| Alp Arslan's invasions of Georgia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Georgian–Seljuk wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Seljuk Empire Kingdom of Kakheti-Hereti Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget Emirate of Tbilisi Shaddadids |  Kingdom of Georgia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alp Arslan Aghsartan I Kiurike II Fadl ibn Shavur | Bagrat IV | ||||||
Alp Arslan's invasions of Georgia occurred in 1064 and 1068 and were led by Alp Arslan of the Seljuk Empire.
In February 1064 Alp Arslan set out from Rey and divided his army into two divisions after crossing the Aras river. [1] [2] While he marched on Georgia the armies of Malik Shah and Nizam al-Mulk captured some Byzantine fortresses. [2]
Rulers of Aran, Shirvan and other regions also participated in this invasion. Alp Arslan arrived in Akhalkalaki. The Meskhetians put up a relentless resistance, but were defeated in an unequal battle. The population moved to the mountains. Alp Arslan demanded tribute from Georgians. Bagrat IV was ready to make some concessions to save the country, but Bagrat refused to recognize the Seljuk sovereignty and pay tribute. [3] Alp Arslan captured the region between Tiflis and the Çoruh river as well as Akhalkalaki and Alaverdi. [4]
In 1068, Alp Arslan invaded Georgia for the second time, he conquered Kakheti and took a lot of wealth. King Agsartan I of Kakheti promised obedience to the Sultan. Now with a big gift. He converted to Islam and undertook to pay tribute. Then Alp Arslan, accompanied by Agsartan, the Armenian king Kiurike and the Emir of Tbilisi, invaded Kartli and conquered it. Georgia was filled with Motaresh Seljuks. In western Georgia, the advance of the enemy was stopped by the strong resistance of the Georgians at the fortress of Sver. As a result of these invasions, Khornabuj, Aradeti, Gagi, Agarani, Kavazni and others, which fell into the hands of the Seljuks, Alp Arslan gave the lands to Emir Fadl of Ganja while returning. He also gave it Tbilisi and Rustavi. After the departure of Alp Arslan, Bagrat regained the lost land by fighting. Bagrat also raided Ganja. [5]
Alp Arslan, born Muhammad bin Dawud Chaghri, was the second sultan of the Seljuk Empire and great-grandson of Seljuk, the eponymous founder of the dynasty. He greatly expanded the Seljuk territory and consolidated his power, defeating rivals to the south and northwest, and his victory over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert, in 1071, ushered in the Turkmen settlement of Anatolia.
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