Jacques de Vitry, Historia Hierosolymitana (1225)

Jacques de Vitry (c. 1160/70 –  1240) was a French theologian and chronicler who had written an influential history of the Holy Land. Born in central France, he studied at the University of Paris before embarking on his clerical career. In 1211-1213 he preached the Albigensian Crusade, traveled through France and Germany. In 1214 he joined a crusading army and was elected bishop of Acre (Acco, Israel) and spent several years actively involved in the 5th Crusade. in 1219 de Vitry began to write the Historia Hierosolymitana, a history of the Holy Land from the rise of Islam to the Crusades. until the crusades of his own day but his work was interrupted by his return to Europe in 1225. In 1229 he was elevated to the position of cardinal.

De Vitry's Historia Hierosolymitana served as a crucial source of information on the Holy Land and the peoples residing there for many generations of Europeans. His descriptions can be found in virtually all major books written after the publication of Historia Hierosolymitana. This is especially true about his description of the Georgians that served as a standard account for many generations.

There is also in the East another Christian people, who are very warlike, and valiant in battle, being strong in body, and powerful in the countless number of their warriors. They are much dreaded by the Saracens, and have often by their inroads done great damage to the Persians, Medes, and Assyrians, on whose borders they dwell, being entirely surrounded by infidel nations.

These men are called Georgians, because they especially revere and worship St. George, whom they make their patron and standard-bearer in their fights with the infidels, and honour him above all other saints. They read the Scriptures in Greek, and administer the Sacraments after the Greek fashion. Their clergy have round tonsures, and their laity square ones.

Whenever they come on pilgrimage to the Lord's sepulchre, they march into the Holy City [Jerusalem] with banners displayed, without paying tribute to anyone; for the Saracens in no wise dare to molest them, lest on their return to their own country they should revenge themselves on other Saracens their neighbours. Their noblewomen, like the Amazons, bear arms in battle like knights. The Georgians were very indignant, and threatened Corradinus, Prince of Damascus, because he presumed to throw down the walls of Jerusalem against their will, when the Latins were besieging Damietta. They wear their hair and beards about a cubit long, and have hats on their heads. 

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...

Gautier de Metz, L'Image du Monde (1245)

Title page of the 1517 French
edition of "Le Mirouer du monde"

Gautier de Metz (Gossouin or Walther von Metz) was a French priest and poet who became famous for writing the encyclopedic work "Imago mundi" around 1245.  

The book proved to be very popular and was consulted by many contemporaries, who borrowed entire passages while writing their own works; Sir John Mandeville's The Voyage and Travels... for example contains many passages that are taken from Gautier's work. 

The book was soon translated into the French under the title of "L'Image du Monde" and was later printed  as "Le Mirouer du Monde" in 1517. Among other editions, in 1480, William Caxton, one of the first English printers, published an English translation "The Myrrour of the World" which is considered the first English book to be printed with illustrations.  

Gauthier sought to provide a broad overview of the history of the world since the creation of the universe. As such, his work does combine historical facts with embellishments but remains an interesting source for contemporary views and perceptions. The book is divided into three parts - part one contains discussions of theological matters, part two offers descriptions of various places and peoples and part three contains astronomical observations. Among the peoples mentioned in the book were Georgians, whose description Gautier borrowed from Jacques de Vitry, a French theologian who visited the Holy Land and published the Historia Hierosolymitana, a history of the Holy Land from the advent of Islam until the crusades of his own day.

In this region [Asia Minor] there are also other people, 

Christians too, worshiping the Lord a little better,

Fighting strong and mighty so the Saracens [sarrazins/Muslims] fear them and dare not mistreat them.

And because surrounded by enemies, rogues and unbelievers, 

they always invoke the name of Saint George 

for their help and succor, 

these people are called Georgians. 

And they also worship and honor all other [Christian] saints.  

They all have crowns [top of the head] shaved; 

the clergymen wear them round, 

the laity wears them square. 

When they go [to Jerusalem] to worship 

at the Holy Sepulcher of Our Lord, 

the Saracens dare not to demand tolls [peaige] on them 

nor do any harm onto them because they fear 

that when they [Georgians] return, they should revenge themselves
[on other Saracens their neighbours]. 

The noble ladies of this country 

bear arms and fight 

the heathens ["payens"/païens]. 

Their [Georgian] speech [liturgy] and [religious] laws 

are similar to those of the Greeks.

In English edition of 1480, William Caxton added certain passages to this text. While discussing Georgian women, his text reads (original orthography retained): 

"The sarasyns doubte them moche and dar not mysdoo them, but ben to them swete and amyable."

"The gentyl ladyes of the coitre Arme them and ride upon good horses rennyng and swyfte, and fight asprely in the company of the knyghtes of Georgia against the Saracens."