GEORGIA
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The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty
Aghzeebulni aznauri: nobleman by creation.
Aghmosavleti: autocrat, master.
Amiereti: 'this side' (of the Suram or Likhi range).
Amir-Akhori (Amilakhori, or Amir-Akhir): 'commander of the soldiers', commander-in-chief and deputy to the Amir-Spasalari.
Amir-Bar: constable.
Amir-Spasalari (or Amir-i-Sipah Salar): supreme commander-in-chief of the army, or Lord High Constable, the third great office of state.
Amir-Ejibi: 'commander of the chamberlains', Lord Great Chamberlain.
Amirt-amirani: Chief of the Amirs.
Apkhazeti: 'the country of the Apkhazis', i.e. Abkhazia in Western Georgia.
Atabegi: 'father', the title of the chief tutor and guardian to the Heir Apparent. This post was created by Queen Thamar and became the second great office of state.
Atassistavi: 'head of a thousand', military commander roughly equivalent to colonel.Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
Avgustiani: August, one of the styles of the King.
Aznauri: 'son of (illustrious) birth', nobleman.
Aznauri-did-didni: great noble, of the untitled nobility.
Aznauri memamuleni: noblem by birth, or inheritance.
Aznauri mtsireni: lesser noble, of the untitled nobility.
Batoni: suzerin/supreme lord, feudal baron, now used as the equivalent of 'Mister'.
Batonishvili: 'son of a suzerin lord', the usual title for a prince (or princess) of the blood Royal of Kakheti, including the House of Mukhrani.
Baziert-Ukhutsesi: Master of the Falconers.
bisoni: vission, a fine cloth used in the coronation ceremony.
Brtsqinwaleba: 'The Brilliant', the style used for grandees (tavadi).
Chakhtauli: commander of the rear guard, an ex-officio post held by the Chqondideli.Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
Chqondideli: Archbishop of Chqondidi (in Imereti), the highest ranking great office of state.
Codshibrola: mother of the king.
Dedakalaki: 'mother city', a term applied to Tiflis.
Dedopali: 'mother-lord', i.e. Queen-consort.
Didebul: non-hereditary noblemen of high rank, senior to aznaur, usually enjoyed by one in state service.
Drosha: 'banner', personal standard.
Ejibni: Chamberlain.
Eri: nation.
Eristav: 'head of the nation', the title of the third rank of prince.
Eristavt-Eristavi: chief of the eristavs, the title of the principal Crown Representative and Governor of a large province, later a hereditary translated as 'duke'. Holders of the title were ex-officio commanders of a military 'banner', wore a distinctive dress, ring, belt and spear and rode a particular breed of horse.
Ezomodzghvari: Comptroller of the Royal Household.
Ganmget-Ukhutsesi: Lord Steward.
Gleki: peasant, serf.
Guria: 'the country of the Gurians', in Western Georgia.
Gurjistan: the Turko-Persian name for Georgia.
Gwari aznauri: head of a noble family, or clan.
Gwrgwini: crown.
Gziri: chief of police.
Janishin: Viceroy.
Kakheti: 'the land of the Kakhians', the large province in Eastern Georgia.
Kartli: 'the land of the Kartians', the principal province of the kingdom.
Khelmtsipe: 'grand sovereign' or 'emperor', the usual title applied to the Shahanshah of Persia, Emperor of Russia or the Sultan of Turkey.
Khevisuphali: 'head of the valley', a provincial administrative post below that of Eristav.
Khueqnis sphero: 'sphere of the world', i.e. orb.
Kizilbashoba: the term applied to Persian domination of the country after 1735.
Kvemo: lower.
Likht Amiereti: 'the land on this side' (of the Suram or Likhi range), i.e. Eastern Georgia (Kartli and Kakheti).
Likht Imierati: 'the land on the far side' (of the Suram or Likhi range), i.e. Western Georgia (Imereti).
Mama: father.
Mamasakhlisi: head of the household.
Manadiret-Ukhutsesi: Master of the Hunt.
Mandaturth-Ukhutsesi: Lord High Mandator, who controlled the palace guard, relations with foreign states, and matters of protocol. The fourth great office of state.
aaniaki: necklace or collar.
Mdivanbegi: Lord Chief Justice.
Mdsignobarth-Ukhutsesi: Chief Secretary, an office usually held by the incumbent Archbishop of Chqondideli. The first great office of state.
Meahjret-Ukhutsesi: Master Armourer.
