TARKHANISM IN MEDIEVAL GEORGIA AND ARMENIA: FEATURES OF THE TRANSCAUCASIAN FEUDALISM

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH194910-920

Keywords:

Georgia, Armenia, Medieval Age, Tarkhans, Tarkhanism, Immunity, Taxes, Privileges, Georgian Church, Feudalism

Abstract

From the early Middle Ages, the term “tarkhan” found its way into the lexicon of the Transcaucasian peoples, initially associated with the Khazar realm. As the Mongol conquests unfolded, the word “tarkhan” and the phenomenon itself made their way into the historical narratives of Armenia and Georgia. In its early interpretation, “tarkhan” primarily signified exemption from taxes, though this was only one facet of its meaning. Over time, tarkhanism, as a form of immunity from various obligations and responsibilities, gained prominence within the evolving framework of feudalism. This article aims to collect and analyze information from diverse sources, including Armenian, Georgian, and Persian accounts, to understand the use and significance of tarkhanism within the Transcaucasian feudal systems. The study delves into the evolution of tarkhanism in medieval Georgia and Armenia through comparative analysis. Furthermore, it explores how the Georgian and Armenian churches became recipients of this form of immunity, shedding light on the conditions and terms associated with tarkhanism. Beyond a brief exploration of the term’s etymology and primary meaning, the article addresses several key questions: How was the concept of tarkhanism perceived in the Georgian and Armenian contexts prior to the Mongol conquest? What were the specific evolutions and implications of tarkhanism in these regions during the medieval period? Did tarkhanism encompass more specific privileges, such as tax exemptions? How and why did the church come to hold the status of tarkhanism? These questions collectively contribute to a deeper understanding of tarkhanism and its role in shaping the historical landscapes of Georgia and Armenia during the medieval era.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Гор Араратович Маргарян, The Institute of Oriental Studies, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (IOS NAS RA)
    PhD, Associate professor, Senior researcher, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Department "Christian East"

References

Frye R. Ţarxŭn-Türxūn and Central Asian history.Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 1951, 14(1/2) (Jun., 1951): 105-129.

D’Ohsson M. Des peuples du Caucase [Peoples of the Caucasus]. Paris: chez Firmin Didot, 1828 (in French).

Clauson G. An etymological dictionary of pre-thirteenth-century Turkish. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972.

Brosset M. Histoire de la Géorgie depuis l’antiquité jusqu’au XIXe siècle, I partie. Saint-Petersburg, 1849 (in French).

D’Ohsson M. Histoire des Mongols. Tome I. Amsterdam: Les Frères van Cleef, 1834 (in French).

Brook K. A. The jews of Khazaria. Lanham – Boulder-New York – London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006.

Pritzak O. The Khazar kingdom’s conversion to Judaism. Harvard Ukrainian Studies. 1978, II (3): 261-282.

Łevond. Patmowt’yown [The History]. Ter-Łevondyan A. (transl., comm.). Yerevan: Sovetakan groł, 1982 (in Armenian).

Van Donzel E., Schmidt A. Gog and Magog in Early Eastern Christian and Islamic Sources. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2009.

Sayılı A. The Nationality of the Ephtalites. Belleten. 1982;46:17-34. DOI: 10.37879/belleten.1982.17.

Stephen RH. The History of al-Ṭabarī. New York: State University of New York Press. 2015; 15:312.

Choi Han-Woo. A study of the ancient Turkic “tarqan”. International journal of Central Asian Studies. 2000, 5: 104–111.

Qadir A. Waķf; Islamic law of charitable trust. New Delhi: Global Vision Publishing House, 2004.

Maksudi S. Turkic History and Law. Kazan: Fan, 2002.

Bartold V. Works, Turkestan in the epoch of Mongol invasion. Vol. 1. Moscow: Vostochnaya Literatura, 1963.

