Gori, Georgia

Gori (Georgian: გორი [ˈɡoɾi]) is a city in eastern Georgia, which serves as the regional capital of Shida Kartli. It is located at the confluence of two rivers, the Mtkvari and the Liakhvi. Gori is the fifth most populous city in Georgia. Its name comes from the Georgian word gora (გორა), meaning "heap", "hill", or "mountain". Gori was founded by King David IV (r. 1089–1125), who settled refugees from Armenia there. The Gori Fortress first appears in records from the 13th century, although archaeological evidence shows that the area had already been fortified in the final centuries BCE. Gori was an important military stronghold in the Middle Ages and maintains strategic importance due to its location on the principal highway connecting the eastern and western parts of Georgia. Gori has been invaded by the armies of regional powers several times over the course of its history. The city was occupied by Russian troops during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Gori is also known as the birthplace of communist revolutionary and Soviet Union politician and leader Joseph Stalin, ballistic missile designer Aleksandr Nadiradze, and philosopher Merab Mamardashvili.