[9][10][11] In the 13th century BC, the Kingdom of Colchis was formed as a result of the increasing consolidation of the tribes inhabiting the region, which covered modern western Georgia.

The endonym margalepi (მარგალეფი) is presumably reflected in the Greek Manraloi (Μάνραλοι), recorded as a people of Colchis by Ptolemy in the 2nd century BC.

Locals began to have closer contact with the Greeks and acquired various Hellenic cultural traits, including in some cases the language.

Emperor Heraclius's offensive in 628 AD brought victory over the Persians and ensured Roman predominance in Lazica until the invasion and conquest of the Caucasus by the Arabs in the second half of the 7th century.

[12] Therefore, after the violent coup d'état of December 21, 1991 – January 6, 1992, Mingrelia became the center of a civil war, which ended with the defeat of Gamsakhurdia's supporters.