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

of Ganjak, Lori, and Tiflis in which city a frightful
massacre of Christians ensued with the active participation
of resident Muslims who looked upon Jalal as a liberator1.
The northern cities of Ani and Kara, and the southern
cities of Xlat' and Manazkert were besie ged unsuccessfully
2
in 1226 . Certain areas such as Tiflis and Dwin soon were
r p. 328; Abu'l Pida (Malb. trans., p. 230); Kirakos
notes that Jalal al-Din took Tiflis with the oomplioity
of the resident Persians and killed those who refused to
convert to Islam. He describes the forced circumcisions
and the destruction of crosses and churches. "This occurred
not only in Tiflis, but in Ganjak, Naxijewan and elsewhere"
(KG p. 226). The gruesome account in Georgian, with many
additional details and amplifications is found in KC pp.
175-76; Mur. pp. 64-65.
§MP p. 329; MS. HI P. 605} Abu'l Pida (Nalb. p. 231);
BH describes Jalal's seige and capture of Xlat* and Van
in 1229 (BH pp. 394-95); see also SA p. 149; ?ov. YiS..
#388 pp. 845-46, #392 p. 857, #395 P.862, #400 p.sTTT
CIA v.I p.18. The KC provides information not found
elsewhere: "After so destroying Tiflis, they began laying
waste, enslaving, exterminating, and destroying Somxlt'i
and Kaobegian, the borders of lori, K'art'li and Trialetl,
Javaxet 1, Artahan, and parts of Tao and Samc'xe, the
lands around Karnip or and Ani. This chastisement and
providential wrath continued foe five years. For two
years in the beginning [the Kbwarazmiane] destroyed the
country, then for five yearsThey remained In the city
and destroyed the above-mentioned countries. Excepting
fasts and fortresses, there were no other structures
[left standing in the land]", KC pp. 178-79; Mur. pp. 66—
67. Eventually Jalal learned that the Uo.ngg.ls were
approaching, so he left Tiflis for Azerbaijan, meanwhile
urging the sultan of Xlat' the Caliph, and the sultan of
Iraq to help him resist the enemy. They declined,
"...guessing that his army and that ..of Atrpatakan would
be unable to withstand, [Jalal al-Din] quit Atrpatakan
and again went as the fugitive to Tiflis", KC p. 162;
Mur. p. 70. Rusudan summoned her army, opened the Darial
Gates enabling northerners (probably Qlpchaq Turks) to
pour into Georgia, and sent this motley group against
Jalal, who was encamped in Bolnisi valley, Somxit'i.
These royal troops were put to flight by the sultan who
then went on to Tiflis, destroying", KC pp. 182-83; Mur.
P.70.
105