# Battle of Murjakheti

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Battle in Georgia

Battle of Murjakheti Date 12 August 1535 Location Murjakheti, near Akhalkalaki, Samtskhe-Saatabago Result Imeretian victory Territorial changes Annexion of Samtskhe-Saatabago Belligerents Kingdom of Imereti Principality of Mingrelia Principality of Guria Samtskhe-Saatabago Commanders and leaders Bagrat III Rostom Gurieli Qvarqvare III (POW)

The **Battle of Murjakheti** was fought between the armies of the [Kingdom of Imereti](/source/Kingdom_of_Imereti) and the [Samtskhe-Saatabago](/source/Samtskhe-Saatabago) at the place of Murjakheti near [Akhalkalaki](/source/Akhalkalaki), on 12 August 1535.[1]

## Background

During [Qvarqvare III's](/source/Qvarqvare_III_Jaqeli) reign [Persian](/source/Safavid_Iran) influence on [Samtskhe](/source/Samtskhe-Saatabago) was growing day by day. Because of that [Ottomans](/source/Ottoman_Empire) greatly damaged the country and especially it's southwestern region. [Meskhetian](/source/Meskhetians) lords had recognized that under Qvarqvare's rule Samtskhe would finally turn to the Enemy's hands. They made an alliance with the Georgian kings, [Bagrat III of Imereti](/source/Bagrat_III_of_Imereti) and [Luarsab I of Kartli](/source/Luarsab_I_of_Kartli) to end up [Jaqelian rule](/source/House_of_Jaqeli) and protect Samtskhe from dominant Muslim empires ([Ottomans](/source/Ottoman_Empire) and [Safavids](/source/Safavid_Iran)).[2]

## Battle

In 1535 King [Bagrat III](/source/Bagrat_III_of_Imereti) with help of prince [Rostom Gurieli](/source/Rostom_Gurieli) and [Mingrelian](/source/Principality_of_Mingrelia) allies invaded [Samtskhe](/source/Samtskhe-Saatabago). He defeated and captured [Qvarqvare III](/source/Qvarqvare_III_Jaqeli), the [atabeg](/source/Atabeg) was captured by Gurieli's cup-bearer Isak Artumeladze, and eventually delivered to Bagrat. Georgians had annexed Samtskhe-Saatabago. Qvarqvare died in prison, while Rostom of Guria was awarded [Adjara](/source/Adjara) and [Lazeti](/source/Lazistan).[3]

## Aftermath

Map of [Kingdom of Imereti](/source/Kingdom_of_Imereti) after the Battle of Murjakheti.

A few years later, [Qvarqvare's](/source/Qvarqvare_III_Jaqeli) survived youngest son [Kaikhosro II](/source/Kaikhosro_II_Jaqeli) requested [Ottomans](/source/Ottoman_Empire) to expel [Imeretian](/source/Kingdom_of_Imereti) and [Kartlian](/source/Kingdom_of_Kartli) forces from [Samtskhe](/source/Samtskhe-Saatabago). The Ottomans retaliated with a major invasion: [Bagrat](/source/Bagrat_III_of_Imereti) and [Rostom](/source/Rostom_Gurieli) were victorious at the [Battle of Karagak](/source/Battle_of_Karagak) in 1543, but decisively defeated, in 1545, at the [Battle of Sokhoista](/source/Battle_of_Sokhoista), where Rostom's son Kaikhosro was killed.[4][5] And Samtskhe became vassal of the Ottoman Empire.[6]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Lortkiphanidze, Mariam (2012). [*History of Georgia in four volumes, volume III (2012) - p.161*](https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/71580). Magti koms. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789941194078](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789941194078).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *Georgian Soviet encyclopedia*. Vol. 10. Tbilisi. 1986. p. 638.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayfield2012167_3-0)** [Rayfield 2012](#CITEREFRayfield2012), p. 167.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Bagrationi, Vakhushti](/source/Prince_Vakhushti_of_Kartli) (1976). Nakashidze, N.T. (ed.). [История Царства Грузинского](https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/bitstream/1234/3067/1/Istoria_Carstva_Gruzinskogo.pdf) [*History of the Kingdom of Georgia*] (PDF) (in Russian). Tbilisi: Metsniereba. pp. 133–135.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayfield2012168–170_5-0)** [Rayfield 2012](#CITEREFRayfield2012), pp. 168–170.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Georgian Soviet encyclopedia*. Vol. 10. Tbilisi. 1986. p. 658.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

## Sources

- [Rayfield, Donald](/source/Donald_Rayfield) (2012). *Edge of Empires, a History of Georgia*. London: Reaktion Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78023-070-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78023-070-2).

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