Teflis

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun. - some articles[edit | edit source]

Teflis, Artaxata, Arxata, Tephlis, Zogocara, the Capital City of Georgia; in the Province of Carduel, upon the River Khur, or Cyrus. Anciently one of the greatest Cities of the East; but being taken and ill handled by the Turks, it consists of very few Inhabitants; under the King of Persia. (Baudrand). Sir John Chardin who saw it some few years since, contrariwise assures us it is one of the fairest, though not the biggest Cities in Persia; at the bottom of a Mountain, upon the River Cur; incompassed on all sides, but the South, (where the River secureth it) with a strong and beautiful Wall; and has about fourteen Christian Churches, served by Armenians and Georgians; together with a large Castle guarded by Natural Persians only. The Bishops See or Palace is near the Cathedral Church. It has in the mean time not one Mosque, (except a small one lately built in the Castle;) because the Christians will not endure it, and the Persians are too wise to exasperate their Frontier People; who can with ease call in the Turks to revenge the Injuries of their Religion. It is well Peopled, full of Strangers, who resort thither on the account of Trade. Twice in the hands of the Turks, in the Reigns of Ishmael II, and Solyman his Son. The latter took this and Tauris about 1548.

The Persian Tables place it, Long. 83. 00. Lat. 43. 05. //Paris Meridian was used in the book

The Congregation at Rome de propaganda fide, keeping a Mission of Capuchins in Georgia, (who understand Physick and by that means render themselves very acceptable to the Country;) their Praefect resides here. It is the Seat of the Viceroy of Georgia.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Teflis, or Tiflis, Capital of Gurgistan, or Georgie properly so called, is situated at the Foot of a Mountain and on the Banks of the River Kut, with a great Fortress towards the South, upon the side of the Hill, inhabited and garison'd by none but natural Persians, a safe Shelter for Criminals or other People in Debt. The Vice-Roy is to come through this Citadel when he goes to receive at the Gate the Presents and Letters the Sophies send him, who have established this Custom that when they please they may seize him without running the hazard of causing an Insurrection. There are fourteen Churches in the Town, whereof six belong to the Georgians, and the rest to the Armenians. The Cathedral of the Georgians, called Sion, is an ancient Structure consisting of four Quires, abundantly furnished with flat Paintings after the Greek manner, but has no Images in relief. The chief Church of the Armenians is called the Monastery of the Bacha, said to be built by a Bacha who fled hither. There is not one Mosque, though the Place belongs to the King of Persia a Mahometan, and though that, with all the Province, is governed by a Vice-Roy of that Sect. The Persians have several times endeavoured to Build some, but could never finish any, for the People always rose, took Arms, demolish'd the Work, and beat and abused the Men that carried it on: The Princes were glad at the Heart at these Seditions of the People, though they pretended the contrary, because they never abjur'd their Religion, but to obtain the Place of Vice Roy of the Estates they were dispossessed of. And because the Georgians are very mutinous, valiant, and not far off the Turks, the Persians are not over-rigorous, but leave the Town of Teflis, as well as the rest of Georgia, the liberty of keeping all outward Signs of their Religion; for they have their Bells and their Crosses at the top of their Steeples, which is in no other part of the Ottoman Empire. They sell Pork and other Flesh every Day, and their Wine in the Corners of the Streets: the Persians have lately built a small Mosque in the Fortress, which the Georgians could not prevent; but when the Mahometan Officer got upon the Tower to call the People to it, they threw so many Stones at him, that none durst venture up since. There are some Capucin Missioners established here and in other Places in the Country, first admitted under the Title of Physicians, which Name they retain still, and receive large Presents as Fees, by which, and the Pension sent them from Rome by the Congregation de propaganda fide, they make a shift to subsist. Teflis is very well inhabited, and has a great number of Strangers in it from all Nations. The Court is very magnificent, always attended with many Lords and Gentlemen of very good Fashion. The Turks were twice Masters of it; the 1st time in the Reign of Ismael II. King of Persia, and the 2d in the following Reign, Solyman becoming Master of it much about the time he took Tauris in 1535. The King of Persia retook it afterwards, and named it Darel Melce, that is, a Royal Town, because it's the Capital of the Kingdom. Chardin Voyage of Persia.