# Battle of Botora

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{{Short description|1120 battle of the Georgian-Seljuk Wars}}{{Infobox military conflict
| caption           = 
| conflict          = Battle of Botora
| partof            = the [Georgian–Seljuk wars](/source/Georgian%E2%80%93Seljuk_wars)
| date              = February 14, 1120
| place             = [Botora](/source/Botora),
[Kingdom of Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Georgia)
| coordinates       = 
| result            = Georgian victory
| combatant1        = {{flag|Kingdom of Georgia}}
| combatant2        = [Seljuk Empire](/source/Seljuk_Empire)
| commander1        = [David IV](/source/David_IV)
| commander2        = Unknown
| strength1         = 
| strength2         = 
| casualties1       = 
| casualties2       = 
}}

{{Campaignbox Georgian-Seljuk wars}}

The '''Battle of Botora''' ({{Lang-ka|ბოტორის ბრძოლა}}) was fought between the armies of the [Kingdom of Georgia](/source/Kingdom_of_Georgia) and the [Seljuk Empire](/source/Seljuk_Empire) on February 14, 1120.

==Background==
In 1116 [David IV](/source/David_IV) suddenly attacked and destroyed the Turks at the [Battle of Tao](/source/Battle_of_Tao).{{Sfn|Metreveli|2011|p=67}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeVries |first1=Kelly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dj52EAAAQBAJ |title=Journal of Medieval Military History: Volume XX |last2=Rogers |first2=Clifford J. |last3=France |first3=John |date=21 June 2022 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-78327-718-6 |page=12 |language=en}}</ref> In 1118 David IV destroyed the Turks encamped on the banks of the [Aras](/source/Aras_(river)) at the [Battle of Rakhsi](/source/Battle_of_Rakhsi).{{Sfn|History of Georgia|2012|p=386}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeVries |first1=Kelly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dj52EAAAQBAJ |title=Journal of Medieval Military History: Volume XX |last2=Rogers |first2=Clifford J. |last3=France |first3=John |date=21 June 2022 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-78327-718-6 |page=12 |language=en}}</ref>

==Battle==
King [David IV](/source/David_IV) used to go to [Abkhazia](/source/Abkhazia) and the Turks wintered near the banks of the [Mtkvari](/source/Kura_(South_Caucasus_river)). The Turks had been watching David IV and were following his tracks. David IV went to [Geguti](/source/Palace_of_Geguti) and from there to [Khupati](/source/Hopa) and thus gave the Turks the confidence to return. Learning that he was away, they camped at Botora. The Turks were many and they set up camps to spend the winter. On February 14, David IV suddenly attacked the Turks and completely destroyed them. Only a few of them managed to get on their horses and flee. In the battle the [Georgians](/source/Georgians) captured many Turks and took much booty.{{Sfn|Metreveli|2011|p=80}}{{Sfn|Kaukhchishvili|1955|p=339}}

==Aftermath==
In 1120 [David IV](/source/David_IV) destroyed the Turks camps in [Arsharunik](/source/Arsharunik) and Sevgelamej, and in he did the same in Khunan and [Barda](/source/Barda%2C_Azerbaijan). In all these episodes, the enemy camp was destroyed, meaning that the Georgia army managed to secretly approach it and perform a surprise attack.<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeVries |first1=Kelly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dj52EAAAQBAJ |title=Journal of Medieval Military History: Volume XX |last2=Rogers |first2=Clifford J. |last3=France |first3=John |date=21 June 2022 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-78327-718-6 |page=12 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
* {{Cite book |last=Metreveli |first=Roin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISBN9789941425509 |title=Saint David the Builder |year=2011 |isbn=9789941425509 |location=Tbilisi}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Lortkipanidze |first1=Mariam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISBN9789941195853 |title=History of Georgia in four volumes, vol. II - History of Georgia from the 4th century to the 13th century |last2=Japaridze |first2=Otar |last3=Muskhelishvili |first3=David |last4=Metreveli |first4=Roin |year=2012 |isbn=978-9941-19-585-3 |location=Tbilisi |publisher=National Academy of Sciences of Georgia |ref={{sfnref|History of Georgia|2012}} }}
* {{cite book |last1=Kaukhchishvili |first1=Simon |title=La vie du Karthli – Texte complet et commentaires le concernant |date=1955 |publisher=Publication d'État |isbn=99928-43-44-6 |location=Tbilisi |language=ka}}

Category:1120s in Asia
Category:Conflicts in 1120
Category:Battles of the Georgian–Seljuk wars

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Battle of Botora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Botora) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Botora?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.