Battle of Basiani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Basiani |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Georgian–Seljuk wars | |||||||
 The plan of the battle |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Georgia |
 Sultanate of Rum Mengujekids |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| David Soslan Zakaria Mkhargrdzeli Shalva Akhaltsikheli Ivane Akhaltsikheli Ivane Mkhargrdzeli |
Süleymanshah II Tughril Shah  Fahrettin Behramşah |
||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 65,000–90,000 | 150,000–400,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy | Heavy | ||||||
The Battle of Basiani was an important fight between the armies of the Kingdom of Georgia and the Sultanate of Rum. This battle took place in the Basiani Valley, which is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast of the city of Erzurum in what is now Turkey. Historians usually agree that the battle happened around 1203 or 1204. It was a major event in the history of both Georgia and the Seljuk Empire.
Contents
When Did the Battle of Basiani Happen?
Historians have discussed the exact date of the Battle of Basiani for a long time. A Muslim writer from that time, Ibn Bibi, said it happened in the year 598 AH. This year in our calendar is between October 1, 1201, and September 19, 1202.
However, many modern experts now believe the battle took place around 1203 or 1204. Some suggest it could have been any time between 1202 and 1206.
Why Did the Battle of Basiani Start?
At the end of the 1100s, the Sultanate of Rum was facing many problems. There were attacks from Turkmen groups and struggles for power among the rulers. In 1197, a leader named Rukn ad-Din Suleiman Shah took control of the city of Konya. He then started to expand his power, challenging the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of Georgia.
Georgia's Growing Power
At the same time, the Kingdom of Georgia was becoming very strong. This period is known as the Georgian Golden Age. Under Queen Tamar, Georgia had already won a big victory against a large Muslim army in the Battle of Shamkor in 1195.
Both Georgia and the Sultanate of Rum wanted to control the southern coast of the Black Sea. This area was important because the Byzantine Empire was weak there.
Sultan Rukn ad-Din's Challenge
Sultan Rukn ad-Din Suleiman Shah was worried about Georgia's success. He gathered Muslim leaders from different areas to fight against Georgia. He wanted to weaken the power of Christian Georgia and take over its lands.
Between 1201 and 1203, Rukn ad-Din's forces captured Erzurum. This city was important because its ruler was a vassal (a ruler who owed loyalty) to Georgia. Rukn ad-Din replaced Georgia's ally with his own brother.
A Message of Defiance
Sultan Rukn ad-Din sent a messenger to Queen Tamar. The message demanded that Georgia surrender. It also threatened to destroy Christians who did not obey. The Sultan's letter called Queen Tamar "simple-minded" and a "murderer and tax collector of Muslims."
Queen Tamar replied politely at first. She said, "You rely on gold and many warriors, I... on the power of God."
The ambassador also added a personal message from Rukn ad-Din. He said the Sultan would marry Tamar if she became a Muslim. If not, she would become his concubine (a lower-status wife). The Georgian commander, Zakaria II Mkhargrdzeli, was very angry. He told the ambassador that if he were not a messenger, his tongue and head would be cut off. He warned that God's judgment would come upon Rukn ad-Din through the Georgians.
The Battle of Basiani
The Georgian army quickly got ready for battle. It had between 65,000 and 90,000 soldiers. As soon as Rukn ad-Din's messenger left, the Georgian army marched out. It was led by David Soslan, Queen Tamar's husband. Many famous commanders were part of this army, including Zakaria and Ivane Mhargrdzeli.
A historical account called "The Story of Queen Tamar" describes how the army gathered in Vardzia. Queen Tamar herself spoke to the troops from a church balcony. The chronicle says she walked barefoot at the head of her army, with tears on her face.
Sultan Rukn ad-Din also gathered his forces. Muslim sources claim his army had between 150,000 and 400,000 soldiers. His brother-in-law, the Emir of Erzincan, helped him.
Rukn ad-Din's huge army moved towards Georgia's borders. They set up camp near Basiani. The Georgian army was placed in a smart way. Units from western Georgia were on one side, and units from eastern Georgia were on the other. A strong force of 40,000 warriors was in the middle. The vanguard (the front part of the army) was led by Zakaria II Mkhargrdzeli.
During the night, the Georgians launched a surprise attack with their advance group. This caused a lot of confusion among the enemy soldiers. The Sultan managed to gather his forces and fight back. However, his army was surprised again by attacks from the sides, which led to their defeat.
The Sultan's forces fought very hard. At one point, the Georgian horsemen had to fight on foot and were almost defeated. But then, other Georgian groups led by David Soslan attacked from the side. They surrounded the Turkish soldiers.
One historian, Ibn Bibi, said that the Sultan's standard bearer's horse slipped and fell. This made people think Rukn ad-Din was dead, which caused his army to lose hope. Another historian, Aksaray, said the Seljuks lost because they were ambushed. The Georgian history books say the Georgian soldiers were very brave and had God's help, even though they almost lost at one point.
What Happened After the Battle?
.jpg)
The Battle of Basiani caused many deaths on both sides. Sultan Rukn ad-Din had to retreat back to Erzurum. The Georgians captured the battle flags of the enemy. Many of the Sultan's allies were captured by the Georgians, including the Emir of Erzincan.
An Armenian historian, Vardan Areveltsi, wrote that David Soslan "filled Georgia with captured and plundering Turks." Queen Tamar was very angry that the Emir of Erzincan had attacked a former ally of Georgia. She ordered that he be sold into slavery for the price of just one iron horseshoe. This showed how little she valued him.
The victory at Basiani made Georgia even stronger in the region. Queen Tamar used this success to take control of new areas like Arran and Dvin. She also brought the Emirate of Kars, the Shah-Armenids, and the emirs of Erzurum and Erzincan under her rule.
Even after the defeat, Tughril Shah, Sultan Rukn ad-Din's brother, still controlled Erzurum. However, in 1206, the Georgians captured Erzurum and Kars.
After the victory, a Georgian archbishop named Anton Gnolistavisdze found an Arabic medical book. He translated it into Georgian. This book, called "Book for Doctors," became one of the first important medical works in Georgia based on ancient Greek medicine.
Images for kids
-
The plan of the battle
-
Double-headed eagle of the Sultanate of Rum
-
Suleyman II of Rum (1198-1199 CE)
