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52-526: Didgori generally refers to: Battle of Didgori , a conflict between the Kingdom of Georgia and a Muslim coalition at Didgori near Tbilisi in August 1121 Mount Didgori , Mount Didgori, mountain situated west of Tbilisi Didgori series of Georgian armoured personnel carriers : Didgori-1 Didgori-2 Didgori-3 Didgori Medevac Topics referred to by

104-703: A Seljuk Turkish invasion force led by Bursuq ibn Bursuq at the Battle of Sarmin . In 1117, Aleppo came under the rule of the Artuqid atabeg Ilghazi . In 1118, Roger captured Azaz , which left Aleppo open to attack from the Crusaders; in response, Ilghazi invaded the Principality in 1119. Roger marched out from Artah with Bernard of Valence , the Latin Patriarch of Antioch . Bernard suggested they remain there, as Artah

156-560: A V-shaped line with the tip farthest from the Muslim battle array. From left to right, the divisions were commanded by Robert of St. Lo, Prince Roger, Guy de Frenelle, Geoffrey the Monk and Peter. Meanwhile, Roger held back a sixth division under Renaud Mansoer to protect the Antiochene rear. As the Muslim army waited, the qadi Abu al-Fadl ibn al-Khashshab , wearing his lawyer's turban but brandishing

208-449: A day's march from Tbilisi. Little is known of Ilghazi's exact battle plan or course of action and order of battle other than the commonly suggested deployment of large numbers of light missile troops, particularly archers and light cavalry in the vanguard to harass the enemy lines while the bulk of the army remained behind them in orderly battle formation. It is suggested that Ilghazi's vanguard approached David's army and reported back about

260-405: A lance, rode out in front of the troopers. At first they were incredulous at being harangued by a scholar but at the end of his passionate evocation of the duties and merits of the jihad warrior, according to Kamal ad-Din, the contemporary historian of Aleppo, these hardened professionals wept with emotion and rode into battle. That morning, 28 June, the battle was begun by an archery duel between

312-505: A much smaller force than expected, which might have raised Ilghazi's confidence enough to not expect any surprise. It is also claimed that the Seljuq light cavalry rode in front of the Georgians and started to shoot and taunt them which was received with little to no effect on their morale. There is no evidence of heavy cavalry present on Ilghazi's side or any type of cavalry which could have matched

364-474: A threat. Meanwhile, the Georgians successfully managed to deploy a large portion of their force where they would almost encircle the enemy in a pincer movement. Their opponents remained unaware of such activities. Upon approaching the Seljuq leaders, the deserters, using the self-confidence of the Muslims to their advantage, attacked them with arrows, killing every Seljuq commander in sight and others who were attending

416-463: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Battle of Didgori Medieval Christian sources : 400,000–600,000 or 800,000 Medieval Arab sources Total : 55,600 (Georgian sources) The Battle of Didgori ( Georgian : დიდგორის ბრძოლა , romanized : didgoris brdzola ) was fought between the armies of the Kingdom of Georgia and

468-588: The Mazyadid Dubays b. Sadaqa of Al Hillah , Toghrul and Nakhichevan , with his atabeg Kun-Toghdi , all took part. According to historian Alexander Mikaberidze, "The size of the Muslim army is still a matter of debate, with numbers ranging from a fantastic 600,000 men (as given by Walter the Chancellor and Matthew of Edessa ) to 400,000 ( Sempad Sparapet 's Chronicle), while estimates of modern Georgian historians vary between 100,000 and 250,000 men. Although

520-489: The Seljuk Empire at the narrow place of Didgori, 40 km west of Tbilisi , on August 12, 1121. The large Muslim army, under the command of Ilghazi , was unable to maneuver and suffered a devastating defeat due to King David IV 's effective military tactics. The battle at Didgori was the culmination of the entire Georgian–Seljuk wars and led to the Georgians' reconquest of Tbilisi in 1122. Soon after that David moved

