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

king wanted to rebel with all the princes, and [the
Mongols] were recruiting to come and destroy them, since
it was apparent that all the princes were going for a
levee to the king of Georgia, Dawit , in Tiflis.
"And while they were drinking wine, their spirits rose
and an immature man among them said: 'Having such a
multitude of troops, why do we serve [the Mongols]? Come,
let us fall upon them suddenly, destroy and exterminate
them, and we shall have our lands'.
"The great prince Awag intercepted this plot. And the
I'at'ar army happening to be in the place was informed
about it, and the army notified its chiefs.
"As soon as the forces of the princes each went to its
own place thus armed, they [the Mongols] wanted generally
to destroy everyone. The princes they found with them,
they arrested and to those who were not there they sent
summons for them to come in haste...
"...One of the senior leaders, general Chaghatai, head
of the entire army and a friend of Awag, came amidst the
armed troops and said to them; *We have no order from the
Khan to kill those who are obedient to.us, stand in
service to us, and pay taxes to the Khan. And the reality
of their rebellion is not certain. But if we destroy,
them without cause you will be responsible to the Khan'.
Hearing this they ceased following the matter.
"The mother of Awag, named Xosak, went to them to assure
them of her son's loyalty to them and that he soon would
be coming—which in fact happened, since prince Awag
quickly came up and demonstrated his intimacy with them by
many testimonies.
"King Dawit' and the other princes arrives. [The Mongols]
bound all of them tightly, according to their custom, hand
and foot, with thin cords. They left them bound thus
for three days, ridiculing and insulting them for their
arrogance and rebellious plans. And they took all [the
rebels'] horses, put a price on their heads, and left
them. [The Mongols] attacked Georgia, falling upon many
districts of the rebels and non-rebels. They cut down
many people and took even more captive, a countless multitude
of men, women, and children they drowned in the
river. And this took place in 1249/50 (698 A.E.)" (KG
pp. 319-20).
VA:"...Por a census was conducted in 1243/44by which
they worked deeds worthy of lamentation and tears not
merely for [the sake ofj rational animals, but for dumb
animals, mountains and plains, which were watered with
blood and tears. This same lamentation was repeated in
1249/50 because Baiju and the other nobles got wind of
the presumptuousness and rebelliousness of the king and
the princes of Georgia. King Dawit' was arrested as
were other grandees; they were bound and sentenced to
death, though they were spared by concern from On High.
Nonetheless, countless numbers were killed and enslaved,
villages and fields [were destroyed], and they disgraced
women in Armenia—but more so in Georgia" (VA pp. 147-48).
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