Sailing and Trade in Ancient Georgia

Photo by: Sudak Ube

An unknown merchant from Tbilisi in the 14th century - Abrano Tbileli, was nothing more, nothing less - a major banker (Bancherius).

Bankers held an important place in the Genoese colony of Kafa/Crimea. Eventually, this colony ended up entirely in the hands of the Bank of San Giorgio. An institution similar to banks – “Ortagha”, existed in ancient Georgia as well.

It is impressive that Abran Tbileli was such a major banker that he subsidized many expenses of the Genoese colony of Crimea - Soldaia (Sudak), for example:

1. Reimbursement of the personal expenses of the Genoese consul.

2. Covering the costs of maintaining the city's (Soldaia/Sudak) mechanical clock, several times.

For example: On September 4, 1361, the watch keeper Stefano Laloma received 50 aspers from Abrano Tbileli's bank account for watch oil (Item die IIII septembris acipiemto Sthephano Laloma custode relogii et sunt pro oleo mensium quatuir finitorum in kalendis ianuarii proxima venture de racione Abrani de Tefelixio in CCCLXI asperos L)

3. Strengthening the walls of Soldaia.

4. Making a flag in Soldaia.

5. Renting a crossbow.

6. Lighting the city at night.

7. Salary of the ship's crew doctor.

8. Gilding the statue of St. George.

9. Purchase of paper and ink for court proceedings.

10. Expenses for sending Genoese embassies to various countries.

11. Expenses for gifts to foreign ambassadors and interpreters.

12. Hire of guards.

13. Expenses for wine at the banquet.

14. Hire of executioners for the execution of condemned prisoners.

15. Equipping of ships.

16. Hire of trumpeters.

17. Hire of trading posts.

18. Fees for the dissemination of death notices.

19. Transport of grain from Kafa to Soldaia.

20. Fees for gifts sent to neighboring rulers.

It is noteworthy that in numerous Genoese records Abrano Tbileli is not mentioned personally anywhere and in all cases only his bank account is mentioned. Perhaps, like the later San Giorgio Bank, Abrano Tbileli's bank also had several branches and its central part was located in Tbilisi, which also had a branch in the Genoese colonies of Crimea, where banking and trade capital was maintained at the highest level.

Beka Chichinadze