Amirspasalar
Encyclopedia
Amirspasalar was the commander in chief of the medieval Georgian army and one of the highest officials of the Kingdom of Georgia
, commonly rendered as Lord High Constable
(and sometimes also as generalissimo
) in English. It is derived from amir, an Arabic term meaning "commander", "governor", or "prince"; and spasalar, from the Old Persian spahbod
.
The amirspasalar was a wartime supreme commander in chief of the royal armies, and the bearer of the state flag. Under Queen Tamar (r. 1084-1213), it was the third great, after atabek, office of the Georgian state. The Institution of the Royal Court
, most probably codified during the second reign of George V
(1314-1346) defines the office as "an honorary vizier
and the head of army".
The title of amirspasalar is first mentioned in the reign of George III of Georgia
(1156-1184), but it was apparently introduced by George’s grandfather David IV
(r. 1189-1125), who had substantially reformed Georgia’s military and civil administration. In the early 12th century the amirspasalar was chosen from the House of Orbeli but in 1155, David
, son of Demetrius I of Georgia, overthrow his father and attempted to curb the Orbeli influence by transferring the post to their rival, Tirkash Abuletisdze
. After Demetrius’s restoration, the Orbeli again held the post down to their rebellion against George III in 1176/7, when it was given to Qubasar, of Kipchak
origin. In 1184, Queen Tamar removed Qubasar and appointed a member of the Gamrekeli family. Later, the office descended in the family of Zachariads (Mkhargrdzeli), succeeded by the Jaqeli
.
The position was effectively abolished with the dismemberment of the Kingdom of Georgia later in the 15th century.
Kingdom of Georgia
The Kingdom of Georgia was a medieval monarchy established in AD 978 by Bagrat III.It flourished during the 11th and 12th centuries, the so-called "golden age" of the history of Georgia. It fell to the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, but managed to re-assert sovereignty by 1327...
, commonly rendered as Lord High Constable
Lord High Constable
There are two current and one former royal offices in the United Kingdom of Lord High Constable:* The Lord High Constable of England, the seventh of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Great Chamberlain and above the Earl Marshal...
(and sometimes also as generalissimo
Generalissimo
Generalissimo and Generalissimus are military ranks of the highest degree, superior to Field Marshal and other five-star ranks.-Usage:...
) in English. It is derived from amir, an Arabic term meaning "commander", "governor", or "prince"; and spasalar, from the Old Persian spahbod
Spahbod
Spahbod or Spahbed , is derived from the words Spah and bod ; or "Aspah'Paeity" , and means commander of cavaliers/ knights; alternatively Spah Salar was a rank used in the Parthian empire and more widely in the Sassanid Empire of Persia...
.
The amirspasalar was a wartime supreme commander in chief of the royal armies, and the bearer of the state flag. Under Queen Tamar (r. 1084-1213), it was the third great, after atabek, office of the Georgian state. The Institution of the Royal Court
Regulations of the Royal Court
Garigeba khelmts'ip'is karisa , translated into English as "Regulations of the Royal Court", "Institution of the Royal Court" or "Constitution of the Royal Court", is a medieval Georgian code of laws commonly assigned to the second reign of George V "the Brilliant" , or to a period not far removed...
, most probably codified during the second reign of George V
George V of Georgia
George V, the "Brilliant" was King of Georgia from 1299 to 1302 and again from 1314 until his death. A flexible and far-sighted politician, he recovered Georgia from a century-long Mongol domination, restoring the country’s previous strength and Christian culture.-Reign:George was born to King...
(1314-1346) defines the office as "an honorary vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
and the head of army".
The title of amirspasalar is first mentioned in the reign of George III of Georgia
George III of Georgia
Giorgi III , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia from 1156 to 1184. His reign, and that of Tamar, are seen as the 'golden age' of Georgian history, the era of empire, diplomatic success, military triumphs, great learning, cultural, spiritual, and artistic flowering.-Life:He succeeded on...
(1156-1184), but it was apparently introduced by George’s grandfather David IV
David IV of Georgia
David IV "the Builder", also known as David II , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was a king of Georgia from 1089 until his death in 1125....
(r. 1189-1125), who had substantially reformed Georgia’s military and civil administration. In the early 12th century the amirspasalar was chosen from the House of Orbeli but in 1155, David
David V of Georgia
David V , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Georgia c. 1154/5.He was an elder son of King Demetre I. Fearing that Demetre would make his younger son Giorgi an heir to the throne, David attempted a revolt in 1130...
, son of Demetrius I of Georgia, overthrow his father and attempted to curb the Orbeli influence by transferring the post to their rival, Tirkash Abuletisdze
Abuletisdze
Abuletisdze was a Georgian noble family – eristavs – with its most prominent members in the 12th and 13th century. The family held appanages in the valleys of Aragvi and Tedzami in the eastern province of Kakheti....
. After Demetrius’s restoration, the Orbeli again held the post down to their rebellion against George III in 1176/7, when it was given to Qubasar, of Kipchak
Kipchaks in Georgia
Kipchaks are an ancient nomadic, Turkic people who occupied large territories from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. They, together with the Cumans played an important role in the history of many nations in the region, Georgia among them...
origin. In 1184, Queen Tamar removed Qubasar and appointed a member of the Gamrekeli family. Later, the office descended in the family of Zachariads (Mkhargrdzeli), succeeded by the Jaqeli
Jaqeli
Jaqeli was a Georgian noble family, an offshoot of the House of Chorchaneli, that rose to a ruling house of the principality of Samtskhe in the 13th century, and eventually Islamized to become a dynasty of Akhaltsikhe under the Ottoman Empire in the 16th/17th century.-History:"Jaqeli", literally...
.
The position was effectively abolished with the dismemberment of the Kingdom of Georgia later in the 15th century.