Feudal Family of Nekisdze-Sakdrisshvili

Abstract

The information about the Nekisdzes’ feudal family is preserved in several Georgian historical sources of 13th-19th centuries. These are: two scratched inscriptions of 13th-14th cc. and 15th c. written by Neki and Daniel son of Neki from Davit Gareji Udabno Monastery; two deeds of donation of 1442 and 1462 years granted by the bishops of Manglisi-Tbilisi to Daniel Nekisdze and his sons; identical brief information about the chorister of Sioni Cathedral Petre Nekadze who is mentioned in the several manuscript books of 19th c. These sources are well-known in scientific literature. However, their information was not related to each other and the facts mentioned in them were often interpreted differently: the researchers provided different dates for these documents and their evidences. Even the name Nekisdze was often read incorrectly (Neksadze, Nekladze). In the present paper all available data about the feudal family under the consideration are gathered and grouped according the source’s type, content and chronology . As a result of the research the history of Nekadzes’ family is represented in general outlines: Neki, mentioned in the 13 th-14th cc. scratched inscription of Gareji’s Udabno Monastery, according to the rarest name and chronology, should be considered as father, or great grandfa - ther of Daniel (son of Neki), mentioned in the scratched inscription of the first half of 15th c., made in the same Monastery . In later period Daniel took his father’s name as a new family name Nekisdze. The former family, the member of which was Daniel before, even at the edge of 14th-15th cc. had the title of “Sakdrisshvili” – an institution of the noblemen of the Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral and Eparchy . The duty of Nekisdzes, as the privileged “Sakdrishvili” family, was related to the viticulture and wine-making. They governed the lands of the eparchy in Tbilisi’s “Garetubani” – vineyards at Kashueti and Mtatsmindis Khevi.