History Tskhinvali

a vintage photo of tskhinval d. rudnev, 1886.

tskhinvali first chronicled georgian sources in 1398 village in kartli (central georgia) though later account credits 3rd century ad georgian king aspacures ii of iberia foundation fortress. 18th century, tskhinvali small royal town populated chiefly monastic serfs. tskhinvali annexed russian empire along rest of eastern georgia in 1801. located on trade route linked north caucasus tbilisi , gori, tskhinvali gradually developed commercial town mixed jewish, georgian, armenian , ossetian population. in 1917 had 600 houses 38.4% jews, 34.4% georgians, 17.7% armenians , 8.8% ossetians.

the town saw clashes between georgian people s guard , pro-bolshevik ossetian peasants during 1918-20 period, when georgia gained brief independence russia. soviet rule established invading red army in march 1921, , year later, in 1922, tskhinvali made capital of south ossetian autonomous oblast within georgian ssr. subsequently, town became largely ossetian due intense urbanisation , soviet korenizatsiya ( nativization ) policy induced inflow of ossetians nearby rural areas tskhinvali. industrial centre, lumber mills , manufacturing plants, , had several cultural , educational institutions such venerated pedagogical institute (currently tskhinvali state university) , drama theatre. according last soviet census (in 1989), tskhinvali had population of 42,934.

during acute phase of georgian-ossetian conflict, tskhinvali scene of ethnic tensions , ensuing armed confrontation between georgian , ossetian forces. 1992 sochi ceasefire accord left tskhinvali in hands of ossetians.