Utuphursi of Diauehi

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Utuphursi
King of Diaokhi
King of Diaokhi
Reign 9th-8th century BCE
PredecessorUnknown
(previous known ruler Asya)
SuccessorUnknown
(last known ruler)

Utuphursi is the last known ruler of the kingdom of Diaokhi, a confederation of proto-Georgian tribes. His reign spanned over three decades during which he faced the expansionist policy of neighboring Urartu. He fought several battles against kings Menua and Argishti I in the first half of the 8th century BCE. His reign is documented through Urartian texts.

Contents

Biography

Utuphursi is the last known ruler of the Kingdom of Diaokhi, a confederation of tribes in northeastern Anatolia. [1] He reigned in the end of the 9th century and the early 8th century BCE [2] over dozens of proto-Georgian tribes controlling territories from Anatolia to Colchis, from his capital Sasilu (close to the modern Turkish town of Tortum). [3]

Early on, he had to face his powerful southern neighbor, Urartu, whose king Menua (810-786 BCE) led an expansionist policy toward the South Caucasus and saw Diaokhi as the region's center. [4] Menua captured Sasilu after a battle but Utuphursi took refuge in the northeast of the kingdom. Menua continued his campaign, capturing several fortresses and the city of Zua on his way. [5]

Utuphursi was forced to accept his defeat after the fall of his last stronghold, Utu. He recognized himself as a vassal of Urartu and was made to pay an annual tribute of gold and silver, in return for the freeing of Diaokhian prisoners captured during the invasion. [2]

Revolt

Utuphursi's loyalty toward Urartu remained flimsy (Menua himself calls the kingdom a "troubling subject"). [5] Using Menua's death in 786 BCE, he proclaimed his independence by refusing to pay tribute to his successor, Argishti I (786-764 BCE), who launched a campaign against him in 785 BCE. [6] Utuphursi was quickly defeated after the capture of his new capital Zua and agreed once again to Urartu's domination over his kingdom. Argishti I had his victory inscribed over a building in Zua. [7]

A few years later, while Urartu was busy with wars against Assyria, Utuphursi decided to once again revolt. Argishti I returned to Diaokhi and burned down Zua, though keeping Utuphursi on the throne. [8]

In 768 BCE, Utuphursi launched a third revolt but was once again defeated by Argishti I, [9] who chose to annex the southern territories of Diaokhi. [10] Urartu build a series of fortresses on its border with Diaokhi as part of a strategy to rapidly respond to any further challenge to his power. [11] Argishti I would die four years later, and Utuphursi disappeared from historical sources. Diaokhi's final collapse at the hands of a Colchis-Urartu alliance took place either at the end of his reign or shortly after his death. [1]

Bibliography

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References

  1. 1 2 Chkhartishvili 2014, p. 216.
  2. 1 2 Chkhartishvili 2014, p. 213.
  3. Kavtaradze 2002, p. 80.
  4. Suny 1994, p. 6.
  5. 1 2 Melikishvili 1970, p. 375.
  6. Asatiani & Janelidze 2009, p. 16.
  7. Melikishvili 1970, p. 376-377.
  8. Melikishvili 1970, p. 377.
  9. Melikishvili 1970, p. 378-379.
  10. Asatiani & Bendianashvili 1997, p. 30.
  11. Asatiani 2001, p. 32.