Sultan returned these captives back to the King Erekle. Therefore, the number of Tskhinvali population (700 households) presented in demographic record of 1770, is in question.

One of the publishers of this record V.Gamrekeli suggests: "...Probably the households from the villages attached to Tskhinvali along the Liakhvi Gorge are also included into the total number of households" [Gamkrelidze, 1976:65]. The author proceeds from the argument that there is no separate mentioning of the Georgian population of Samachablo region and, naturally, it was implied in Tskhinvali population. We completely share this view and add that Ioane Batonishvili describes Tskhinvali and the gorges around it just in this way [Batonishvili, 1986: 40-41]. If we carefully observe the Census Book, it becomes clear that Tskhinvali population in this period was not only reduced but it had even been increased. Compact resettlement of the representatives of the merchants from the town of Ali [7] makes us suppose this. This points out to a kind of prevention carried by the royal court in order to increase the population of Tskhinvali. Also, there were registered 19 tarkhani or the household free from the royal taxes. It is a known fact that the king Erekle II freed all migrants and these free peasants must have been just new settlers. In the seventies of the 18^th century the status of a town granted to Tskhinvali by the King seems to be a result of all these measures.

The document provides us with accurate information on the number of the feudal lords and their serfs. The most of the serfs in the town were the property of the King. The owners of serfs were the Batonishvili, the Queen, the Machabeli, Amilakhvari, Kherkheulidze, Begtabegishvili, etc. It is also interesting to note that their serfs in Tskhinvali were not the common property of the mentioned feudal clans. They were in private property of various noblemen. This proves that common property had been broken by that time and peasants were redistributed to various families. 

The Census Book accurately reflects the ethnic picture of town dwellers according to which there lived only Georgians, Armenians and representatives of the Jewish ethnos.

 

The National Centre of Manuscripts Hd - 1606. Census Book of the population of Shida Kartli. Dots are used as divisions. Tskhinvali is referred to as "Qtskhinvali". The abbreviation Ch. stands for Christ.

 

Ch. Qtskhinvali nobleman Unadze[8] Mamuka, his son Tetia and Pavle household a, tavi g.

Ch.here nobleman Garsevanishvili Ivane household a, tavi a.

 

Here free peasants:

Ch. The elder of the family Muradashvili Stefane household a,  tavi a.

Ch. Here Shedanashvili Shoshia, priest Qristesia  and Nonia household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Ceradze priest Ioane, Gogia, Bejan, David, Qristesia, Sosia, Levan, Ninia, Andria, Toma household a, tavi i.

Ch. Tetia, the son of Maisuradze Bejan household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here  Maisuradze Khosro and Ninia household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Chitiashvili Gogia the seller and his brother Berua household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Masiashvili the monk, his brother Ivane and Gogia household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Lomkatsashvili Gogia, his nephew Bejana household a, tavi a[9].

Ch. Here Eliashvili Avtandil household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Gamchenashvli Darchia household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Oghanashvili Ter Moses household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Tseradze Tetia the landless peasant household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Unadze Gogia the landless peasant household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Khanuashvili Petre and Shermazan Topchi household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Muradashvili Gabriel household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Unadze Mamuka's serf Seirishvili Gabriel household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Shedanishvili Shoshia's serf Gharibashvili Berika household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Also his serf the landless peasant Loma, Berika household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here His landless peasant Chagelishvili Sekhnia household a, tavi a.[10]

 

Here Qtskhinvali, the Batoni's[11] peasants on quitrent:

Ch. Khojashvili Khosro household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here monk Iaralashvili's brother Ter Melkiseta, Givi, Gabriel household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Muradashvili Kazara, Ter Parsegha and Givi household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Lalashvili Ghtisavara household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Iaralishvili Ioseb household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Okhanahvili Baghdasara, his brother Ter Stefana household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Shadadgulashvili Ter Afriama, his brother Mosea household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Markozashvili Bejan household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Khojashvili Ioseb [household a], tavi a

Ch. Here Hebrew Mamistvalashvili Mardikha, his cousin Abram household a, tavi b[12]

Ch. Here  Hebrew Mamistvalashvili landless peasant Abramia householder.

Ch. Here  Hebrew Israilashvili Isrela and Suriela Bogano household a.

Ch. Tamarasheni Hebrew, the King's peasant on quitrent Davitashvili Maniokh, his brother Shalom and his son Elia household a.

Ch. Here Qtskhinvali Dzagia's serf  purchased Gakhelidze Gogia household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Fris Queen's serf Mchedlidze Ninia, Mose, Katsia, Shio, household a, tavi d.

Ch. Here Ioseb Greek's serf Kobaladze monk's nephew Svimon household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Mtatsminda's serf tax-free peasant Baibukhisshvili Ivane and Petre household a, tavi b.

