The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...
The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...
The Turco-Mongol Invasions and the Lords of Armenia in the 13 ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Dawit', son <strong>of</strong> Lasa, who was subject to <strong>the</strong> T'at'ars, was<br />
placed <strong>in</strong>to straits <strong>and</strong> wearied by <strong>the</strong> numerous <strong>and</strong><br />
impossibly heavy taxes dem<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>of</strong> him, <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ces,<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>s, which <strong>the</strong>y could not bear. He left<br />
his city Tiflia, his throne, <strong>and</strong> everyth<strong>in</strong>g he owned <strong>and</strong><br />
fled to <strong>the</strong> depths <strong>of</strong> Ap'xazia <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fortresses <strong>of</strong><br />
Suanet'ia. With him went many o<strong>the</strong>r great pr<strong>in</strong>ces <strong>of</strong><br />
districts who were harassed <strong>and</strong> harried, bankrupt, <strong>and</strong><br />
who had mortgaged cities <strong>and</strong> districts but were still<br />
unable to satiate <strong>the</strong> evil leech-like appetite [<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Mongol</strong>s], So fraught, Dawit' fled, but he was unable to<br />
take with him his wife queen Gone'a <strong>and</strong> his newborn son<br />
Demetre. He took along only his first born son Giorgi"<br />
(KG p. 389).<br />
Arghun pursued him, but was unable to catch up. He<br />
destroyed <strong>and</strong> enslaved many Georgian districts, destroy<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> mausolea <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gs at Gelat'i <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> kat'olikosate<br />
at Aclor. Suddenly some 400 Georgian cavalry appeared<br />
<strong>and</strong> scared <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>s. "And Argjiun became frightened<br />
<strong>and</strong> dared not so braeenly enter <strong>and</strong> search places. He<br />
returned to HQlegti plann<strong>in</strong>g wickedness <strong>in</strong> his heart. He<br />
seized <strong>the</strong> Georgian queen Gone'a, her daughter Xoiak, <strong>the</strong><br />
great pr<strong>in</strong>ce Sahnsah, Hasan Jalal <strong>the</strong> lord <strong>of</strong> Xa$en <strong>and</strong><br />
many o<strong>the</strong>rs because <strong>of</strong> debts <strong>and</strong> taxes Cowed]. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
people gave much treasure <strong>and</strong> barely saved <strong>the</strong>ir lives."<br />
(KG p. 390). However Hasan Jalal was executed <strong>in</strong> 1261/62.<br />
"Now it happened that Zak'are [Sahnsah1s son] wag with<br />
Arghun <strong>and</strong> his many troops <strong>in</strong> Georgia. And Zak'are went<br />
unbeknownst to Arghun <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r soldiers to see his<br />
wife who was with ner fa<strong>the</strong>r Sargls, pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Uxteac',<br />
one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rebels with <strong>the</strong> Georgian k<strong>in</strong>g Dawit'. When<br />
ArKhun learned about this, he notified Httlegtt who himself<br />
ordered that Zak'are be taken shackled. He heaped o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
false accusations upon him, ordered him killed, dismembered<br />
<strong>and</strong> thrown to <strong>the</strong> dogs^ (KG p. 393).<br />
VA notes that Zak'are, <strong>the</strong> sparapet <strong>of</strong> Georgia..."was<br />
falsely accused with delay<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g to court at <strong>the</strong><br />
set time he was supposed to" (VA p. 153); Interest<strong>in</strong>gly,<br />
SO says noth<strong>in</strong>g about this rebellion, ei<strong>the</strong>r. KG pp.<br />
238-49, passim; Mur. pp. 110-21, passim.<br />
129