Ata Melik Juweini. Genghis Khan: The Story of the World Conqueror. E. E. Kharitonov, D. O. Morgan (trans., comm.). Moscow: Magister-Press, 2004.

Dashdondog B. The Mongols and the Armenians (1220-1335). Leiden: Brill, 2010.

Grigoryev A. Golden Hord’s yarlyks: search and interpretation. Türkological collection. Moscow, 2006: 74-143.

Nicolle D., McBride A. The age of Tamerlane. Oxford: Osprey, 1990.

Ploskikh V. M. Sketches of patriarchal-feudal relations in Southern Kyrgyzstan. Frunze: Ilim, 1968.

Lawton J. Samarkand and Bukhara (Travels to Landmarks). Tauris Parke Books, 1991.

Dani H., Adle Ch., Habib I. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Vol. 5. Turin: Unesco Publ., 2003.

Margaryan AG. Feudal immunity and the process of enslavement of the peasantry in Armenia and Georgia in the XI-XIII centuries, Caucasus and Byzantium. 1984; 4:5-20.

Kolesnikov L. Religious Situation in Georgia. Georgia: Problems and Prospects of Development (ed. by E.M. Kozhokin). Vol. 2. Moscow: RISI, 2002.

Pokrovsky N. A brief sketch of church-historical life in Georgia since the appearance of Christianity in it and before its accession to the Russian subjection. Tiflis: Tiflisskiy Listok, 1905.

Evseeva L. Two Symbolic Compositions in the Fourteenth-Century Paintings of the Monastery of Zarzma. Vizantijskij vremennik. 1982;43: 134-147.

Essays on the History of Georgia. Georgia in IV-X centuries. M. Lordkipanidze, D. Muskhelishvili (eds.). Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 1988.

Lordkipanidze M. History of Georgia of the XI-XIII centuries. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 1974.

Salia K. History of Georgian nation. Paris: N. Salia Publ., 1983.

Gvritishvili D. From the History of Social Relations in Late Feudal Georgia (Satavado Senoria). Tbilisi: TSU Publ., 1961.

Chubinashvili D. Georgian-Russian Dictionary. Tbilisi: Sabchota Sakartvelo, 1984.

Iosseliani P. Life of the Great Mourav George Saakadze. Tiflis, 1848.

Babayan L. Hayastani harkayin sistemy’ mongholakan tirapetowt’yan shrjanowm (The Tax System of Armenia under Mongol rule). Teghekagir Haykakan SSR’ Gitowt’yownneri Akademiayi, 1948, 7: 55–65.

Bagaturov S. Personal and land rights in ancient Georgia. Vol. 1. Tiflis, 1886.

Richardson J. A Dictionary Persian, Arabic and English. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1777.

Avdalbegyan T’. Hayagitakan hetazotowt’yownner (Armenological studies). Yerevan: HSSH GA hrat., 1969.

Divan hay vimagrowt’yan (Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum). Yerevan: Gitut’yun, 2012.

Stepʻannos Orbelian. Patmutʻiwn Nahangin Sisakan [The History of the Province of Syunik]. Moscow: tparan Lazarean č̣emarani Arewelean lezowac̕, 1861.

Kirakos Ganjakec‘i. Hamaṙōt patmowt’iwn [Sketched History]. Venice: Mekhitaryan tipography, 1865.

K’art’lis c’xovreba [The life of Kartli]. S. Kauxch’ishvili S. (comm. trans). Vol. IV. Tbilisi: Sabčot’a Sak’art’velo, 1973.

Purceladze D. Georgian Church Gurjars (Decrees). Tbilisi, 1881.

Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Centre of Manuscripts, Fond HD.

Tbilisi Collection of Persian Firmans. Todua M. (ed.). Vol. I. Kutaisi, 1995.

Papazyan H. Matenadarani parskeren vaveragrerǝ. Vol. I. Yerevan: AS ASSR Publ., 1956 (in Armenian)

Matenadaran. Kathoghikosakan divan (The Corpus of Catholicos). Folio № 252.

