The Misimians: History and Territory in Late Antiquity
The Misimians entered the historical record in the sixth century CE in connection with their uprising against the Byzantines. Had this event not occurred, we would know nothing about them.
The Misimians formed part of the Apsilian union. They inhabited the foothill and mountainous zones, occupying the territory between the Kodor and Ingur rivers. To the west, they bordered the Apsilians in the area of Apsilia’s principal fortress, Tsibili. To the east, the boundary with the Laz passed near the Misimian fortress of Bukhlon (modern Pakhulan) on the Ingur. Both the cause of the revolt and the events themselves are vividly described by the Byzantine historian Agathias, who continued the narrative of Procopius.
The Mission of Sotterichus
In 554 CE, the Byzantine official Sotterichus arrived in Misiminia, bringing funds annually paid by the Empire to neighbouring peoples (in this case, the Alans) for guarding mountain passes.
After Sotterichus’ arrival, the Misimians learned that he intended to hand over their fortress of Bukhlon to the Alans, thereby avoiding the need to transport payments to Alania by circumventing the foothills of the Caucasus. Unwilling to permit this, the Misimians sent two of their most prominent men, Khadu and Tuana, to Sotterichus, demanding that he leave their country.
Outraged, Sotterichus ordered the envoys to be beaten with sticks, declaring that “subjects of the Colchians (Laz), who obey the Romans, must not be allowed to rage so madly against the Romans.” These events testify to the existence of a system of vassalage, which explains the subordination of the Misimians (and the Apsilians) to the Laz. It was precisely through the Laz that Byzantium conducted its policy in Colchis, creating for them the illusion of supremacy.
The Misimian Uprising
This insult, the beating of their envoys, naturally provoked outrage among the Misimians. That same night, they launched a surprise attack on Sotterichus’ camp, killing him and all his attendants, treating them as enemies rather than as overlords or guests. They also seized all the property of the slain and the imperial treasury, amounting to approximately 28,800 nomismata.
The Misimians then immediately appealed for assistance to the Persian commander Nachoragan. Soon afterwards, a Persian army of 60,000 invaded Lazica, neighbouring Misiminia. The Byzantines were unable to suppress the uprising at once. However, when the Persians were forced to withdraw from Lazica in late spring 555 CE, the Byzantines dispatched a force of 4,000 infantry and cavalry into Misiminia. With the onset of summer, the army entered neighbouring Apsilia.
Further Byzantine advance was halted by the appearance in Misiminia of large Persian contingents, which included many mercenaries from the Hunno-Sabirs. The Byzantines avoided precipitate action and deliberately delayed engagement, as the combined enemy forces were formidable. This standoff between the two armies lasted until winter. The Persians, unwilling to conduct warfare in mountainous terrain during winter conditions, withdrew from Misiminia.
This allowed the Byzantines to advance towards Tsibili (called Tibelia by Agathias), the principal fortress of Apsilia, which separated the land of the Misimians from that of the Apsilians.
Attempts at Negotiation and Renewed Hostilities
In order to avoid bloodshed, the Byzantines attempted to persuade the Misimians to make peace. As the Misimians and Apsilians were “close in their way of life” and language, the Byzantines sent envoys described as “the most prudent men among the Apsilians”. At the same time, Agathias emphasised—deliberately—that among the Laz, the Svans, and the Misimians, “the language is different, as are their customs”.
The Misimians refused to conclude peace, relying instead on their own strength and their knowledge of the difficult terrain. Despite their kinship, they executed the Apsilian envoys.
The Byzantine commander then decided on an active offensive, advancing deep into Misiminia towards its most strongly fortified stronghold, Tsakhar. The Misimians had turned this fortress into their main centre of resistance. Around it lay a Misimian settlement, unprotected by walls but situated in rugged, rocky terrain. Steep cliffs and precipitous slopes made access extremely difficult.
Byzantine command in Lazica appointed the experienced Cappadocian commander John Dacicus to lead operations against the Misimians, while the general Martin, having fallen ill, remained in Tsibili.
+ Apsilia and Abasgia in 'History of the Wars' by Procopius, translated by H. B. Dewing
+ I.G. Shtritter "Avasgika, Apsilika, Misimianika
+ Tsibilium: la nécropole apsile de Tsibilium (VIIe av. J.-C.-VIIIe ap.J.-C). (Abkhazie, Caucase).. Les fouilles de 1977-1986, Volume 1 - Youri Voronov
+ From the History of Byzantino-Apsilian Relations in the Eastern Black Sea Basin (V-VIII. Centuries)
+ Arrian's Voyage round the Euxine Sea
The Siege of Tsakhar and Its Aftermath
The siege of Tsakhar yielded no results for a long time. Eventually, the Byzantines discovered a path used by the besieged Misimians to descend to the river for water. At night, they cautiously made their way along this path, killed the guards, and broke into the settlement, where a brutal massacre ensued. The settlement was put to fire and sword. Agathias himself reproached the Byzantines for their cruelty.
From Tsibili, the general Martin watched the flames rising over Tsakhar with evident satisfaction, in accordance with a prior arrangement with Dacicus. However, the joy of easy victory proved premature. During the night, the Misimians made a sudden sortie from the fortress, attacked the Byzantines, and completely defeated them. In this critical situation, the Persians provided no assistance.
Exhausted by the prolonged siege, the Misimians ultimately capitulated. Dacicus agreed to conclude peace, demanding hostages and the return of the imperial treasury seized from Sotterichus. The Misimians fulfilled all conditions, and a peace agreement was concluded.
Consequences and Historical Interpretation
The Byzantine punitive expedition proved devastating for the Misimians. During the hostilities, they lost “no fewer than 5,000 men, even more women, and still more children”. At that time, having been brought to the brink of annihilation, the Misimians were introduced to Christianity. The fortress of Bukhlon, over which the uprising had begun, remained in Alan hands for a long time thereafter.
The Tsebelda (Tsabal) expedition succeeded in localising Tsakhar at the site of the Pskhal Fortress (on the left bank of the Kodor River), which archaeologically belongs to the core group of monuments of the Tsebelda (Apsilian) culture. This is evidenced by similarities in fortress layouts adapted to the terrain, as well as by associated archaeological material. The Pskhal Fortress lies within direct line of sight from Tsibili, and only from there could the Byzantine commander Martin have observed the fire at Tsakhar.
The close connection between the Apsilians and the Misimians is also indicated in the Life of Saint Maximus the Confessor, according to which the fortress of Pusta (modern Apushta in the Tsebelda Valley) was located in the lands of both Apsilia and Misiminia.
Thus, if Apsilia and Misiminia are regarded as ancient Abkhazian ethno-political early class formations, it can reasonably be asserted that in the sixth and seventh centuries CE the ethno-political boundary between the ancient Abkhazian and ancient Kartvelian populations (the Laz) ran along the Ingur River.