Abasgia (Ancient Greek: Αβασγοί, Ἁβασκοί, romanized: Abasgoi, Abaskoi; Abkhaz: Абазақәа; Latin: Avasgia, Abasgia;[2] Georgian: აბაზგეთი, romanized: Abazgeti) was a state located on the territory of the northeastern Black Sea region.

During the Persian-Byzantine wars, the Abasgians supported the Sasanians, hoping to free themselves from the power of Byzantium.

Skeparn soon received the support of the Sasanian court, and Opsit prepared for defense against the Byzantine troops under the command of Vilgand and John the Armenian.

The Byzantine government relied on a system of fortresses, the loyalty of the local nobility and the church organization.

[8] At the end of the 8th century, taking advantage of internal upheavals in the empire, the Abasgians, with the help of the Khazar Khaganate,[9] freed themselves from the power of Byzantium, since that time power has passed from the Anosid dynasty to the new local Leonid dynasty, who at the end of the 8th century assumed the title of King of Abkhazia.