Battle of Shamkor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Shamkor
Part of Georgian–Seljuk wars
Date June 1, 1195 Location Near Shamkor (present-day Shamkir, Azerbaijan) 40°49′47″N 46°01′08″E / 40.82972°N 46.01889°E / 40.82972; 46.01889 Result Georgian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Georgia Shirvanshahs	Eldiguzids
Commanders and leaders
David Soslan	Abu Bakr
Strength
60,000	80,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Shamkor (Georgian: შამქორის ბრძოლა) was a major battle fought on June 1, 1195. It took place near the city of Shamkor in a region called Arran. In this battle, the Georgian army, led by David Soslan, won a big victory. They defeated the army of Abu Bakr, who was the ruler of the Eldiguzid state.

This battle was part of several conflicts between the Eldiguzids, also known as the "Atabegs of Azerbaijan," and the Kingdom of Georgia. The Eldiguzids became very powerful in the 1130s. At the same time, the Georgian kings were also expanding their lands. Their territories often met in areas like Shirvan and Arran, which led to many clashes.

Why the Battle Happened

The Battle of Shamkor happened after a power struggle (from 1191 to 1195) within the Eldiguzid state. Abu Bakr won this struggle. He had his older brother, Qutluq Inandj, killed. He also forced his younger brother, Amir Mihran, to flee.

Amir Mihran found safety at the court of his brother-in-law, Shirvanshah Akhsitan I. A Shirvanshah was a ruler of Shirvan. Together, Akhsitan I and Amir Mihran traveled to Tbilisi, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Georgia. They asked Queen Tamar of Georgia for help. Queen Tamar was the official protector of Shirvan. She welcomed them and agreed to help. The Georgian army, led by Queen Tamar's husband, David Soslan, then marched towards Shirvan.

The Battle Itself

Abu Bakr gathered his army, which included other Muslim emirs (rulers) who supported him. He met the Georgian army near the well-protected city of Shamkor on June 1, 1195.

David Soslan sent a smaller group of soldiers to try and break through the city gates. Meanwhile, he led the main Georgian army to attack the enemy from behind. The roads were difficult and the land was rough, which made things hard for the Georgians at first. Abu Bakr's army defended the city for a while.

However, David Soslan's plan worked very well. Abu Bakr's army was badly defeated. The Georgians eventually captured Shamkor. They then chased the enemy soldiers all the way to the city of Ganja. Ganja also fell to the victorious Georgian army.

What Happened After

The Georgians took many prisoners and a huge amount of valuable items from the battle. This included the standard (a special flag) of the Caliph, who was a very important Muslim leader. Queen Tamar later gave this standard to the Khakhuli Monastery.

After taking the Shamkor fortress, David Soslan went towards Ganja. When he got close to the city, important people like noblemen, merchants, the qadi (a Muslim judge), and scientists came out to meet him. They opened the city gates and laid out fancy carpets for him. David entered the palace, sat on the sultan's throne, and held a big celebration.

Shamkor and the areas around it were given to the Shirvanshah Amir Mihran. He became a vassal of Georgia, meaning he ruled the area but had to obey the Georgian queen. Sadly, Abu Bakr managed to return to his capital city. From there, he had his brother Amir Mihran poisoned.

See also

• List of Georgian battles
• History of Georgia
• History of Azerbaijan