Medieval-era commander-in-chief of the Georgian army
Amirspasalar or amirspasalari (Georgian: ამირსპასალარი, from Persian: امیر سپه سالار, amīr sipahsālār) 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 composed of amir, an Arabic term meaning 'commander', 'governor', or 'prince'; and sipahsalar, from the Persian for 'army commander'.[2]
The amirspasalar was a wartime supreme commander-in-chief of the royal armies, and the bearer of the state flag. Under Queen Tamar (r. 1184–1213), it was the third great office of the Georgian state, after King and atabek. 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. 1089–1125), 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 1176–1177, 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 passed to the family of Zachariads (Mkhargrdzeli), succeeded by the Jaqeli.[2]
The position was effectively abolished with the dismemberment of the Kingdom of Georgia later in the 15th century.
^Hakobyan, Zaruhi A. (2021). "The Frescoes of the Haghpat Monastery in the Historical-Confessional Context of the 13th Century". Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art. 11: 265. doi:10.18688/aa2111-02-21.
^ abRobert Bedrosian, "Amirspasalar", in: Joseph Reese Strayer (1983), Dictionary of the Middle Ages, p. 235. Scribner, ISBN 0-684-16760-3.
Amirspasalar or amirspasalari (Georgian: ამირსპასალარი, from Persian: امیر سپه سالار, amīr sipahsālār) was the commander-in-chief of the medieval Georgian...
a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the position of amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) for the Georgian army. He was a son of the noble...
offices in the Georgian government, as Atabegs (Governor General) and Amirspasalars (Commander-in-Chief of the Army) of the Kingdom of Georgia. The dynasty...
Mankaberd. He was a court official and became Atabeg (Governor General) and Amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief of the army) of the Kingdom of Eastern Georgia, and...
throne. After the overthrown of Demetrius, David V granted the office of Amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) to Kirkish (Tirkash), son of Ivane Abuletisdze who...
and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia holding the office of amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Georgian army for Queen Tamar of Georgia...
half of the 13th century, the son of Atabeg-Amirspasalar Sadun Mankaberdeli. He himself became Amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Georgian army,...
and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the office of amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) and atabeg (Governor General) of Georgia. He was...
Georgian campaign against the Eldiguzids was a military campaign led by the Amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief of the army) of the Kingdom of Georgia, Zakare II...
line, and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, as atabeg and amirspasalar of Georgia from 1227 to 1250. The eastern areas Bjni, Gegharkunik, Vayots-dzor...
was a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the offices of Amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) for Queen Tamar of Georgia during the late 12th...
regency of Sadun Mankaberdeli for some time, Sadun was the Atabeg and Amirspasalar, designated by the Mongols. It is for this reason that upon the death...
and a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the office of amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Georgian army. He was the son of Zakare II...
was a Court official of the Kingdom of Georgia, holding the offices of Amirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief) and Mandaturtukhutsesi (Lord High Mandator). According...
Apparent. Not infrequently, the office of atabeg was combined with that of amirspasalar (commander-in-chief). In 1334, the title became hereditary in the Jaqeli...
commanded by King George IV "Lasha" of Georgia and his atabeg (tutor) and amirspasalar (commander-in-chief) Ivane Mkhargrdzeli at the Battle of Khunan on the...
When his brother Zakare died in 1213, Ivane was offered the title of Amirspasalar, but he declined. Instead, he asked for and obtained the title of Atabeg...
Abuletisdze was a Georgian feudal lord of the Abuletisdze family. He was Amirspasalar of Georgia from 1260 to 1272. Toumanoff, Cyril (1967). Studies in Christian...
of Demetrius I and David V, when their family inherited the name of Amirspasalar, and Lori as a administrative state. For their bravery and loyal service...
a pretext for the nobles, led by the pretender's father-in-law, the amirspasalar ("high constable") Ivane II Orbeli, to weaken the crown. George III was...
during the reign of Avag (died in 1250), son of Ivane and nephew of the Amirspasalar (Commander in chief) of the Zakarid army, nicknamed "Long Arm" (Zakare...
coronations and receptions of foreign ambassadors. The marshal (Georgian: amirspasalar) had charge of the royal stables, i.e. "Commander-in-Chief" of the army...
a pretext for the nobles, led by the pretender's father-in-law, the amirspasalar ("high constable") Ivane Orbeli, to weaken the crown. George III was...
by his son David V, was restored to favor and granted the office of amirspasalar of which the rival Orbeli clan was dispossessed by the new king. Demetrius...
Samtskhe-Saatabago nobility. A notable scholar Tbeli Abuserisdze (c. 1190–1240) and amirspasalar (commander-in-chief) Ivane (died 1355) also belonged to this family....
year 630 (ie 1181 CE), at the time of the victorious king Georg, and amirspasalar Sargis and his sons Zak‘arē and Iwanē, and amira K‘urd, I, Yovannēs,...