Khevi (territorial unit)

Khevi (Georgian: ხევი; lit. "gorge") was historical-geographical and administrative-territorial unit in eastern Georgian Mountains.^[1] Khevi's were based on ancient primitive-communual territorial units known as "Gora" (Hill), which later evolved to Khevi in middle ages. Khevi comprised several mountainous communities along gorges, such highlander communities enjoyed a degree of autonomy or semi-independence within Georgian political entities, corresponding to the period of the so-called “military democracy” or “chiefdom”. they were opposing feudal system and were rather electing their own "council of elders" and leaders, known as Khevisberi (elder of the gorge) who functioned as a judge, priest and military leader and submitted themselves only to the Georgian monarchs. after subjugation by the feudals, Eristavi's would often appoint Khevisuphali (Head of the gorge) as a rule of Khevi.

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