Battle of Bolnisi

The Battle of Bolnisi was fought in 1228 AD near Bolnisi, then part of the Kingdom of Georgia. The invading Khwarazmid Empire was led by Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, its last Sultan, who was driven from his realm by the Mongol Empire and was trying to recapture lost territories. Georgia assembled its own coalition against Jalal ad-Din: Georgians, Kipchaks, Alans, Vainakhs and Leks assembled 40,000 men. Ill-prepared for battle, the coalition went south to Bolnisi where Jalal ad-Din's forces were waiting.[2] Jalal ad-Din saw Kipchak banners, consisting 20,000 men in the Georgian ranks and appealed to them, 'lending a certain Qoshqar to them with a loaf of bread and salt to remind them of their 'former obligations' to his house.[3] The Kipchaks withdrew support from the Georgians. The battle ended with a Khwarezmid victory and is marked as a disastrous event in Georgian history due to betrayal.[2]

Battle of Bolnisi
Part of the Georgian-Khwarazmid wars
Date1228
Location
Bolnisi, Kingdom of Georgia
41°27′N 44°32′E
Result Khwarazmian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Georgia Khwarazmian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Avag Zakarian Jalal al-Din Mangburni
Strength

40,000

After Betrayal 20,000

4,000

After Betrayal 24,000 [1]

References
  1. Alaaddin Ata Malik Juvaini. Tārīkh-i Jahāngushāy [The History of The World Conqueror]., II p.368
  2. Rayfield, Donald (2012). Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. London: Reaktion Books. p. 124. ISBN 978-1780230306.
  3. Anatoly M. Khazanov, Andre Wink (2001). Nomads in the Sedentary World (Curzon in Association With Iias). Routledge. ISBN 9780700713691.

Sources


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