Search results

In Western Europe the Church as an institution was integrated into the military system and was obliged to serve the monarchy. Apart from performing vassal duties, the Latin clergy frequently participated in military actions. Although the Church laws forbade clergymen to shed blood, there were many examples of the violation of this rule. The attitude of the Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire concerning the possible participation of the clergy in war differed significantly from that of Latin Europe. The Byzantine priesthood did not become involved in military actions. The Greek Church possessed neither military units nor vassal commitment to the Empire. Despite a very close relationship with the Byzantine Church the attitude of the Georgian Church to the issue differs from that of Byzantium and is closer to the Western practice. The feudal organization of Georgia conditioned the social structure of the Georgian Church and its obligations before the monarchy. Despite the fact that the Georgian Church enjoyed many advantages, it had to take part in military campaigns. The upper circles of Georgian Church dignitaries were accustomed to both conducting military campaigns or taking part in the combat. In regard to military activities of clergy, Georgian law was much more lenient than Byzantine, and in the case of necessity, it even modified Greek legal norms. The conflict with the Christian canons was decided in favor of military necessity, and it was reflected in the legislation

In the medieval art of war siege constituted one of the principal forms of fight. Several basic techniques were used in taking a stronghold, such as assaulting the walls of the fortress, breaching the wall, digging a subterranean tunnel under the wall and enfeeblement of the garrison by lengthy siege. Bearing in mind various data, in the Middle Ages Georgians used the following technical means to capture fortresses: assault ladders, battering rams and other engines for breaching walls, ballistas, stone throwing engines and subterranean tunnels. In the article light is shed on the siege capabilities of the Georgian army of the period. Extensively discussed are the Georgian army's stone throwing artillery, various types of stone hurling engines and the time of their spread in Georgia. Various techniques of capturing fortresses, applied by the Georgians are described. These include mounting the walls with ladder or various improvised means. The hazardous technique of directly assaulting the fortress without preliminary preparation or bringing up heavy siege engines is shown. The capturing of fortresses by means of underground tunnels is discussed separately. By the available evidence it is not apparent that Georgians made use of all the siege techniques known in the medieval world; however, it can be said that they were familiar with and used successfully the basic methods of siege warfare.