Iberian Gates

{{Short description|Passage in historical Georgia}} The '''Iberian Gates''' ({{lang-ka|იბერიის კარი}}, {{langx|tr|Gürcü Boğazı}}) is situated in the westernmost extension of historical [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] ([[Zemo Kartli]]), on the plateau of the [[Mescit Mountains]] (Mount Uzundere), known as the [[Moschia|Meschic mountains]] in [[History of geography|Greco-Roman geography]]. The place is recorded as '''Gurji-Boghazi''' (საქართველოს ყელი) in the ''[[Description of the Kingdom of Georgia]]'' by 18th century, Georgian geographer [[Vakhushti of Kartli|Vakhushti Batonishvili]].<ref>Vakhushti Prince (Bagrationi). Geography Georgia., 1904, Tiflis.</ref>

== In history == {{Location map+|Caucasus mountains|width=300px|float=right|caption='''Blue dot''' =approximate location of '''Iberian Gate'''|places= {{Location map~|Caucasus mountains|label=Iberian Gate|position=right|mark=Location dot blue.svg|lat=40.38|long=41.49}}|thumb}} [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]'s invasion of Iberia, remembered not only by the Georgian historical tradition, but also by [[Pliny the Elder]] (4.10.39) and [[Gaius Julius Solinus]] (9.19), appears to be memory of some [[Rise of Macedon|Macedonian]] interference in Iberia, which must have taken place in connection with the expedition mentioned by Strabo (11.14.9) sent by Alexander in 323 BC to the confines of Iberia, in search of gold mines.<ref>Toumanoff, p. 9</ref> Alexander reportedly brought [[Azo of Iberia|Azoy]] (Azo). together with followers, to [[Mtskheta]] and established [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Iberia]]. Azo pulled down all fortresses in the land of Iberia, leaving four fortresses [standing] at the "gates of Iberia", and filling them with soldiers.<ref>Licini, Patrizia (2017). Surveying Georgia’s Past. p. 136.</ref> In the 4th-3rd centuries BC area was part of the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberian Kingdom]] as noted by [[Strabo]].

It was at this pass that the general [[Pompey]] (106-48 BC), as the result of the [[Mithridatic Wars|Roman campaigns against Pontus]] had halted his legions in 65 BC, in his attempts to pursue the defeated King [[Mithridates VI of Pontus|Mithridates VI Eupator]] over the Caucasus. Pompey judged that his legions had reached the edge of the world.<ref>Flynn, Thomas S. The Western Christian Presence in the Russias and Qajar Persia, C.1760-C.1870. Brill, 2016.</ref> The Romans were said to have attempted to block the ravine's mouth with defensive wooden and iron-bound gates as recorded by the [[classics]]. The Iberian gates led to quicker access into the Roman province of [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Greater Armenia]], whenever necessary in military operations. During [[Byzantine–Sasanian wars]] (421–422), the Iberian gates had come into the possession of the [[Huns]]. [[Kavadh I]] with help of [[Vakhtang I of Iberia|Vakhtang I]] of [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberia]] seized and fortified it, though less as a precaution against the Romans than against the Huns and other northern barbarians.<ref>Smith, W., Grove, G. and Müller, K. (1872). An historical atlas of ancient geography, biblical and classical. London: John Murray.</ref> Once the [[Perpetual Peace (532)|Hundred Years Peace]] between Sassanian Persia and Byzantine collapsed, Kavadh I summoned Vakhtang as a vassal to join in a new campaign against Byzantine. However, Vakhtang refused, provoking a successful [[Iberian War|Iranian invasion of Iberia]], where he was defeated. On the decline of the Persian power, the Iberian frontier was the scene of the operations of the emperors [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] and [[Heraclius]]. According to treaty in A.D. 928 it passed to Georgian Bagratids. Between the 13th and 17th century it was part of the [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] principality of [[Samtskhe atabegate|Samtskhe]], latter was annexed by [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1550.

==See also== * [[Gates of Alexander]] * [[Darial Gorge]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Sasanian defense lines]]