Batoum

Batoum, also spelled Batum, was a town in Transcaucasia, on the east of the Black Sea. It was a place of some antiquity, which was ceded by Turkey to Russia in 1878, but only as a mere trading port. It remained in Russian empire during 1878–1918, and had excellent harbour, and had improved under Russian rule.

The town was in Lazica (until 780), in Kingdom of Abkhazia during 780–1010, Kingdom of Georgia during 1010–1455, Kingdom of Imereti during 1455–1703 and in Ottoman Empire during 1703–1878.

During the Russian rule the town was declared a free port and remained as such until 1886. It functioned as the center of a special military district until being incorporated in the Kutaisi Governorate in 1883. Finally, in 1903, with the Artvin Okrug, the Batum Okrug was established as the Batum Oblast.

Thus came the name Batum and hence the city came to be known as Batumi thereafter.

Nearby pages
Batrachian, Batrachomyomachia, Bats, Batshit, Batsmanship, Batt