Secular and Ecclesiastical Legal Monuments in Georgia

Legal sense had been developing in Georgia since ancient times and the process of its formation went in parallel with the development of statehood. For a long time social life was regulated by so called „unwritten laws“ or customary laws as well as by „written“ laws or the legislation sanctioned by the State. At the early stages of Christianity Old Testament „Sjuli“ or so called Laws of Moses and Byzantine ecclesiastical legislation were operating in Georgia.

The oldest legal monuments, which have survived to this day, are Royal Charters of the 11th century. They serve as evidence of the developed legal institutions and legal practice.

Georgian legal monuments are divided into two categories: Ecclesiastical and Secular. The Codes of Laws by Beqa and Aghbugha, and Giorgi V Brtskinvale compiled at the end of the 13th century and during the whole 14th century are the oldest original legal monuments of secular character. Ecclesiastical legal monuments are even older. At the beginning of the 11th century the Minor Book of Law (“Mtsire Sjuliskanoni“) was translated from Greek. The Great Book of Law (“Didi Sjuliskanoni“) was also translated from Greek at the end of 11th century.

Twenty two samples of legal monuments kept in the National Centre of Manuscripts are presented at the exhibition.

Among them are charters signed by King Tamar, Bagrat IV, Giorgi III, King Solomon of Imereti, Giorgi XII, Erekle II and other officials, also „Dasturlamali“ or Civil Service Regulations compiled by King Vakhtand VI in 1707-1709.

The aim of the exhibition is to raise public awareness on the history of medieval secular and ecclesiastical justice in Georgia.
The exhibition has been prepared by UNDP "Support to Justice System" project, Tbilisi City Court and Contemporary Art Club (CAC).