Reflection of the Russian-Ottoman War of 1877-1878 in Kobuleti Folklore

Abstract

Our paper deals with the depiction of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1877-1878 in the folklore of the bordering Kobuleti, which had the closest connection with Guria. The cultural similarities between the historical Kvemo Guria and the population remaining under the Russian Empire were palpable. In 1873, Dimitri Bakradze traveled to South-West Georgia, according to his description: „From the border of Guria to Batumi, the population consists entirely of Georgian elements (except for the Circassians) and their language is no different from the Guruli Kilo. The type of inhabitants, clothes, customs are also Guruli.” Therefore, it is not at all surprising that in Kobuleti folklore, together with Adjarian, Guruli elements can be felt.
The war of 1877-1878 was one of the bloodiest and at the same time fruitful for Georgia. The expectation of the Georgian society from this war was the return of the Georgian lands to the motherland, which is why they met the start of the war with great joy. as in other cases, the Caucasian front was given great importance in this war as well. The main combat operations took place in several directions. As a result of the war, the Russian Empire in the Caucasus received the cities of Artaan, Kars, Batumi (with porto-franco status) and the entire territory up to the Soghanlughi mountains, i.e. A significant part of southern Georgia and western Armenia was freed from Ottoman rule. In addition to human losses, this war was accompanied by the complete impoverishment of the already poor population, forced migration (Muhajiroba), extortion, transition to a new administrative system and getting used to it, etc. On the background of this difficult situation, a number of poems, sayings, songs appeared among the local population. A certain part of them survived among the population and reached the present day.
The aim of the article is to present the folklore samples of the mentioned period in a unified form, because this is a good way to clearly perceive the historical and cultural reality of South-western Georgia in the second half of the 19th century.