A small, semi-autonomous highland principality in the Greater Caucasus mountains of Georgia, ruled successively by the Gelovani and Dadeshkeliani houses over the lower valleys; annexed by Russia in 1858. Upper 'Free' Svaneti remained largely stateless.
Princely (Lower) Svaneti was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1858 when the Dadeshkeliani principality was abolished; the Free Svaneti communities were subdued shortly after.
Covers the Svan highland principality and its incorporation into Russia.