Amirtamira

Amirtamira (Georgian: ამირთამირა; Arabic: أمير‎ ʾamīr) was a mayor or head of the large cities in feudal Georgia, Amirtamira served as provincial governor with military and administrative authority. In the 17th century, the term amirtamira was replaced by Mouravi (town governor). The last amirtamira of Tbilisi was Giorgi Saakadze. Amirtamira was often subordinated to Mechurchletukhutsesi (Finance Minister).

The "Amira" is Arabic term meaning "prince". The position was introduced to Georgia after the initial Arab conquests in the 8th century when Abbasid caliphs appointed emirs of Tbilisi. The ascendancy of emirs ended in 1122 when King David IV seized the city following his decisive victory at Didgori. Thereafter, the amirs became subordinated to the Georgian crown; known as amirtamira, they were appointed to rule large towns.

Unlike the countries of Medieval Europe, where the three elements of political compromise – towns, feudal lords and the church – divided power among themselves and consequently promoted the development of strong centralized nation-states, in Georgia the towns were too weak and were deprived of rights. However social and economic changes in Georgia and the development of feudalism during its Golden Age, encouraged gradual transition of fortress towns to a centre of trade and crafts. The development of handicraft and trade brought about the growth and strengthening of such Georgian cities as Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Dmanisi, Ateni, Gori, Zhinvani, Artanuji, Akhaltsikhe, Samshvilde, Khunani, Khornabuji, Telavi and others.

One of the few attempts of third estate to gain power can be traced to Qutlu-Arslan, as a Finance Minister, he led a party of third estate who proposed an idea of limiting the royal power by a parliamentary-type legislature which, in the view of Qutlu Arslan and his followers, would be consist of two chambers: Darbazi (Royal Council) or an assembly that would meet occasionally to follow the developments in the kingdom, and Karavi, a legislature in permanent sessions. The dispute between the “party of Karavi” and that of the unlimited royal power concluded with the arrest of Qutlu Arslan. In retaliation, the latter’s supporters rose in rebellion, and marched to the Queen’s palace. Tamar agreed to release the oppositionist leader, but his ideas were never materialised. However some other historians believe that in addition to members of the higher secular and ecclesiastical nobility, the "Darbazi" now included representatives of the merchant-class, such as Abulasan amirtamira of Tbilisi.

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