In ancient times, the semi-legendary Kingdom of Colchis was located on the territory of Samegrelo, followed by the independent state of Egrisi (IV-VI BCE).
Christianity first appeared here in the I century CE and it became the state religion in the IV century.
Nevertheless, until the VI century, the Mingrelians combined Orthodox Christianity with elements of Zoroastrian beliefs.
In the late Middle Ages, the Mingrelians enjoyed relative autonomy from the kings of Imereti (as the Principality of Mingrelia) and had their own ruling dynasty of princes — the Dadiani family.
From the beginning of the XIX century, the Mingrelian princes gradually began to lose their power.
On December 4, 1803, Prince Grigory Dadiani officially pledged allegiance to the Russian Empire but retained civil administration.
His grandson, Nikolai Dadiani (1847–1903), became the last Prince of Samegrelo—the principality was abolished in 1866.
Nikolai was given a compensation of one million rubles.
He died in 1903 and was buried in the Chkondidi Monastery in Martvili.
Nearly the entire country gathered for the funeral of the last independent prince.