Tbilisi (Georgianთბილისი) or sometimes Tiflis is the capital city of the republic of Georgia, located on the Mtkvari river. The city has more than 1.345.000 inhabitants.
Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by the King of Georgia Vakhtang I Gorgasali (452-502). There had been a small village on the site since the 4th Century. The city was the capital of Georgian Kingdom in the 6th and 7th centuries. Tbilisi has also been occupied by many foreign rulers, including Arabs and Seljuks (Turks). In 1122, after heavy fighting, the troops of the King of Georgia David the Builder entered Tbilisi. After this battle David moved his residence from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, making it his capital. In 1801, it came under Russian control. In 1918-1921 Georgia was independent, and Tbilisi functioned as the capital city. In 1921 the Democratic Republic of Georgia was occupied by the Soviet Russia. Tbilisi was the capital city of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, and later the Georgian SSR. Since April 9, 1991 Tbilisi is the capital of the independent republic of Georgia.
In Tbilisi exists the parliament and government of the republic of Georgia, the Georgian Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Georgian Medical University, Georgian Agrarian University, Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi State Pedagogical University, Tbilisi State University of Languages and Culture, Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Tbilisi State Opera Theatre, Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre, Marjanishvili State Academic Theatre, many state museums, the National Public Library of the Parliament of Georgia, the National Bank of Georgia and other important organizations. In Tbilisi exists also Narikala fortress (4th century AD), Church of Anchiskhati (6th century), Sioni Cathedral (8th century), Church of Metekhi (13th century), etc.
Georgians pronounce Tbilisi with a barely-spoken 't', so that it almost sounds like "Bill-EE-see"; English speakers often mispronounce it like "Tib-LEE-see", but this is incorrect.
