Palavandishvili
Encyclopedia
The Palavandishvili were a Georgian
aristocratic family, known from the 12th/13th century and received among the princely nobility
of Imperial Russia as Princes Palavandov in the 19th century.
A genealogical tradition makes the ancestors of the Palavandishvili family residents of Armenia
from where they were forced into refuge in the Kingdom of Georgia
in 1184. According to Cyril Toumanoff
, dynastic patronymic of this family – Palavandishvili literally translates as “the sons of Palavandi” – betrays their connection with the Armenian house of Pahlavuni
of ancient Arsacid (Persian) stock; and the family legend of migration may be a vague memory of the Palavandishvili’s Pahlavid descent.
The Palavandishvili first established themselves in Akhaltsikhe
in south Georgian province of Samtskhe which fell to the Ottoman Empire
in the 16th century. Most of them then fled northward, in the kingdom of Kartli
; those who remained in Samtskhe apostatized to Islam
. In Kartli, the family were confirmed in princely rank (tavadi
) and received a hereditary fief – known as Sapalavando – in the Prone valley which they shared with the families of Abashidze
and Amirejibi
, the latter being their offshoot. In the contemporary aristocratic hierarchy, the Palavandishvili were grandees of the second class and vassals to the Princes of Mukhrani
. After the Russian annexation of Georgia they were confirmed as princes of the Russian Empire in 1825 and 1850.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
aristocratic family, known from the 12th/13th century and received among the princely nobility
Knyaz
Kniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke....
of Imperial Russia as Princes Palavandov in the 19th century.
A genealogical tradition makes the ancestors of the Palavandishvili family residents of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
from where they were forced into refuge in the Kingdom of Georgia
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...
in 1184. According to Cyril Toumanoff
Cyril Toumanoff
Cyril Leo Heraclius, Prince Toumanoff was an United States-based historian and genealogist who mostly specialized in the history and genealogies of medieval Georgia, Armenia, the Byzantine Empire, and Iran...
, dynastic patronymic of this family – Palavandishvili literally translates as “the sons of Palavandi” – betrays their connection with the Armenian house of Pahlavuni
Pahlavuni
Pahlavuni was an Armenian noble family that rose to prominence in the late 10th century during the last years of the Bagratuni monarchy.-Origins:...
of ancient Arsacid (Persian) stock; and the family legend of migration may be a vague memory of the Palavandishvili’s Pahlavid descent.
The Palavandishvili first established themselves in Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe
Akhaltsikhe is a small city in Georgia's southwestern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. It is situated on the both banks of a small river Potskhovi, which separates the city to the old city in the north and new in the south. The name of the city translates from Georgian as "new fortress".- History...
in south Georgian province of Samtskhe which fell to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the 16th century. Most of them then fled northward, in the kingdom of Kartli
Kartli
Kartli is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari , on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role in ethnic and political consolidation of the Georgians in the Middle Ages...
; those who remained in Samtskhe apostatized to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. In Kartli, the family were confirmed in princely rank (tavadi
Tavadi
Tavadi , "prince", lit. "head/chief" [man], from tavi, "head", with the prefix of agent -di) was a feudal title in Georgia first applied in the Late Middle Ages usually translated in English as prince...
) and received a hereditary fief – known as Sapalavando – in the Prone valley which they shared with the families of Abashidze
Abashidze
Abashidze is a Georgian family and a former princely house. Appearing in the 15th century, they achieved prominence in the Kingdom of Imereti in western Georgia in the late 17th century and branched out in eastern Georgian kingdoms of Kakheti and Kartli as well as the then-Ottoman-held...
and Amirejibi
Amirejibi
Amirejibi or Amirajibi is a Georgian family, formerly a prominent noble house, which branched off the House of Palavandishvili and rose in prominence in the late 14th century...
, the latter being their offshoot. In the contemporary aristocratic hierarchy, the Palavandishvili were grandees of the second class and vassals to the Princes of Mukhrani
House of Mukhrani
The house of Mukhrani is a Georgian princely family, a collateral branch of the former royal dynasty of Bagrationi of which it sprung early in the 16th century, and received in appanage the domain of Mukhrani located in Kartli, central Georgia...
. After the Russian annexation of Georgia they were confirmed as princes of the Russian Empire in 1825 and 1850.