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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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was unwill<strong>in</strong>g .<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>n <strong>and</strong> Georgian sources tend to comb<strong>in</strong>e<br />

Into one account events from <strong>the</strong> first <strong>and</strong> second <strong>Mongol</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>vasions, <strong>of</strong> 1220/21 <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> 1236. Naxarar reaction<br />

seem<strong>in</strong>gly was quite similar on both occasions, <strong>and</strong> almost<br />

identical with <strong>the</strong> reaction to Jalal al-D<strong>in</strong>. Some <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Armeno-Georgian forces fought, while o<strong>the</strong>rs deserted<br />

<strong>and</strong> took refuge <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir strongholds. Dissension <strong>and</strong><br />

rivalries among <strong>the</strong> resist<strong>in</strong>g troops are reported by<br />

o<br />

<strong>the</strong> sources . Despite <strong>the</strong> numerical superiority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Armeno-Georgian army, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mongol</strong>s were discipl<strong>in</strong>ed fighters.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir adversaries were not.<br />

1 KC pp. 173-74; Mur. pp. 63-64.<br />

2 GA pp. 292,294: "...When, <strong>the</strong> aews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Tat'ars was learned, Iwane took <strong>the</strong> cavalry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Georgian<br />

k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>and</strong> came to Gag, to <strong>the</strong> grgat <strong>and</strong> wise pr<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

Varham [Gageli], son <strong>of</strong> Flu Zak'are. Tak<strong>in</strong>g him with his<br />

own army, he went aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> Tat'ars. <strong>The</strong> mighjy <strong>and</strong><br />

great pr<strong>in</strong>ce Varham took <strong>the</strong> right w<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Iwane <strong>the</strong> left<br />

...When <strong>the</strong> battle was jo<strong>in</strong>ed, through <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong><br />

Satan, <strong>the</strong> enemy <strong>of</strong> Truth, Hamidawla, <strong>the</strong> lord <strong>of</strong> Hanasa<br />

stable, becau.se <strong>of</strong> some grudge, hamstrung <strong>the</strong> horse <strong>of</strong><br />

At'abak Iwane. When <strong>the</strong> Nation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Archers saw such<br />

oiesension amongst <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong>y grew stronger <strong>and</strong> attacked<br />

<strong>the</strong> Georgian cavalry, mercilessly kill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m".<br />

171

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