Lazika

   Region at the eastern end of the Black Sea (q.v.). From the fourth century it comprised a kingdom that included Abchasia (q.v.), which guarded some of the passes through the Caucasus Mountains (q.v.). Its importance to Byzantium (q.v.) was as a buffer against barbarian tribes north of the Caucasus. That it was also a buffer against any Persian advance to the Black Sea (q.v.) explains why it was one of the main theaters of war with the Persians during the reign of Justinian I (q.v.). The great Byzantine stronghold Petra was taken by the Persians in 542 and not recovered until 551. Peace with Persia (q.v.) in 562 confirmed Byzantine control over Lazika. Maximos the Confessor (q.v.) was exiled to Lazika, where he died on 13 August 662. Within a half century Lazika was under Arab (q.v.) domination.