imerati

IMERETI

The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty

BRIEF HISTORY

STYLES & TITLES:
The Sovereign: The Most High King (Mepe-Umaglesi) (reign name), by the will of our Lord, King of Kings (Mepe-Mepeta), Absolute Master, Sovereign and Dominator of the Abkhazis, Ranians, Kakhetians and the Armenians, Shirvanshah and Shahanshah, towards the East, the West, the South and the North, and the two Thrones and Kingdoms of Imereti (Likhth-Imier) and Amiereti (Likhth-Amier), with the style of His Majesty (or His Splendour).
The wife of the Sovereign: The Most High Queen (Dedopali-Umaglesi) (given name), by the will of our Lord, Queen of Kings (Dedopali-Mepeta), etc.", with the style of Her Majesty (or Her Splendour).
The mother of the Sovereign: The Most High Queen Mother (Codshibrola-Umaglesi), with the style of Her Majesty (or Her Splendour).
The sons, grandsons, and male descendants in the male line, including natural issue: The Most Brilliant (Uganatlibulisi) (given name) Batonishvili, i.e. Prince, with the style of His Highness (or His Splendour).
The daughters, granddaughters, and female descendants in the male line, including natural issue: The Most Brilliant (Uganatlibulisi) (given name) Batonishvili, i.e. Princess, with the style of Her Highness (or Her Splendour).

After Russia extended her protection over the kingdom of Imereti, the Russian Tsar recognised the following styles and titles from 12^th September 1804 o.s. *:
The sovereign: The Most Serene King (Tsar) (reign name), by the will of our Lord, King (Tsar) of Imereti and Amiereti, Odich, Lechkumi, Guria, Svaneti, etc., with the style of His Majesty.
The wife of the sovereign: The Most Serene Queen (Tsaritsa) (personal name), by the will of our Lord, Queen (Tsaritsa) of Imereti and Amiereti, etc.", with the style of Her Majesty.
The sons of the Sovereign: Prince (Tsarevitch) (given name) (father's name) Imeretinski, i.e. Prince of Imereti, with the style of His Highness.
The daughters of the Sovereign: Princess (Tsarevna) (given name) (father's name) Imeretinskaya, i.e. Princess of Imereti, with the style of Her Highness.
All legitimate male descendants of King Irakli II and King Giorgi XII, in the male line: Prince (Kniaz) (given name) (father's name) Imeretinski, i.e. Prince of Georgia, with the style of His Serene Highness.
All legitimate female descendants of King Irakli II and King Giorgi XII, in the male line: Princess (Kniaza) (given name) (father's name) Imeretinskaya, i.e. Princess of Georgia, with the style of Her Serene Highness.
More remote princes of the blood: Prince (Kniaz) (given name) (father's name) Bagration-Imeretinski, i.e. Prince Bagration of Imereti.
More remote princesses of the blood: Princess (Kniaza) (given name) (father's name) Bagration-Imeretinskaya, i.e. Princess Bagration of Imereti.
* these designations were largely ignored by the Georgians themselves, they continued to use the ancient styles and titles of their race.

The nobility of Imereti were organised on a military basis, much like that of Georgia. The army being divided into several corps represented by "banners" (or drosha), each commanded by the great grandees of the realm. These grandees were sovereign within their own domains, enjoying the power of life and death, but owing allegience to the king. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the order of precedence was as follows:

1) H.M. The Most High King.
2) Princes of the Blood (batonishvili).
3) Great Officers of State:
- a) Patriarch-Catholicos.
- b) Chief Secretary (Mtsignobarth-Ukhutsesi).
- c) Lord High Steward (Mandaturth-Ukhutsesi).
- d) Lord High Constable (Amir-Spasalari).
- e) Lord High Treasurer (Medchurchleth-Ukhutsesi).
- f) Lord Great Chamberlain (Msakhurth-Ukhutsesi).
- g) Grand Armourer (Meahjret-Ukhutsesi).
4) Duke of Dukes of Mingrelia (Samegrelo-eristavt-eristavi), head of the house of Dadiani.
5) Duke of Abkhazia (Aphkhazeti-eristavt), head of the house of Shirvashidze.
6) Duke of the Guria (Guria-eristavt), head of the house of Gurieli.
7) Head of the house of the house of Chkheidze, previously Dukes of Radsha.
8) Head of the house of Phkheidze (Phkheidze-tavadi).
9) Head of the house of Abashidze (Abashidze-tavadi)
10) Prince of Satseretlo, head of the house of Tsereteli (Tsereteli-tavadi).
11) Head of the house of Lortkipanidze (Lortkipanidze-tavadi).
12) Head of the house of Nijaradze (Nijaradze-tavadi).
13) Head of the house of Gogoberishidze (Gogoberishidze-tavadi).

IMERETI 2	IMERETI 3	IMERETI 4	IMERETI 5
IMERETI 6	IMERETI 7	IMERETI 8	IMERETI 9
IMERETI 10	IMERETI 11	ABASHIDZE	ABKHAZIA
DAVITISHVILI	GEORGIA	GURIA	KAKHETI
KARTLI	MINGRELIA	MUKHRANI	SVANIA
SHIRVASHIDZE (GURIA II)		MAIN	HOME

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