MATERIALS ABOUT THE UNKNOWN ASPECTS OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF VAKHTANG (ORBEL) ORBELISHVILI, A FEUDAL LORD OF KARTLI

Abstract

The present work is dedicated to the hitherto unknown aspects of Vakhtang (Orbel) Orbelishvili, a famous Kartli feudal lord of the 17th century, an influential and important political figure of the Kaflanishvili feudal house. Based on mutual comparison of Georgian written sources (Georgian historical documents, Georgian lapidary inscriptions, Georgian embroidery, manuscript testament), we have enriched our knowledge about the feudal house of Vakhtang (Orbel) Orbelishvili and his life-character:

1. a) Orbel's second daughter was named Ketevani, who was married to Teimuraz Mukhranbaton.
2. b) In Georgian historiography, there are various opinions regarding the date of Orbel's death. One part of the scholars (Iase Lortkifanidze) dates his death to the period between 1696/1701, while the other part (Levan Menabde) dates it to 1696. It is worth noting that the location of his age-old resting place was unknown to us. Our attention was drawn to the damaged tombstone inscription next to the epitaph of the grave of Kaflan Orbelishvili of the Fitareti church, which belongs to someone named Orbel. Georgian historians Giorgi Chitaia define the chronology of the tombstone inscription as 1686, and Ekvtime Takaishvili as 1682. However, both scientists do not know who is meant by the name Orbel. We take into account the proximity of the tombstone to the epitaph of Kaflan Baratashvili, and taking this into account, we think that the present tombstone is the tombstone of Vakhtang (Orbel) Orbelishvili, according to which he died in 1686 at the age of 49.
3. c) He and his wife, Tamar, the daughter of Aragvi Eristavi, were also distinguished by their cultural and construction activities. Their name is associated with the creation and editing of many manuscript books, the restoration and repair of Georgian churches and monasteries. One of the clear examples of this is the inscription of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Tanzi. Georgian science dates the epigraphic monument to 1683. Unlike the previous researchers, we focus on one late letter attached to the 12th-century Menaion (S-4999) preserved in the National Center of Manuscripts, from which we learn that in 1682, Orbel (Vakhtang) Orbelishvili and his wife, Tamara, daughter of Eristavi of Aragvi, donated 6 church books to the Church of St. Nicholas of Tandzia. By 1682, the Church of St. Nicholas was already built, and the prayer inscription of Orbel, which is interesting to us, has already been carved over its southern entrance. Based on the small proportions of the temple, we define the chronology of its construction as the end of the 70s of the 17th century and 1682.

Keywords: Epigraphy; Inscription; Historical document; Manuscript; Colophon;