Here Qtskhinvali free peasants of feudal lords:

Ch. Kvanchakhadze Davit and Mosike household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Kvanchakhadze Gabriel, his brother Iakob and Ioseb household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Kvanchakhadze Svimon, his brother Ivan household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Kevlashvili Bejan, his brother Gabriel household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Bakuzanashvili Ivan, his brother Tetia household a, tavi b.

 

Here Tskhinvali Kherkheulidze's serves:

Ch. Kherkheulidze David's serf the son of Kanduashvili Givi household a, tavi a.

Ch. His serf  Dalaqishvili Iese, his brother Petre and Zurab household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here his serf from Ali Kakuashvili Estate household a, tavi a.

      Ch. Here Kherkheulidze Aghatang's serf Chamovardnashvili Davit and his brother   Sosia and Mamidjan and Elib household a, tavi d.

 

Here Qtskhinvali Farsadan Machabeli's serf:

Ch. Kasradze priest Ioseb and his cousin Giorgi and Tetia household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here his serf Champuridze Masura household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Berishvili Gogia, his nephew Davit household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here his serf Svimonashvili Gogia household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here his serf Eranashvili Faremuz landless peasant household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Serf Miselashvili Papuna household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here migrant Zazashvili Petre and Qites household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Qtskhinvali his serf Nabichvrishvili Ioane household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here his serf Champuridze monk household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Nabichvrishvili Khosro household a, tavi a.

Here  Qtskhinvali Machabeli Badurishvili Bardzim's serf:

Ch. Javakhishvili Bejan, household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here his serf Hebrew Khukhashvili Shapat and Elia household a.

Qtskhinvali Begtabegian's serf:

Ch. Sulkhan Mdivani's serf Makhniashvili Gabriel household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Sulkhan Mdivani's serf Makhniashvili monk household a.

Ch. Here Solomon Mdivani's serf Berenishvili Mose Sheudzlebeli household a.

Ch. Here Solomon Mdivani's serf Berunishvili Gogia household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here His serf Berunishvili Ivane and his brother Giorgi household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here His serf Nabakhteveli Jamierashvili Ghtisia household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here His serf Nabakhteveli Jamierashvili barber Otar household a, [tavi a].

Ch. Here Solomon Mdivani's serf from Ali Amiragashvili Osef household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Avtandil Mdivani's serf Kharshiladze Shio and Ninia household a, tavi b.

 

Here Tskhinvali Alelians:

Ch. Alelian Kulijanashvili) village elder Bagdasar and Svimon household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Kulijanashvili)Batonjana, his serf Osef Anton household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here Papuashvili Gabriel household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Terpetrozashvili Moses, his brother Ter Mikel household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Dotashvili Beri household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Merabashvili Merab, his brother  Mose household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Enakolopashvili Paata, his brother Zurab household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Kulijanashvili Griqor his brother Sarqis household a, tavi b[13]

Ch. Here Janinashvili Avtandil household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Begalashvili Gogia and Gabriel household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Rusinashvili Manuchar household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Satuashvili Akof household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Shaverdashvili Aruten household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Ter Arekelashvili Ter BaGdasar and Ter Ioan household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Khojashvili Mamajana, his brother Aruten household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here Ter Simona's Arutenashvili Davit household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Kichikashvili Berua household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Goginashvili Miqel and Arthur household a, tavi b.

Ch. Here The Hebrew Khakham, Binia household a.

Ch. Here The Hebrew Shaloma household a.

Ch. Here The Hebrew Gagul household a.[14]

Ch. Here Alelian Mamijanashvili Gabriel household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Alelian Khitarashvili Arutin household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here Kulijanashvili) Iese Sheudzlebeli household a.[15]

Ch. Here Alelians Elene Batonishvili's serf Alkhazishvili Kaikhosro, his brother Katso household a, tavi b.

Qtskhinvali Otar Minbashi's serf:

Ch. Davitashvili Avetiqa's  sons Davit, Kazara and Solomon household a, tavi g.

Ch. Here His serf landless peasant the gardener  Berua household a, tavi a.

Ch. Here His serf landless peasant Mechite Tamaz household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here Qtskhinvali Amilakhvarishvili Givi's serf Kolelishvili Nacvali Iese household a, tavi a.

Ch. His serf Bochoridze Mamuka and Ivane household a, tavi b.

Ch. His serf Khanjalashvili Berua and Bagdua household a, tavi b.

 

Ch. Qtskhinvali Queen's serf Hebrew from Surami Eliashvili Abramia.

Ch. Qtskhinvali Hebrew Eliashvili Abram, Moshe and Danel from Akhaldaba household a.

Ch. Qtskhinvali Hebrew Imedishvili Abram, his brother Daniel from Akhaldaba household a.

