Eristavi
Sign in to savethumb|Silver coin minted by erismtavari Stephen I of Iberia|Stephanoz I, 7th century. thumb|An 11th-century fresco from Racha depicting the eristavi Kvariani. thumb|Rati, eristavi of Duchy of Racha|Racha of the [[Kakhaberidze family, founder of the Mghvimevi monastery, 13th century.]] Eristavi (; literally, "head of the nation") was a Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine strategos and normally translated into English as "prince" or less commonly as "duke". In the Georgian aristocratic hierarchy, it was the title of the third rank of prince and governor of a large provinc
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thumb|Silver coin minted by erismtavari Stephen I of Iberia|Stephanoz I, 7th century. thumb|An 11th-century fresco from Racha depicting the eristavi Kvariani. thumb|Rati, eristavi of Duchy of Racha|Racha of the [[Kakhaberidze family, founder of the Mghvimevi monastery, 13th century.]] Eristavi (; literally, "head of the nation") was a Georgian feudal office, roughly equivalent to the Byzantine strategos and normally translated into English as "prince" or less commonly as "duke". In the Georgian aristocratic hierarchy, it was the title of the third rank of prince and governor of a large province. Holders of the title were ex-officio commanders of a military 'banner', wore a distinctive dress, ring, belt and spear and rode a particular breed of horse.
Some high-ranking eristavis were also titled as eristavt-eristavi (), i.e. "duke of dukes" or archduke but it is improbable that the holder of the title had any subordinate eristavis. Erismtavari (; literally, "chief of the people" or grand duke) was a similar title chiefly endowed upon the pre-Bagratid rulers of Iberia (Eastern Georgia) and later used interchangeably with the eristavi.