Hayeren Dzeragreri Hishatakaranner, ZhG dar [Colophons of XIII Century Armenian Manuscripts]. Yerevan: National Academy of Armenian SSR, 1984 (in Armenian).

Sargsiaո SA. Xoxanaberd. Norahayt vimagrer Xałbakyanneri masin [Khokhanaberd: newly-discovered lapidary inscriptions about the Khaghbakians]. Herald of the Social Sciences. 1996, 3(3): 96-105 (in Armenian).

Šahxatownyan H. Storagrowt’iwn kat’owłikē Ēǰmiacni ew hing gawaṙac‘n Araratay [Description of the Catholicosate of Echmiadzin and the 5 Districts of Ararat]. Echmiadzin: Publishing House of the Holy See of Echmiadzin, 2014 (in Armenian).

Berzhe A. (ed.). Acts collected by the Caucasian Archaeographic Commission. Vol. 1. Tiflis, 1866.

Margaryan G. Xala, ğalla, qālān: discussing medieval tax terms. Bulletin of the Institute of Oriental Studies. 2022, II(2): 49-55. DOI 10.52837/27382702-2022.2-49. – EDN BPVNFS.

K’art’uli samart’lis dzeglebi [Monuments of Georgian Law]. I. Dolidze (transl., comm.). Vol. III. Tbilisi: Mec’niereba, 1970 (in Georgian).

Kakabadze S. Georgian Documents of the IX-XV centuries. Moscow: Nauka, 1982.

Hayeren Dzeragreri Hishatakaranner, ZhE dar [Colophons of XV Century Armenian Manuscripts]. Yerevan: National Academy of Armenian SSR, 1955 (in Armenian).

Javakhova I. Georgia. Vizantijskij vremennik. 1906, 12: 385-426.

Saidov A., Anarbaev A., V. Goriyacheva. The Ferghana valley; the pre-colonial legacy. Ferghana Valley: The hearth of Central Asia. New York, 2011: 3-29.

Berdzenishvili N. Dokumentebi (Sakartvelos socialuri istoriidan) [Documents (From the social life of Georgia)]. Vol. II. Tbilisi: Georgian Academy of Science, 1953 (in Georgian).

Hahanov A. Essays on the History of Georgian Literature. Vol. 3. Moscow: Universitetskaya tipografiya, 1901.

Othmezuri G. The Small Principalities of the Shida Kartli (15th-17th centuries), PhD dissertation. Tbilisi, 1999.

Ačaṙean H. Hayoc‘ anjnanownneri baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian proper names]. Yerevan: Yerevan State University, 1944 (in Armenian).

Tēr Hovhaneanc’ T. Patmutʻiwn Nor Jughayu or hAspahan [The History of New Julfa that near Isfahan]. New Julfa: I Tparani Amenapʻrkchʻean S. Vanatsʻ, 1880 (in Armenian).

Ibn Battúta. Travels in Asia and Afrika in 1325-1354. London: Routledge, 2005.

Gildenshtedt I. A. Travels through Caucasus. St. Petersburg: Peterburgskoe vostokovedenie, 2002.

Complete Collection of the Laws of the Russian Empire. Vol. IV. St. Petersburg: Tipography of the Imperial Chancellery, 1830: 881.

Erdélyi, I. Az avarság és kelet a régészeti források tükrében [Antiquity and the East in the light of archaeological sources]. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1982. P. 364.

Džidalaev N. Тürkisms in Dagestani languages. Moscow: Nauka, 1990.

Downloads

Published

2023-12-15

Issue

Section

History

How to Cite

1.
Маргарян ГА. TARKHANISM IN MEDIEVAL GEORGIA AND ARMENIA: FEATURES OF THE TRANSCAUCASIAN FEUDALISM. ИАЭК. 2023;19(4):910-920. doi:10.32653/CH194910-920