The Terms Defining Officials and The Social Hierarchy of Early Feudal Kartli: Insights from The Martyrdom of Holy Queen Shushanik (V c.)

By analyzing hagiographical writings, it becomes clear that these texts offer significant insights into the political, social, and cultural contexts of their times. Despite their idealized and embellished narratives, hagiographies incorporate elements of historicism to enhance their credibility. This paper investigates the dual function of hagiographic literature as a source for both ecclesiastical and secular historical research. The article focuses on the Kingdom of Kartli in the second half of the fifth century. It explores the socio-political and hierarchical structures of early feudal Kartli (Eastern Georgia) as depicted in The Martyrdom of Holy Queen Shushanik by Iakob Khutsesi, a primary source written in the second half of the same century. The analysis reveals the importance of various social strata and everyday details used in the text, often overlooked by traditional chronicles. It also examines the roles and titles of officials, such as the pitiakhsh (state official and ruler), and the etymology and social implications of terms like aznauri (nobleman), spaspeti (commander-in-chief), ambokhi (crowd of people), msakhuri (servant), and qrma (young servant). By synthesizing historical and ethnographic data, this research emphasizes the importance of hagiography in reconstructing the socio-political landscape of medieval Georgia. It highlights that hagiographic literature, although mainly spiritual, provides a wealth of information for understanding the historical realities of its time. The thorough examination of social hierarchies, daily life, and official titles within these texts offers a nuanced perspective on the socio-political dynamics of the period. As a result, this research enhances the broader understanding of the historical and cultural context of late antique and medieval Georgia, showcasing the essential role of hagiography in historical scholarship.