      Ch.Here Hebrew from Akhaldaba Manasher, Katsoba, his brother Abram and Iskhak,    household a

Ch.Here Hebrew from Akhaldaba Khundiashvili Ioseb household a.

Ch. migrant commander saxldxuci's (sakhldkhutsi)serf grocer Stefan, household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant citizen Queen's serf Almakhanashvili Mikirtum household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant from Tkviobi Tighveli Kavadze Gogi the of Batonishvili Giorgi's serf household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Bakmeli Bliadze Ivane household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Queen's serf shopkeeper Gogi, his brother-in-law  the serf David household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant the serf of Batonishvili Giorgi bu[su]si Estate  household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Hebrew Atenelashvili Elia and Moshia Batonishvili Giorgi household a, the serf of Batonishvili Iulon

Ch.Here migrant Anakhanum queen's serf Karakhanashvili Ohaneza household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant town dweller Golinashvili locksmith  Gaspar  household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant blacksmith Aslanashvili Burua and Khitara household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Echmiadzin serf Teghbazashvili Papa and his brother David household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Mukhranbatoni's serf Ghambarashvili Arutun and Berua household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here Tarkhnishvili Glakha's serf Amilashvili Grigor household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Tarkhnishvili Zaza's serf Gongladze Pavle household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant His own serf Papakerashvili Arutin's son Osepa and Gogia Tarkhnishvili

Ch.Here migrant Zurabishvili's serf Giorgishvili Berua Tarkhnishvili household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Iarali Eshikagha-bash's serf Rostevanashvili Gogia household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Tbileli's serf Metsiskvilishvili's Glakha and Otar Tarkhnishvili household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Iulon Batonishvili's serf Darchiashvili beri household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Giorgi Batonishvili's serf from Axalgori boilersmith Masura household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Natlismtsemli's serf Mosesashvili Qazara household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Kbila Grigorashvili's serf weaver Gogia household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Avtandil Kherkheulidze's serf Tsabadze Ivane household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Echmiadzin's serf Maranashvili Akop household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Kvatakhevi Ghvismshobli's serf Meurmishvili Petre household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant Brodzveli Kaikhosro his brother Saam household a, tavi a.

Ch.Here migrant David Okromchedlishvili's serf Metskhvarishvili Gogia household a, tavi a[16][ MS, Hd-1606].

---

[1] Tskhinvali was referred to as a town by Russian officials being in Georgia in 1769-1772: Lvov, Khvabelov [Tsagareli, 1891: 353, 428], member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Giuldenshtedt [Giuldenshtedt, 1964:267], German traveler Jakob Reinegs [Reinegs, 2002: 149], etc.

[2] There is a mistake in the record issued by A.Khakhanashvili where instead of Tskhinvali Tsilkani is mentioned. Based on this publication I.Dolidze issued the record again in 1965. However, the same mistake is made there too [Dolidze, 1965: 420-422].

[3] Proceeding from the volume of the paper not complete text of the Book is published but only that part which contains the census of the town of Tskhinvali.

[4] The title of Amilakhvari had only the right-wing commanders who at the same time were "the heads of noble house". Other members of this noble house were referred to as Amilakhvarishvili. This rule was strictly observed and it was impossible to break it.

[5] In the 1770-1790's the censuses were conducted in 1774 [Takaishvili, 1907:407; 1951:5; Javakhishvili 1967:145,183], in 1781 [Javakhishvili, 1967:105-247; Takaishvili, 1951:5], in 1790 [Akopashvili, 1976:353], and in 1794 [Javakhishvili, 1918:36].

[6] In medieval Georgia the practical value of taking census was that it provided the data on levy taxes and men fit for military service and that is why registration operated only by households and men living in this household.

[7] The town of Ali was ruined in the 18^th century and its population resettled in different towns of Kartli, including Tskhinvali.

[8] The census of Kartl-Kakheti feudal lords compiled in 1783 and Ioane Batonishvili's "Brief description of surnames of the Georgian nobility" name the feudal lord Uznadze, and Ioane Batonishvili indicates that the Uznadzes "reside in the Liakhvi gorge" [Dolidze, 1965: 486; Bagrationi, 1997:64]. So it is very likely that it is technical mistake made by a census taker and there must be written Uznadze, though in other places of the Book this feudal lord is referred to in the same way.

[9] This line is corrupted in the text.

[10] This line is corrupted and has the following inscription: "He left for Kakheti with family".

[11] "Batoni" means the King's serf.

[12] The symbol of tavi is corrupted.

[13] "His brother Sarkis" is erased in the text and hence the number of males or tavi after  "b" is denoted with "a".

[14] The last two lines are corrupted in the text.

[15] The last three lines are written at the edge of the scroll. The first two lines in the text are corrupted.

[16] There is an inscription: "This is the man who took from Abiatar".