Regulations of the Royal Court
Encyclopedia
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"
(r. 1314-1346), or to a period not far removed from it. Only part of the original text has been preserved in the form of a single 17th-century manuscript. It is an important document bearing on the structure of the Kingdom of Georgia
and usefully supplements the account of the Georgian medieval court and state organization given by the early 18th-century scholar Prince Wakhusht
in his description of Georgia.
What has survived of this treatise provides a systematic and minutely elucidated picture of the court, administrative machinery and social structure of the medieval Georgian state. Some clauses of the treatise are clearly based on tradition going back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Among the most important chapters are those dealing with court etiquette, including such ceremonies as the order for the coronation service, the king’s dressing and robing, the serving of the royal dinner, audiences, and the celebration of major holidays and religious feast days. The duties and prerogatives of the ministers of state (vizier
s) are laid down, and the protocol for sessions of the Privy Council
(savaziro) is set out. A chapter on the responsibilities of the amirspasalar
(commander-in-chief) and his staff gives technical details on the equipment and armor supplied to the Georgian royal army.
The document was discovered and published by Ekvtime Takaishvili
, Institution des cours royales, Tiflis, 1920 (Monumenta Georgica, tom. IV, no. 1). Much of the material contained in it is translated in English and incorporated in W.E.D. Allen, A History of the Georgian People, London
, 1932. Another important edition is Ivane Surguladze (ed., Tbilisi, 1993), Regulations of the Royal Crown (ხელმწიფის კარის გარიგება), which includes English translation by L. Lozovaia and Kevin Tuite
.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as "Regulations of the Royal Court", "Institution of the Royal Court" or "Constitution of the Royal Court", is a medieval Georgian
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...
code of laws commonly assigned to the second reign of George V "the Brilliant"
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...
(r. 1314-1346), or to a period not far removed from it. Only part of the original text has been preserved in the form of a single 17th-century manuscript. It is an important document bearing on the structure of 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...
and usefully supplements the account of the Georgian medieval court and state organization given by the early 18th-century scholar Prince Wakhusht
Vakhushti
Vakhushti was a Georgian prince , geographer, historian and cartographer.- Life :A son of King Vakhtang VI of Kartli , he was born in Tbilisi, 1696...
in his description of Georgia.
What has survived of this treatise provides a systematic and minutely elucidated picture of the court, administrative machinery and social structure of the medieval Georgian state. Some clauses of the treatise are clearly based on tradition going back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Among the most important chapters are those dealing with court etiquette, including such ceremonies as the order for the coronation service, the king’s dressing and robing, the serving of the royal dinner, audiences, and the celebration of major holidays and religious feast days. The duties and prerogatives of the ministers of state (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....
s) are laid down, and the protocol for sessions of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
(savaziro) is set out. A chapter on the responsibilities of the amirspasalar
Amirspasalar
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 in English...
(commander-in-chief) and his staff gives technical details on the equipment and armor supplied to the Georgian royal army.
The document was discovered and published by Ekvtime Takaishvili
Ekvtime Takaishvili
Ekvtime Takaishvili was a Georgian historian, archaeologist and public benefactor....
, Institution des cours royales, Tiflis, 1920 (Monumenta Georgica, tom. IV, no. 1). Much of the material contained in it is translated in English and incorporated in W.E.D. Allen, A History of the Georgian People, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1932. Another important edition is Ivane Surguladze (ed., Tbilisi, 1993), Regulations of the Royal Crown (ხელმწიფის კარის გარიგება), which includes English translation by L. Lozovaia and Kevin Tuite
Kevin Tuite
Kevin Tuite is a full Professor of Anthropology at the Université de Montréal.Born in South Bend, Indiana, USA, Tuite is a citizen of the U.S. and Ireland and a Landed immigrant of Canada. He specializes in the languages and cultures of the Caucasus, especially those of Georgia, where he has...
.