Feudalism in Ancient Caucasia? On the Iberian Service Nobility in the 5th to 7th Centuries

Abstract

The paper examines the applicability of the concept of feudalism to the South Caucasus region, focusing specifically on the Iberian nobility during the 5th to 7th centuries. It discusses the challenges of transferring the Western European concept of feudalism to the Caucasian and Iranian world, noting that while there are similarities, the term may not be entirely appropriate for the region. The study identifies two main forms of rule in the Caucasus: horizontal, where kings were seen as first among equals and dependent on the support of the nobility, and vertical, where powerful aristocrats maintained considerable autonomy within their clans. The paper argues that both structures were present in Iberia and Armenia, making comprehensive royal authority difficult. The main focus of the study is the impact of Sāsānian reforms, particularly under rulers such as Kavādh I and Ḫosrau I, in the South Caucasus. Here and there, they aimed to weaken the power of the dynastic nobility and introduce a service nobility loyal to the crown. The paper suggests that these reforms influenced the development of feudal structures in Iberia, although implementation varied from region to region and was often retrospectively attributed to specific kings, such as King Vaxtang I. In conclusion, the paper argues that while feudal elements did emerge in the Caucasus, they were closely linked to broader socio-political developments within the Sāsānian Commonwealth, of which the South Caucasian countries were a part, rather than being indigenous or entirely comparable to Western European feudalism.