572-618: The Antiochene infantry, posted in front of the knights, and the Turkish bowmen. The crusader army was at first successful when the right-hand divisions of Peter and Geoffrey the Monk attacked and defeated the Artuqids opposed to them. Guy de Frenelle's center division had some success also, but the battle was soon decided on the left flank. Robert of St. Lo and the Turcopoles were driven back into Roger's division, disrupting it. A north wind blew dust in

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624-575: The Apostles records that Judas killed himself in the field, and it was thus known as acheldemach in Aramaic , and ager sanguinis in the Vulgate . The Turks captured 70 knights and 500 soldiers of inferior rank. The high-ranking prisoners were ransomed and 30 men who could not pay their way out were executed. Ilghazi soon went on an alcoholic binge and did not advance to Antioch, where Patriarch Bernard

676-670: The Crusader states in the Levant In the Battle of Ager Sanguinis , also known as the Battle of the Field of Blood , the Battle of Sarmada , or the Battle of Balat , Roger of Salerno 's Crusader army of the Principality of Antioch was annihilated by the army of Ilghazi of Mardin , the Artuqid ruler of Aleppo on 28 June 1119. Antioch and the other Crusader States were constantly at war with

728-467: The Georgian army's main body, while being constantly struck at the flanks by heavy cavalry. After a while, those tactics broke the fighting will of the Muslim army, which was soon routed. Ilghazi reportedly received an injury to his head when a hundred crusaders managed to break through his lines, rushing towards the Seljuq command banner. The numbers of Seljuks fleeing the field was reportedly so large that

780-468: The Georgian cavalry was taking scores of prisoners for several days. As a result, the Georgians were able to liberate the entire region from Muslim influence and even contest territories within the Seljuq Empire , which at that point was left almost defenceless. The captured Seljuqs would serve for David's ambitions to rebuild his kingdom. The unification of Georgia and the elimination of Muslim authority

832-457: The Georgian counterpart. On the other side, the Georgians were facing a significantly superior foe in terms of numbers, but had the strategic as well as tactical advantage. The Georgians were well aware of the Muslim preparations and took necessary precautions. In 1118, after successful completion of David IV 's military reform, a royal guard and a household force known as 'mona-spa', a royal servant host made up of mercenaries and lower nobility

884-439: The Georgian infantry joined the fight, the Seljuq troops started to panic and retreated en masse through the huge gap in their army's rearguard, which wasn't engaged in the battle. This provoked large numbers of uninvolved Seljuq troops to flee as well, causing a massive rout, while their vanguard was completely annihilated. According to a Georgian chronicler, King David’s troops pursued them for three days “putting all of them to

936-484: The Georgian king eventually showed patience and "respected the feelings of the Muslims." A well-educated man, he preached tolerance of other religions, abrogated taxes and services for the Muslims and Jews, and protected the Sufis and Muslim scholars. Having his forces exhausted and being wounded himself, Ilghazi returned to Mardin in a devastated condition. The Didgori battle helped the Crusader states, which had been under

988-524: The Georgian king was well aware of the coalition's plans, he decided to exclude one of the coalition leaders. In the first half of 1121, the Georgians twice attacked the Seljuks in the territory of the Emirate of Ganja and massacred them. As a consequence, the ruler of Arran was no longer able to participate in the campaign. Ilghazi was aware of the defeat of his main ally, but he continued his march. In July 1121,

1040-692: The Georgian politicians of that time saw the Kipchaks as potential allies against the Seljuk conquests. According to Georgian chronicles, Georgians knew about the Kipchaks' good fighting skills, their bravery, and the enormous human resources that they had." After the victories of the Rus' Grand Prince Vladimir II Monomakh in 1109, 40,000 Kipchaks commanded by Otrok Khan , known in Georgia as Atrak'a, son of Sharagan (i.e. Sharukan), fled to Georgia, received baptism, and entered

