nobility

GEORGIA

The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty

NOBILITY:Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
The Georgian nobility was largely organised on a military basis, the army being divided into several corps represented by "banners" (or drosha), each commanded by the great grandees of the realm. These grandees were petty sovereigns 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) Grandees of the first class (Sul-didibuli-tavadi) of the Kingdom of Kartli, commanders of banners (drosha):
- a) Prince of Mukhrani (Mukhrani-batoni), head of the house of Bagrationi-Mukhrani.
- b) Duke of Aragvi (Aragvi-eristavi), head of the house of Sidamoni, until annexation in 1743-see below.
- c) Duke of Ksani (Ksani-eristavi).
- d) the Amir-Akhori, Prince of Samilakhoro, head of the house of Zedginidze.
- e) Prince of Sabaratiano, head of the house of Orbeliani (Orbeliani-tavadi).
- f) Prince of Satsitsiano, head of the house of Tsitsishvili (Panaskerteli) (Tsitsishvili-tavadi).
- g) the Malik of Somkheti (Somkheti-meliki).
5) Grandees of the first class of the Kingdom of Kakheti:
- a) Prince of Sacholokao, head of the house of Irubakidze Cholokashvili (Cholokashvili-tavadi). Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
- b) Prince of Sandroniko, head of the house of Andronikashvili (Andronikashvili-tavadi), descendants of the Emperors of Trebizond.
- c) Prince of Sabashidzo, head of the Kakhetian branch of the Abashidze (Abashidze-tavadi).
6) Grandees of the second class (mtavari) of the Kingdom of Kartli:
- a) Grandees under the Prince of Mukhrani:
  - i) head of the Kartlian branch of the Abashidze family.
  - ii) head of the house of Yothamishvili.
  - iii) Prince of Sapalavando, head of the house of Palavandishvili.
  - iv) Prince of Sachkheidze, head of the house of Chkheidze.
  - v) Prince of Sakerkeulidzo, head of the house of Kerkeulidze.
  - vi) head of the house of Taktakishvili.
  - vii) head of the house of Bebutashvili.
- b) Grandees under the Prince of Sabaratiano:
  - i) the Malik of Lori, head of the house of Melikishvili.
  - ii) head of the Kartlian branch of the house of Avalishvili.
  - iii) head of the house of Iaralishvili.
  - iv) head of the house of Begtabegishvili.
  - v) head of the house of Gurjirevazishvili.
  - vi) head of the house of Dolenjishvili.
  - vii) head of the house of Vazirishvili.
- c) Grandees under the Duke of Ksani:
  - i) Prince of Zemo Sabaratiano, head of the house of Baratishvili.
  - ii) Prince of Samachablo, head of the house of Machabeli.
  - iii) Prince of Sadiasamidzo, head of the house of Diasmidze.
  - iv) Prince of Sasolaghashvilo, head of the house of Solaghashvili.
  - v) Prince of Sargutashvilo, head of the house of Argutashvili.
  - vi) Prince of Sasumagishvilo, head of the house of Surmagishvili. Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
- d) Grandees under the Amir-Akhor:
  - i) Prince of Sadavitishvilo, head of the house of Davitishvili (Bagratide collaterals).
  - ii) Prince of Sajavakho, head of the house of Javakishvili.
  - iii) head of the house of Pawlenishvili.
  - iv) head of the house of Kadir Beg (Kadirbegishvili).
  - v) Prince of Satumanishvilo, head of the house of Tumanishvili.
  - vi) Prince of Saratishvilo, head of the house of Ratishvili.
  - vii) Prince of Samaghaladzo/Samaghalashvilo, head of the house of Maghaladze/Maghalashvili.
- e) Grandees under the Prince of Satsitsiano:
  - i) head of the house of Abashishvili.
  - ii) the Tarkhan-Muravi (the Grand Muravi), head of the house of Saakadze.
  - iii) head of the house of Zurabishvili.
  - iv) the Amir-Ejib, Prince of Samirejibo, the head of the house of Kakhaberidze-Chijavadze.
  - v) Prince of Sashalikashvilo, head of the house of Shalikashvili.
  - vi) Prince of Sacharvchavadzo, head of the house of Charvachidze. Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
7) Grandees of the second class (mtavari) of the Kingdom of Kakheti:
- a) Grandees under the Prince of Sacholokao:
  - i) Prince of Sajorjadzo, head of the house of Jorjadze.
  - ii) Prince of Samaqao, head of the house of Maqashvili.
  - iii) head of the house of Sidamoni, after annexation of Aragvi in 1743.
  - iv) head of the house of Kutzishvili.
  - v) head of the house of Gurginidze.
  - vi) head of the house of Sahinashvili.
  - vii) head of the house of Kimshiashvili.
- b) Grandees under the Prince of Sandroniko:
  - i) Prince of Savajnadzo, head of the house of Vajanadze.
