ჩრდილო-დასავლეთ კოლხეთი არისტარქეს მმართველობის ხანაში

Abstract

In 65 BC a new stage began in the history of Colchis. As a result of Pompey's campaign in Asia a new, "Roman order" was established. Colchis was among the countries involved in the Roman political system, which Pompey divided into a separate administrative unit. Pompey appointed the local, pro-Roman noble Aristarchus as the ruler of Colchis. The Act of Amis determined the borders of Colchis, which fell under the Roman protectorate, in 64 BC.

Aristarchus turned out to be a rather energetic ruler. His military-political activity was especially directed towards the northwestern border. As the leader of the anti-Mithridatic movement, he was well aware of the fundamental problems that had accumulated here during the Pontic rule. Aristarchus, in order to better control northwestern Colchis, declared Dioscuria his main residence and began to take energetic measures. First of all, the results of the anti-Colchian policy pursued by Mithridates had to be eliminated. The support of Pontic power in this region was the Greek population of Dioscuria and the warlike tribes of the Heniochi. They still maintained a pro-Mithridatic and anti-Colchian sentiment. Aristarchus, through successful battles against the Heniochi, was able to extend the borders of Colchis to at least Pitiunt. The Heniochi tribes recognized the supremacy of Colchis because of Aristarchus' successful policy.

Aristarchus also took certain measures against the Greek population of Dioscuria. During Aristarchus' rule, the Greek oligarchy of the Dioscuria was put to an end. It seems that Aristarchus allowed Roman merchants to enter the Colchian coast and for the first time broke the Greek monopoly on trade. During Aristarchus' rule, the Colchian part of the Dioscurian population, which had been in the background during the Pontic rule, again became the dominant force and they were placed at the head of the city's government.

Thus, as a result of Aristarchus' successful policy, Colchis' influence on the northeastern coast of the Black Sea increased. In this direction, Aristarchus’s approach  appears to be a continuation of the policy of the Colchian kings, whose power once extended north-west of present-day Tuapse, to Old Lazica (Nikopsia).