''Spaspet'' ( ka, სპასპეტი) was a feudal office in Georgia that originated in ancient Iberia. It is usually translated in English as High Constable. The institution of ''spaspet'', like its rough equivalent ''

sparapet ' ( hy, սպարապետ) was a military title and office in ancient and medieval Armenia. Under the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, the ' was the supreme commander of the kingdom's armed forces. During the Arsacid period and for some time afterwards ...

'' in neighboring Armenia, was designed under the influence of the Sassanian Persian '' spahbed'', but differed in that it was a non-hereditary rank and included not only military, but also civil functions.Robert Bedrosian, "Sparapet", in: Joseph Reese Strayer (1983), '' Dictionary of the Middle Ages'', p. 460. Scribner, . According to the medieval Georgian chronicles, the rank of ''spaspet'' was introduced by the first king P’arnavaz in the 3rd century BC. At the same time, it served as ''

ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

'' duke of Inner Iberia (Shida Kartli), around

Mtskheta Mtskheta ( ka, მცხეთა, tr ) is a city in Mtskheta-Mtianeti province of Georgia. It is one of the oldest cities in Georgia as well as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. Itis located approximately north of T ...

and

Uplis-Tsikhe Uplistsikhe ( ka, უფლისციხე ; literally, "the lord's fortress") is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia, some 10 kilometers east of the town of Gori, Shida Kartli. Built on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River, it ...

. It seems that this office was in fact occupied by the member of the Iberian royal family or an especially high dignitary next in seniority to the king. The Roman geographer

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...

(63/4 BC-AD 24) attests that in the royal hierarchy of Iberia "the second in line administers justice and commands the army." It is also possible to equate these dignitaries with the Iberian viceroys ('' pitiakhsh'') whose hereditary

necropolis A necropolis (plural necropolises, necropoles, necropoleis, necropoli) is a large, designed cemetery with elaborate tomb monuments. The name stems from the Ancient Greek ''nekropolis'', literally meaning "city of the dead". The term usually im ...

was uncovered in Armazi.

David M. Lang David Marshall Lang (6 May 1924 – 20 March 1991), was a Professor of Caucasian Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He was one of the most productive British scholars who specialized in Georgian, Armenian and an ...

, "Iran, Armenia and Georgia", in: W.B. Fischer, Ilya Gershevitch, Ehsan Yarshster (ed., 1993), ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', p. 515. Cambridge University Press, . The office, in a variously modified manner, survived into medieval and early modern Georgia down to the Russian annexation early in the 19th century.

References

Military ranks of Georgia (country) Noble titles of Georgia (country) Military history of Georgia (country) Georgian words and phrases Georgian military ranks of Persian origin {{italic title

See also

References