HISTORICAL NARRATIVES ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT OF LAZ-GEORGIAN MUHAJIRS IN DÜZCE İLİ (TURKEY)

Mikheil Labadze; Sopio Kekua; Keso Gejua

Mikheil Labadze Scientific Researcher, PhD of philology Saint Andrew the First Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0312-8662
Sopio Kekua Scientific Researcher, PhD of philology Saint Andrew the First Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8173-0042
Keso Gejua Scientific Researcher, PhD of philology Saint Andrew the First Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0004-9627

Abstract

In our article we review the narratives about the settlement of Laz Muhajirs in Düzce İli, Turkey. As it is known, The Georgian population of Düzce region of Turkey is mostly made up of descendants of those Muhajirs, who after the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War were forced to leave their homeland (Southwestern Georgia) for Ottoman Turkey. One part of the migrants settled the Black Sea coast of Turkey from the very beginning, while others moved here later from other regions of Ottoman Turkey.

Among the Georgian muhajirs who left for the Ottoman Empire after the 1877-1878 Russo-Ottoman war (Turk. “Doksan üç harbı”) were many Laz. Most of them were residents of Sarpi-Mak’riali area and Čxala-Beγlewani valleys. These people have settled in the modern Düzce region since the 80s of the XIX century. Their descendants still live there today and more or less well preserve their ethnic identity, mother tongue (the khopian dialect) and traditions. They are divided into two groups - those who came from Sarpi-Makriali call themselves "the Laz from Batumi", and those who left Čxala and Beγlewani valleys - "the Laz from Čxala".

Today, the descendants of Muhajirs living in Turkey find it more and more difficult to preserve their native languages and customs. Their self-concepts are mostly based on their historical memories – the stories heard from their ancetors describing how they left their native lands for the Ottoman Empire and settled there. In most cases, the information about their origin, their former family names and the places they settled first on the Ottoman territory etc. were passed down through generations. It is natural that the stories about the difficulties encountred by their ancetors during their migration and life as Muhajirs are their most important memories.

Key-words: Laz-Georgians; Muhajirs; Georgia; Turkey; Düzce;