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Tchkotoua

                                                                                                                   The family originates from
                                                                                                                   occidental Georgia in the
                                                                                                                   Caucasus, a region called
                                                                                                                   Samurzakano on the border of
                                                                                                                   Mingrelia and Abkhasia.

                                                                                                                   In the 9th century the first
                                                                                                                   known ancestor, Bero
                                                                                                                   Tchkotoua, founded a
                                                                                                                   monastery in Natsimeri and
                                                                                                                   built the family castle in
                                                                                                                   Saberio, the land of the family.
                                                                                                                   They have since been feudal
                                                                                                                   Princes of Saberio. Germain
                                                                                                                   Tchkotoua was Prince Bishop
                                                                                                                   of Bedia under the reign of
                                                                                                                   Bagrat III (978 – 1014).

                                                                                                                   The Tchkotouas were many
                                                                                                                   times appointed Regents of the
                                                                                                                   Province of Samurzakano by
                                                                                                                   the Georgian Kings, notably in
                                                                                                                   the 14th, 15th and 18th
                                                                                                                   centuries.
                                                                                                                   The Russian Empire annexed
                                                                                                                   Georgia in 1801 and thereafter
                                                                                                                   Georgian noble families were
                                                                                                                   included in the Russian Nobility
                                                                                                                   Register. Georgia gained its
                                                                                                                   independence during the
                                                                                                                   revolution.
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