Toreli
Encyclopedia
The Toreli earlier known as the Gamrekeli (გამრეკელი), were a noble family in medieval Georgia
, known from the 10th century and prominent into the 14th. The dynastic name "Toreli" is derived from the territorial epithet, literally meaning "of Tori
", a historic district and the family's original fiefdom in south-central Georgia.
The Toreli rose to particular prominence during the "golden age
" of the Kingdom of Georgia
under Queen Tamar (r.
1178/1184 – 1213) and her immediate successors – George IV
(r. 1213 – 1223) and Rusudan
(r. 1223 – 1246). They held fiefs in south and central Georgia and, at times, governed the newly conquered north Armenia
n districts on behalf of the crown. Several members of the family – one of the most important princely houses at that time – occupied important posts in the administration and army, including the dignity of amirspasalar
. A senior branch held the hereditary office of eristavi
("duke") of Akhalkalaki
, and a junior branch – Akhaltsikheli
– that of Akhaltsikhe
. At one point in the 12th century, the former was briefly surpassed by the latter, whose influence quickly waned after the death of Shalva
and Ivane Akhaltsikheli during the Khwarezmian invasion in 1225.
The Toreli went in gradual decline during the Mongol hegemony
over Georgia in the course of the 13th century. Of the Toreli branches, the longest surviving were the Javakhishvili
, in Shida Kartli
, eventually confirmed as princes (knyaz
) of the Russian Empire
in 1850.
Some Georgian historians (such as S. Kakabadze
, N. Shoshiashvili, S. Tsaishvili) have put forward a tentative hypothesis identifying the medieval Georgian epic poet Shota Rustaveli
with a member of the Toreli family.
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...
, known from the 10th century and prominent into the 14th. The dynastic name "Toreli" is derived from the territorial epithet, literally meaning "of Tori
Tori (Georgia)
Tori is a historic region in central Georgia, now part of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, together with Javakheti and Meskheti. It borders on Trialeti to the east, Imereti to the northwest and Shida Kartli to the northeast. The province chiefly lay in what is now known as the Borjomi Gorge. In...
", a historic district and the family's original fiefdom in south-central Georgia.
The Toreli rose to particular prominence during the "golden age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
" 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...
under Queen Tamar (r.
Reign
A reign is the term used to describe the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office of monarch of a nation or of a people . In most hereditary monarchies and some elective monarchies A reign is the term used to describe the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office...
1178/1184 – 1213) and her immediate successors – George IV
George IV of Georgia
George IV Lasha of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Georgia from 1213 to 1223....
(r. 1213 – 1223) and Rusudan
Rusudan of Georgia
Queen Rusudan , from the Bagrationi dynasty, ruled Georgia in 1223–1245.- Life :Daughter of Queen Tamar of Georgia by David Soslan, she succeeded her brother George IV of Georgia on January 18, 1223. George’s untimely death marked the beginning of the end of the Georgian “golden age”...
(r. 1223 – 1246). They held fiefs in south and central Georgia and, at times, governed the newly conquered north Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n districts on behalf of the crown. Several members of the family – one of the most important princely houses at that time – occupied important posts in the administration and army, including the dignity of 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...
. A senior branch held the hereditary office of eristavi
Eristavi
Eristavi was a Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine strategos and normally translated into English as "duke". In the Georgian aristocratic hierarchy, it was the title of the third rank of prince and governor of a large province...
("duke") of Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki is a small city in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 60,975. Akhalkalaki lies on the edge of the Javakheti Volcanic Plateau. The city is located about 30 km from the border with Turkey. 90 percent of the city's population are ethnic Armenians...
, and a junior branch – Akhaltsikheli
Akhaltsikheli
Akhaltsikheli were a Georgian noble family prominent in the end of the 12th to the mid-13th centuries. Their name came from the city of Akhaltsikhe, their original fiefdom....
– that of 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...
. At one point in the 12th century, the former was briefly surpassed by the latter, whose influence quickly waned after the death of Shalva
Shalva of Akhaltsikhe
Shalva Toreli-Akhaltiskheli was a Georgian military commander and courtier, of the noble house of Toreli-Akhaltsikheli.Shalva was one of the most notable military commanders during a series of expansionist wars waged by the Kingdom of Georgia under Queen Tamar . He consecutively held top posts of...
and Ivane Akhaltsikheli during the Khwarezmian invasion in 1225.
The Toreli went in gradual decline during the Mongol hegemony
Mongol invasions of Georgia
The Mongol invasions reached the kingdom of Georgia and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in 1234, forcing Georgia into submission by 1238....
over Georgia in the course of the 13th century. Of the Toreli branches, the longest surviving were the Javakhishvili
Javakhishvili
Javakhishvili is a Georgian noble family, a branch of the Toreli , known from the 10th century.The surname Javakhishvili, literally "son of Javakh", derives from the 14th-century nobleman Javakh , a participant of Georgia’s resistance to Timur’s attacks...
, in Shida Kartli
Shida Kartli
Shida Kartli is a region in Georgia. It consists of the following districts: Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, Java, Khashuri.The northern part of the region, namely Java, and northern territories of Kareli and Gori, is controlled by the authorities of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia since...
, eventually confirmed as princes (knyaz
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 the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in 1850.
Some Georgian historians (such as S. Kakabadze
Sargis Kakabadze
Sargis N. Kakabadze was a Georgian historian and philologist, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor.He was born in 1886, in a small village Kukhi . In 1910 he graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Languages of the St.Petersburg University...
, N. Shoshiashvili, S. Tsaishvili) have put forward a tentative hypothesis identifying the medieval Georgian epic poet Shota Rustaveli
Shota Rustaveli
Shota Rustaveli was a Georgian poet of the 12th century, and one of the greatest contributors to Georgian literature. He is author of "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" , the Georgian national epic poem....
with a member of the Toreli family.