Urartu Empire: State and Society imprimir
 
One important characteristic that can be found in the series of monarchs is the strong dynastic principle or law, that is revealed by the fact of the king transmitting the title to his son, with which co-governed in his last years. This hereditary principle is observed later in posterior armenian dynasties.
There are evidences showing that after their death, the kings began to be considered gods. The kings of Urartu and their public works were known in all Middle East. These kings own the title of “king of kings”; for really ruled over king or princes of other territories that conformed the kingdom.
The members of the royal family, as well as the noble families, took the most important positions. The king of Urartu had a main counsel, formed by the princes of noble families, the armies’ generals and the prefects of the provinces. This council advised and deliberated, but the final decision was always in the hands of the king.
The public income came from the submitted nobles and kings who paid tributes, from the plunders or war booty, and taxation of mines and merchants. There probably was a Ministry of Economy, for sometimes we found inscriptions detailing the state accounts.
The central government controlled the submitted countries, for which some autonomy was allowed. The administration of these countries depended, case by case, on the situation. They could be classified in three types: 1) peoples of Urartu, 2) submitted countries that maintained their rules with the condition of an annual tribute, and 3) sovereign countries that merged to the general politics of Urartu, as a kind of allies.
The chiefs of the clans must pay tribute in gold and silver, agricultural products and cattle. Besides those hereditary chiefs, there were province governors chosen by and reporting to the king of Urartu. They were responsible for the fiscal and military administration of each province. Many of these governors became permanents in these districts, administrating in name of the throne of Urartu.
During the zenith of the kingdom of Van, the Urartian monarch had sovereignty over all minor governors in the east of Anatolia, the historic Armenia and parts of the current Azerbaijan and Iran.
While the kingdom of Urartu grew beyond its original nucleus around the lake Van, extending to regions as far as the Alexandretta gulf, the east side of lake Urmia and the plains of Erzinjan and Erzurum, the role of the governors dependant from the central government increased proportionally. Cities like Karmir-Blur outside Yerevan and Alin-Tepe near to Erzinjan were provided with contingents of Urartian troops and colons, under the authority of a viceroy with orders to keep the local habitants under political vigilance and control.
The Urartian society was commanded by a military religious elite, composed by two pillars: the priests and the noble warriors. Social classes were very well delimitated: the priests took care of religious ceremonies and the protection of the science. The noble warriors. with main functions related to the war, own cultivable lands where they worked as farmers.
Based on the evidence found, the slavery in the empire is not registered, even though it is not discarded. Besides, Inscriptions have been found that could infer that Urartians had administrative-judicial regulations and laws.
Military Organization
Regarding military organization, the Urartians had squadrons and regiments. Only the nobles were allowed to command the armies. Besides the king and his heir, there was a chief commander, a vice-commander and generals of the different regiments. According to chronic of Sargon of Assyria, the army of Urartu had mostly infantry soldiers and assault chariots, its cavalry was remarkable, and it had very good climber soldiers due to the topographic nature of their land.
The weapons they used (arches, arrows, garrotes, lances, daggers) were the type of Minor Asia and the of primitive greeks. The fighting technique was from the highs rather than infighting. In terms of protection, they used helmets, shields, metallic meshes, boots and leg protection. The helmets were round and they finish in pick (the oldest had pelage in the superior part and were imitated by the greeks). They had catapults and structures to besiege like towers. They knew attack and defensive techniques. The supply of the army was done with horses, donkeys, camels and chariots.
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