Religious factor in establishing the Mongolian authorities in Georgia
Authors:   National Pedagogical University by M. Drahomanov, Machai Olena 
Published: April 2021

The article is devoted to the religious relations in the territory of Georgia in the initial stages of the formation of the Mongol Empire and the State of the Hulaguids. Georgia emerged as a powerful state in the Caucasus region at the beginning of the 13th century. However, the expansion of neighboring Khorezm and Islamization around was a major threat in these times. In an effort to protect realm, King of Georgia Georgy XIV Lasha and Queen Rusudan went into alliance with the Catholic Church. However, the Catholics did not aim to save Georgia from Khorezm, so the alliance did not actually existing. The Mongol invasion of Georgia in 1220 was difficult. However, the Mongols have shown tolerance since the beginning of the conquest. The paper analyzes the eyewitness testimonies on efforts to bring peace between Christians and Mongol khans. Such a tolerant religious policy is conditioned by the Mongols' own belief - shamanism, which implies belief in the power of Heaven and fear of punishment for the image of any of the gods. However, there is a rather pragmatic reason for such a toleration: peaceful relations with other religious communities of the empire helped to suppress the resistance of the conquered peoples. For example, the clergymen of all religions were exempt from taxes, and the Mongolian army, as a rule, did not destroy religious buildings during the conquest. Moreover, the khans asked priests of different denominations to pray for them. According to the testimonies of Catholic missionaries in Karakorum, there were a Christians among the Mongol Aristocracy, rather a Nestorian orientation. Therefore, since the beginning of the Mongol conquest of Georgia, Nestorianism has also spread in its territory. During the establishment of the Khulaguid authorities in the Caucasus, Nestorians, who also belonged to the ruling sections of society, took care and custody of Georgian monasteries, assisted clergy and pilgrims. In particular, it was during the rule of the Hulagu that monasteries and churches were established and built in the state, schools and scientific centers were operating, and pathways for pilgrims were laid. In the process of conquering new territories, the Mongols paid great attention to the religious situation in a particular region. In particular, they were able to profitably use military conflicts that were formed on religious grounds. Therefore, in comparison to the possible Islamization of Georgia, the Mongol invasion helped to preserve the Christian religion. The transition of Georgians to Catholic power was also not carried out, which saved the state from possible manipulation by Rome. Although the Mongols were pagans from the beginning of the empire's creation, they were tolerant of Christians both throughout the country and in Georgia in particular. In turn, the Christian Church supported the Mongolian authorities. Georgian clergymen and local mthavars continued to build monasteries and pilgrimage routes; Georgia has been able to preserve Orthodox Christianity as a state religion.