House of Vardanisdze

The House of Vardanisdze (Georgian: ვარდანისძე) was an aristocratic family in medieval Georgia, listed among the Great Nobles (didebuli) of the realm.

History

The family is presumed to have branched off from the Marushisdze, another eminent Georgian feudal clan, a hypothesis supported by the abundance of the name Marushiani in the Vardanisdze family. The first attested member and arguably a founder of the family is Vardan, eristavi of the Svans, in the latter half of the 11th century. The dignity of eristavi (or eristavt-eristavi) of the Svans was hereditary in his descendants later known as Vardanisdze (Vardan + -dze, "a son"). They also held various important posts at the Georgian royal court, including mechurchlet-ukhutsesi (Lord High Treasurer), msakhurt-ukhutsesi (Lord Great Chamberlain) and mandaturt-ukhutsesi (Lord High Mandator) of Likht-Imereti (i.e., west Georgia).

Branches of the family

The family gave origin to two important branches, the Dadiani of Mingrelia, and the Gurieli of Guria while in Svaneti they were replaced by the House of Gelovani.