The Main Issues of The Estate System in Georgia (from The Ancient Times to 1921)

Abstract

In Georgia, as a country with ancient state traditions, there was a fairly large and strong national religion, which has passed a rather difficult path of development over the course of many centuries.

The best representatives of the Georgian nobility, under the leadership of the kings (in Georgian – "მეფე/Mephe") of Georgia (Parnavazids/Parnavaziani, Bagratids/Bagrationis and others) fought selflessly against foreign invaders who wanted the destruction of our country. The heroic defense of the centuries-old independent state and the Christian faith, which was proclaimed the state religion in Georgia as early as 326, continued uninterrupted until the beginning of the 19^th century.

Georgia had its own aristocratic titles. After Georgia by deception became part of the Russian Empire, the Georgian traditional aristocratic titles disappeared and the Russian titles of prince and nobleman took root. In particular, the direct descendants of the last Georgian kings from the Bagration dynasty received the title of "His Serene Highness the Prince" ("უგანათლებულესი თავადი"), and representatives of the side branches of the same family received the title of "Prince" ("თავადი").

The title of "His Serene Highness the Prince" was also given to the brothers and descendants of the last rulers of pri­n­cipality ("Mtavari/მთავარი") of Megrelia (Samegrelo), Abkhazia (Abkhazeti) and Guria, and their relatives, as well as the descendants of the sovereign princes of Svaneti, bore the title of "Prince" ("თავადი").

The advanced part of the Georgian aristocracy adequately met the challenge of the century, in particular, the collapse of the Russian Empire, the loss of a privileged position in society and the agrarian reform carried out by the government of the newly restored Georgian state, as a result of which large land owners lost huge appanages. In particular, the former state, appanage, church-monastery and private lands exceeded the established norm (7 dessiatinas) were transferred to the land committees.

On November 21, 1917, speaking at the First National Congress of Georgia, the last leader of the Tiflis Governorate (Eastern Georgia) publicly donated all the property of this estate organization to the Georgian people. So did the head of the Kutaisi Governorate (Western Georgia).

The total value of the property of these estate organizations, which prepared its own basis for an independent Georgian state, was 60 million rubles (in gold).

On November 28 of the same year, the Transcaucasian Commission, which was the local supreme government of the entire former region of already defunct Russian Empire, adopted a decree according to which, from that day on, the division of the Caucasus, titles and privileges were exercised throughout the territory of Transcaucasia and all citizens, regardless of national and ethnic origins, could absolutely enjoy equal rights.

In the first Georgian constitution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia on February 21, 1921 in Tbilisi, it was stated that all citizens are equal by law, there are no class distinctions and the awarding of fines, except for the academic one, is prohibited.

Thus, during the existence of the First Georgian Republic, the traditional civil division, titles, privileges and all citizens enjoyed their rights, which was also confirmed  in the cons­titution of the independent state – the Democratic Republic of Georgia.