Ossetians in Georgian Documentary Sources of the 17th-18th Centuries

Abstract

The paper discusses the settlement and establishment of the Ossetian population in Georgia according to historical documents preserved at the K. Kekelidze Georgian National Center of Manuscripts. Data on the settlement of the Ossetian population in Georgia is mainly provided in documentary sources. At the beginning of the 17th century, Ossetian migration began to the territory of present-day Georgia. They organized marauding campaigns to seize booty, which resulted in the so-called "Ossetianism". Some of the migrating Ossetians became serfs of local feudal lords, received land and fulfilled feudal obligations.

The royal government and feudal lords tried to increase the number of serfs and peasants at the expense of the settled Ossetians, which led to the receipt of state revenues. They created appropriate conditions for Ossetians to settle on the land. The majority of Ossetians tried to become serfs of the king.

The adaptation of the mountain tribal society to the feudal space proved difficult. The enslaved Ossetians did not fare well with the Georgian feudal lords. Documentary sources show that they did not pay taxes and refused to fulfill feudal obligations.

The settled Ossetians attacked and robbed the local population, which became so widespread that the power of the local feudal lords was not enough and the royal government intervened to restore order.

The royal government tried to reconcile the Ossetian criminals, demanding hostages from them as a guarantee of peace and providing for the Ossetian hostages themselves. In addition, the royal government tried to reconcile the Georgians and Ossetians, for which it made them promise non-interference and mutual assistance.