Sir John Mandeville, The Voyage and Travels... (14th century)

"The Voyage and Travels of Sir John Mandeville" is one of the most fascinating medieval travelogues. Styled as a guidebook for pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land, it contains numerous accounts of people and places that they might encounter on their journey. The book was said to have been composed from memory by an English knight who had spent some thirty years travelling in the East. Yet, the book is not what it claims to be. Its authorship itself is doubtful. There is no trace of a Sir John Mandeville in any contemporary sources and the travelogue contain many exaggerations and inaccuracies. Most scholars agree that "Sir John Mandeville" was a pen-name of a 14th century writer  (probably of Flemish origin) who had compiled this book based on other medieval works. The book first circulated in the 1350s and soon acquired extraordinary popularity. Translated in several languages, it shaped European perceptions of the East for some two hundred years. "Mandeville" mentions Georgia in several places and his references are interesting for what they tell about contemporary European knowledge of the country and its peoples.

During his account of the Holy Land, "Mandeville" notes,

There are others that are called Georgians, whom Saint George converted, and they worship him more than all the other saints of Paradise, and they always call him to their aid, and they come from the kingdom of Georgia. These people all have shaved crowns; the clerics wear them round, the laity wear them square; and they hold to the Christian law just as the Greeks do about whom i have told you before.

Later in this work, "Mandeville offers more details on Georgia,

Next is the Kingdom of Georgia, which begins eastwards at a large mountain that is called Abzor [Elbruz], where there dwell many different peoples of different nations, and the country is called Alamo [Alania?]. This kingdom extends towards Turkey and the Great Sea, and [southwards] it borders on Greater Armenia. There are two kingdoms in this country: one is this kingdom of Georgia, and the other is the kingdom of Abchas [Abkhazia]. There are always two kings in the country and both [of them] are Christians, but the king of Georgia is subject to the Great Chan [Mongol khan], and the king of Abchas has the stronger country and has always forcefully defended it against all those who have attacked it, so that they never be made subject to anyone.

In this kingdom of Abchaz, there is a great wonder, for one province of the country, which is a good three days' travel in circumference, and is called Hanyson [?], is all covered in darkness without any light, such that no one can see and no one dares enter it. Nevertheless, those of the country say that sometimes peoples' voices can be heard, and horses whinnying, and cocks singing, and they indeed known for certain that there are people dwelling there, but no one knows which people. And they say that this darkness happened through God's miracle, for a wicked Emperor of Persia who had the name Saures [Shapur II] used to persecute all Christians to sacrifice to his idols and used to ride everywhere with a conscript army to overthrow all Christians. In this country dwelt many good Christians who left all their goods and decided to flee to Greece. When they were on a plain that had the name Megon [?], then the emperor came before them with all his army through a valley to slaughter all the Christians, and the Christians went down on their knees and made their prayer to God. Right away a thick cloud came and covered the emperor and all his army, and they endured there a very long time in such a manner that they could move neither forwards nor backwards, and they thus dwelt covered in this darkness such that they could never get out. And the Christians went away where they pleased, and their enemies dwelt enclosed and overthrown without a blow having been struck.

[...]

Also, out of this land of darkness comes a large river that indeed shows through signs that people dwell there, but no one dares to enter. Know that in these kingdoms of Georgia, Abchaz, and Lesser Armenia, they are good Christians and very devout, for they confess and take communion once or twice a week, and there are many who take communion every day and we do not do this over here...