Medchurchleth-Ukhutsesi: Lord High Treasurer, who controlled the administration of public funds, woods and forests, pastoral and Crown lands. The fourth great office of state.
Meghvinet-Ukhutsesi: Master of the Wine Cellar.
Mejamet-Ukhutsesi: Chief Butler of the Royal Household.
Melik (or malik): Arabic term for king, the title of a Muslim nobleman of the highest rank, sometimes translated as 'prince' or 'lord lieutenant'.
Mepe: King (also used for Queens Regnant). After the institution of the title of Mepe-Mepeta, Mepe alone was used to signify a member of the ruling house who had been elevated to regal status, during the reign of his father or brother.
Mepe-Mepeta: 'King of Kings' the title of the Kings and Queens regnant of Georgia, a reference to dominion over the seven kingdoms or provinces (Kartli, Kakheti, Hereti, Svaneti, Abkhazia, Somkhiti and Shirvan) exemplified by the sun, the moon and five stars in the device of the kings.
Mepe-Umaglesi: 'King Most High', a style used for kings, equivalent to the King's Most Excellent Majesty or His Majesty.
Meremet-Ukhutsesi: Master of the Horse.
Mestumret-Ukhutsesi: Master of Ceremonies.
Minorat: cadet.
Mkvidri: heir.Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
Monapire: governor and commander-in-chief of a frontier province.
Msakhurth-Ukhutsesi: Lord Great Chamberlain, who administered the sovereign's personal property, royal buildings and works and supervised the court employees, organised court ceremonies and coronations, receptions and national feasts. The sixth great office of state.
Mtavari: 'head, chief', used for a prince of the second rank and enjoying autonomous powers.
Muravi: governor of a province, directly answerable to the King, later a hereditary title somewhat equivalent Marquess.
Nasakhchibashi: Lord High Executuioner.
Osmaloba: the term used to describe the period of Ottoman domination after 1724.
Patroni: patron, proprietor, and lord.
porphiri: the purple robes of the sovereign.
Qma: liege, knight.
Qorchibashi: paymaster-general of the army.
Qullaragasi (or Qullarbashi): commander of the Imperial Corps of Pages.
Ran: Aran.
Sardar: General, commander of a military banner.
Sadrosho: territorial unit that supplied men for a banner of the army.
Saeristavo: the territory of an eristavi, principality of the third class.
Saeristavt-eristao: the territory of an eristavt-eristavi, duchy.
Sakartvelo: 'the land of the Kartvelians', i.e. Kartli, the pincipal province of the kingdom. Used by Georgians to decribe the whole country, much like Schwycz is used for Switzerland or Holland for the Netherlands.
Sakaso: demesne.
Sakhltukhutses: majordomo.
Samagrelo: 'the country of the Egrians', i.e. Mingrelia.
Samtavro: the territory of a mtavari.
Satavado: the territory of a tavadi.
Sauplisdsulo: apanage.
Sepetzulni: 'royal children'.
Shahanshah: 'King of Kings', the title of the ruler of Armenia.
Sharavandedi: 'halo of Royal authority', sometimes used for a crown.
Shina: inner.
Shirvanshah: the title of the ruler of Shirvan.
shvili: 'son of''.
Sipahdar: Field Marshal.
skiptra: sceptre.
Spasalari (Sipahsalar or Spahsalar): commander-in-chief.
Spaspeti: generalissimo.
Sul-didibuli-tavadi: 'prince magnate in chief', the highest rank of prince in the Georgian hierarchy, held by the commanders of banners (1. Eristavi of Aragvi, 2. Eristavi of Ksani, 3. the Amilakhori, 4. the Orbeliani, 5. the Tsitsiani, and 6. the Melik of Somkheti).
Svaneti: ' the country of the Svanians', i.e. Svania in Western Georgia.
Tavadi: prince, generic term for princes who were heads of families.
Tavadishvili: son (or daughter) of a prince.
Tavi (or tavad): head, leader or chief.
taxti: throne.Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
Tqismtsvelt-Ukhutzesi: Master of the Forresters.
Tsarchinebul: eminent or influential person.
Tsikhistavi: Inspector of Fortresses, a provincial office below that of Eristav.
Uaznoni: commoners.
Ukhutzesi: 'elders', the term used for the highest rank of state officials.
Uganatlibulisi: 'most high' or 'most brilliant', the usual style enjoyed by princes or princesses of the blood Royal.
Up'ali: Lord.
Vizier: minister of state.
xmali: sword.
Zemo: upper.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers, March 2003 - August 2008