Laz (English spelling)

Japanese: ラズ（英語表記）Laz

A Caucasian ethnic minority living along the Black Sea coast from Trabzon in eastern Turkey across the border to the Republic of Georgia in the Trans-Caucasian region. The total population is estimated at 100,000 to 150,000 (1,000 on the Georgian side). Although they have been known since ancient times as a combative and independent-minded people, they did not establish their own state, but instead submitted to the various nations that rose and fell in the region. After the fall of the Trebizond (Trabzon) Empire in 1461, they came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and as Sunni Muslims, they were encouraged to become Turkified.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

トルコ東部のトラブゾンから国境を越えてザカフカス地方のグルジア共和国に至る黒海沿岸地帯に住むカフカス系少数民族。人口は全体で10万～15万人とされる(グルジア側に1000人余)。古代から戦闘的で独立心の強い民族として名高かったが，自己の国家は建設せず，この地域に興亡した諸国家に服属した。1461年トレビゾンド(トラブゾン)帝国の滅亡以後オスマン帝国の統治下にはいり，スンナ派イスラム教徒としてトルコ化が促進された。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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