Vincent of Beauvais

Vincent of Beauvais (Vincent de Beauvais), Vincentius (1184/94–1264), French scholar, educator, Dominican friar, and the author of the first medieval encyclopedia.

The encyclopedia was compiled between 1247 and 1260. It encompasses 80 books and is based on nearly 2,000 sources. It consists of three parts: the first pertains to history (Speculum Historiale), the second to theology (Speculum Doctrinale), and the third to nature (Speculum Naturale).

According to the accounts of Vincent of Beauvais, “the Georgians are truly a Christ-worshipping people, they follow the Greek rite, live neighboring the Persians, and are far from the Promised Land: their territory extends almost to the Caspian Mountains. The men are warriors; they have a tonsure on their heads—the clergy have a round one, while the laymen have a square one. Distinguished women are trained in the art of war. When the men prepare for a battle against the enemy, they take a small flask filled with the mixture of wine and water, and immediately thereafter, courageously launch an attack on the opponent.”

Here Vincent of Beauvais partly repeats the accounts of Oliverus, who noted that the Georgians were inspired by the Crusaders' capture of the city of Damietta and decided to conquer some renowned Saracen city.

Literature: თ ვ ა რ ა ძ ე  ა., საქართველო და კავკასია ევროპულ წყაროებში (XII–XVI საუკუნეთა ისტორიოგრაფიული და კარტოგრაფიული მასალის საფუძველზე), თბ., 2004.

A. Tvaradze