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The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...

The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...

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10<br />

She emir <strong>of</strong> Ganjak permitted <strong>the</strong> Qlpchaqg to settle <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> environs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city, <strong>in</strong>tend<strong>in</strong>g to use <strong>the</strong>m aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

Georgian <strong>in</strong>cursions. <strong>The</strong> atabek Iwane mustered troops <strong>and</strong><br />

went aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>m, but he was defeated, hav<strong>in</strong>g underestim-<br />

ated <strong>the</strong>ir strength. What was worse, many naxarars <strong>and</strong><br />

didebuls were captured, <strong>the</strong>n killed or ransomed for huge<br />

sums <strong>of</strong> money 1 . <strong>The</strong><br />

Qlpchaqs cont<strong>in</strong>ued loot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> raid<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong> people <strong>the</strong>re had been placed <strong>in</strong> great straits by <strong>the</strong><br />

Georgian army, which ru<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong>ir l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> enslaved man<br />

<strong>and</strong> beast. <strong>The</strong> Ganjakec '<br />

is gave <strong>the</strong> Huns an area to<br />

reside, located with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> conf<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> oity <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y<br />

aided <strong>the</strong>m with food <strong>and</strong> dr<strong>in</strong>k so that with <strong>the</strong>ir help<br />

<strong>the</strong> citizens might resist <strong>the</strong> Georgian k<strong>in</strong>gdom. <strong>The</strong> Hun<br />

army halted <strong>the</strong>re <strong>and</strong> settled", EG p. 204. Yardan; "...And<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same year [12231 a large army <strong>of</strong> Huns called<br />

Qlpchaqs (Xw$ai) came to Ganjak <strong>and</strong> united with <strong>the</strong>m<br />

[i.e., with <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> Ganjak]. And because our forces<br />

went aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>m carelessly <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> surety, <strong>the</strong>y were<br />

dispersed, separated, <strong>and</strong> fled. Many were killed by <strong>the</strong><br />

sword, while o<strong>the</strong>rs were taken alive <strong>and</strong> put <strong>in</strong>to prison<br />

-some from among <strong>the</strong> glorious azats Included. Among <strong>the</strong><br />

prisoners were <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ce called Grigor son <strong>of</strong> Zalbak <strong>and</strong><br />

his nephew (bro<strong>the</strong>r's son) <strong>the</strong> manly <strong>and</strong> valliant champion<br />

named Papak . <strong>The</strong>y were avenged <strong>the</strong> next year when our<br />

forces wiped out a large part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Qlpchaqs when <strong>the</strong><br />

latter came to <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> TardanaSat", 7X pp. 142-43.<br />

1<br />

Ibn al-Athir. pp. 468-69? Klrakos: "<strong>The</strong>n Iwane mustered<br />

troops <strong>and</strong> arrogantly went aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>m. He boasted<br />

greatly that he would exterm<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> city as well,<br />

plac<strong>in</strong>g his trust <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> multitude <strong>of</strong> h soldiers <strong>and</strong> not<br />

<strong>in</strong> God Who gives <strong>the</strong> victory to whomever He pleases. When<br />

<strong>the</strong> two groups clashed, <strong>the</strong> barbarians calmly emerged from<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir lairs <strong>and</strong> put to <strong>the</strong> sword <strong>the</strong> wearied <strong>and</strong> [God-Jforsaken<br />

Georgian army. <strong>The</strong>y arrested many <strong>and</strong> put <strong>the</strong><br />

rema<strong>in</strong>der to flight. <strong>The</strong>re was, that day a great destruction<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christian troops. So many were ab<strong>and</strong>oned by<br />

<strong>the</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> God that one poor [fight<strong>in</strong>g] man was<br />

able to capture many brave <strong>and</strong> experienced warriors, like<br />

a shepherd lead<strong>in</strong>g his flock before him. ?or God had<br />

removed His aid from <strong>the</strong>ir swords <strong>and</strong> did not succor <strong>the</strong>m<br />

<strong>in</strong> battle. <strong>The</strong> Qlpchaqs brought <strong>the</strong> honorable men [<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

captives] <strong>and</strong> sold tEem for some cloth<strong>in</strong>g or food. Persians<br />

bought <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> tormented <strong>the</strong>m with impossible tortures,<br />

dem<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g such quantities <strong>of</strong> gold <strong>and</strong> silver that it was<br />

impossible to pay. And many died <strong>the</strong>re <strong>in</strong> 3a.il,<br />

100

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