  - ii) Prince of Saruzishvilo, head of the house of Ruzishvili.
  - iii) the Cherkez-batoni, head of the house of Cherkezi.
  - iv) Prince of Saguramo, head of the house of Guramishvili.
  - v) Prince of Sakvabulidzo, head of the house of Kvabulidze (Kobulashvili).
  - vi) Prince Abkhazi, head of the Kakhetian branch of the Shervashidze family.
  - vii) head of the house of Robita.
- c) Grandees under the Prince of Sabashidzo.
  - i) Princes of Sachavchavadzo, head of the house of Chavchavadze. Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
  - ii) Prince of Savakvako, head of the house of Vakvakashvili.
  - iii) head of the house of Jandieri.
  - iv) head of the Kakhetian branch of the house of Avalishvili.
  - v) head of the house of Karalashvili.
  - vi) head of the house of Babadibishvili.
  - vii) head of the house of Lionidze.
8) Junior members (tavadishvili) of the families of the grandees of the first class (Sul-didibuli-tavadi).
9) Bishops of the Georgan Orthodox Church.
10) Grandees of the third class (tavadi).
11) Junior members (mtavarishvili) of the families of the princes of the second class (mtavari).
12) Archimandrites of the Georgan Orthodox Church.
13) Untitled nobility:
- a) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the King.
- b) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Patriarch-Catholicos.
- c) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Eristav of Ksani.
- d) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Prince of Zemo Sabaratiano.
- e) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Prince of Samachablo.
- f) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Prince of Sadiasamidzo. Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
- g) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Prince of Satsitsiano.
- h) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Tarkhan-Muravi.
- i) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Amir-Ejibi.
- j) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Amir-Akhori.
- k) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni of Samthavro, Samreclo and Sakothakheo.
- l) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Prince of Sadavitishvilo.
- m) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Prince of Sajavakho.
- n) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Pawlenishvili.
- o) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Kadirbegishvili.
- p) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Mukhrani-batoni.
- q) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Abashidze.
- r) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Princes of Sapalavando.
- s) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Princes of Sachkheidzo.
- t) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Princes of Sakerkeulidzo.
- u) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Taktakishvili. Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
- v) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Jambakurian-Orbeliani.
- w) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Malik of Somkethi.
- x) Heads of the Aznauri-did-didni families dependent on the Avalishvili.
- y) Junior members of the Aznauri-did-didni families of Kakheti.
- z) Abbots of the Georgan Orthodox Church.
- aa) Junior members of the families of the Aznauri-did-didni.
- bb) Heads of the merchant guilds.
- cc) Aznauri mtsireni.
- dd) Junior members of the merchant guilds.

The styles enjoyed by these ranks were as follows:
Great Officers of State and the Grandees of the first class (Sul-didibuli-tavadi): The Pious Prince of High Rank (given name) (family name)-tavadi, with the style of His Splendour.
Grandees of the second class (mtavari): The Most Excellent (given name) (family name)-mtavari.
Grandees of the third class (tavadi): The Brilliant (given name) (family name)-tavadi. Copyright ©Christopher Buyers
The sons of princes (mtavari and tavadi): (given name) (family name)-tavadishvili.
Nobles (aznauri): The Noble (given name) (family name)-aznauri.
Gentlemen: the Honourable (given name) (family name).

ABASHIDZE	ABKHAZIA	DAVITISHVILI	GEORGIA
GURIA	IMERETI	KAKHETI	KARTLI
MINGRELIA	MUKHRANI	SHIRVASHIDZE (GURIA II)
SVANIA	GLOSSARY	MAIN	HOME

I would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have changes, corrections or additions to contribute. If you do, please be kind enough to send me an e-mail using the contact details at: Copyright© Christopher Buyers

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