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'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎157] (172/360)

The record is made up of 1 volume (342 pages). It was created in 1872. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

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157
GEO
race, comprising' a feudal constitution, perfectly analogous to the Romano-
Germanic. Under this constitution the nobles who surrounded their King,
occupied the first station in the realm. The Georgian nobleman had a
purely feudal character; he regarded the sovereign as his lord and chief,
whilst the inferior nobles looked up to the higher class as their lords in turn.
In the same manner the peasants, though not subjected to bondage under
the nobles, were liable to military and seignorial service, tribute, &c.
" The Georgian nobles are divided into three classes,—the Dedebuli, the
Tavadi, and the Aznauri. The Dedebuli occupy the highest rank, and may
be called the sovereign nobles; according to a legend, they are descended
from Karthlos, the first King, who led his family and people into this country,
of which he took possession. Karthlos was one of the eight Caucasian
patriarchs, the sons of Togarmah, who, according to the Bible, was the
great-grandson of Japheth, the son of Noah. Those of the Dedebuli who
possessed some stronghold, castle, or small province, assumed the title of
Mthawar (afterwards Tavad, or chief of the land); they were the hereditary
grandees of the royal court. Many of these grandees filled offices of high
importance, as the Spasalar, or chancellor of the realm, who presided over
the royal council; the Abramad, or chamberlain of the exchequer; the
head of the Msakhurs (life-guards), who was the master of the ordnance
and had the superintendence of the arms and ammunition ; and under him
were the governors of the fortresses, the general-in-chief of the mercenary
troops, the lord marshal, lord high steward, lord chief justice, the Amirakhor
(master of the horse), the head falconer, and the Adjib (lord chamberlain),
who superintended all persons in attendance at the palace, and who, at the
royal banquets, answered for the King, no one being allowed to address
the Sovereign personally. Lower in rank were the lord steward, master
of the table, the cup-bearer, treasurer, hospitaller, and the cross-bearer,
who had the office of inviting the Catholicos and the bishops, and occasion
ally also of publishing the sentences passed upon criminals.
" The second class of the nobility are the Tavadi, or princes, probably
descended from the Governors of the numerous small provinces. Ihese
offices and dignities, became in course of time hereditary. When, for
instance, a Governor (Eristav) died, his sword, his war horse, and his eldest
son were presented to the King, who conferred the appointment upon the
son, if he considered him able and worthy to fill the post, in which case
he was girt with his father's sword by the head of the Msakhurs (master of
the ordnance) in the King's presence. But if the Sovereign deemed the
son incapable of holding the office, he bestowed upon him one for which
he was more competent, and the charger was led into the royal stable.
" Many of these Princes at the present day style themselves shortly Eristav,
or Governor, thus we meet with a number of Princes Enstav, descended
from distinct Tavadi families, of which, in Kartalima and Kakhetia, Piiuce
"Wakhout enumerates sixty-two. <
<( The third order of Georgian nobles are the Aznauri. hilst the first
two classes were vassals of the King, this was composed of attendants
partly of the King, partly of the higher vassals, and partly of the Catho
licos and patriarch. No one, however, could bear this title who did not
possess a castle or a village, and who could not take the field with horsemen,
horses and tents.

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Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia.

The book is written by Charles Metcalfe MacGregor.

Publication Details: Calcutta: Foreign Department Press. 1872.

Extent and format
1 volume (342 pages)
Arrangement

The contents in the volume are arranged in chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions: 250 mm x 155 mm.

Pagination: 1-342.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎157] (172/360), British Library: Printed Collections, 010055.d.42/5., in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023897132.0x0000ad> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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