1092-408: The Georgian right flank, ordering his heavy cavalry to ride straight into the seemingly disorganised Seljuk left flank, which was trying to reinforce the vanguard. Having the advantage of moving downhill, the charge of the Georgian cavalry proved very effective. Almost simultaneously the left wing, under the command of David's son Demetrius , struck the Seljuk right flank also with heavy cavalry. When

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1144-577: The Muslim states of Northern Syria and the Jazeerah , principally Aleppo and Mosul . When Ridwan of Aleppo died in 1113, there was a period of peace, at least for a few years. However, Roger of Salerno , who was ruling Antioch as regent for Bohemond II , did not take advantage of Ridwan's death; likewise, Baldwin II , count of Edessa , and Pons , count of Tripoli , looked after their own interests and did not ally with Roger against Aleppo. In 1115, Roger defeated

1196-518: The Muslims, it can be argued that the Frank soldiers were allies rather than mercenaries. It's supposed that Crusaders arrived to Georgia through Constantinople because the territory between Antioch and Georgia was occupied by the Seljuks. King David could not allow Ilghazi to unite with the Tbilisi Muslims, so he decided to intercept him on his way there. He used a strategy of surprise and to entice

1248-400: The Seljuq army overrun, leaving a very large number of dead, injured, prisoners, and booty. Fleeing remnants were constantly pursued and run down for several days so that they wouldn't have time or opportunity to regroup or commence any other move. Aside from those accounts, it has also been suggested that confronted by a vanguard of the large invading force, David had to rely on the advantages

1300-415: The army of Ilghazi entered Georgian territory. According to Al-Fāriqī , Ilghazi selected the route from Kars to Javakheti and Trialeti to reach Tbilisi , where he could camp, rest, and then act against the Georgians. The Muslim army under the overall command of Ilghazi entered the valley of Trialeti in eastern Georgia and encamped in the vicinities of Didgori and Manglisi in 10 August 1121, about

1352-525: The battle of Didgori is reported in two sources: one by a 12th-century Armenian historian, Matthew of Edessa , who mentions 100 Franks, and the other by Walter the Chancellor , according to whom David used 200 Frankish soldiers deployed ahead of his armies as a striking force against the enemy. There is no exact information whether they were auxiliary troops sent by the prince of Antioch or king Baldwin II of Jerusalem , or simply mercenaries . However, as both Franks and Georgians had one common enemy,

1404-503: The capital from Kutaisi to Tbilisi. The victory at Didgori inaugurated the medieval Georgian Golden Age and is celebrated in The Georgian Chronicles as a ( Georgian : ძლევაჲ საკვირველი dzlevay sak'virveli lit. the " miraculous victory "). Modern Georgians continue to remember the event as an annual August 12 festival known as Didgoroba ("[the day] of Didgori"). Both Georgian and Islamic sources testify that on

1456-487: The center but would immediately switch to their respective positions when the battle commenced. During battle, David IV would assume command over his army's left wing, while Demetrius was leading the right. According to the French knight and historian Walter the Chancellor , before heading off to battle, King David inspired his army with these words: Soldiers of Christ! If we fight bravely for our Faith, we will defeat not only

1508-573: The complaints of the Muslim merchants of – Tbilisi , Ganja and Dmanisi – Sultan Mahmud II of Baghdad ( r.  1118–1131 ) sent an expedition into Georgia under command of Ilghazi ibn Artuq of Mardin , whose hegemony in the Middle East and authority among the Muslims was indisputable. After pillaging the County of Edessa and defeat of Roger of Antioch at the battle of Ager Sanguinis in 1119,

1560-537: The devil’s servants, but the devil himself. We will gain the greatest weapon of spiritual warfare when we make a covenant with the Almighty God and vow that we would rather die for His love than escape from the enemy. And if any one of us should wish to retreat, let us take branches and block the entrance to the gorge to prevent this. When the enemy approaches, let us attack fiercely! Georgian relations with Cumans - Kipchaks seem to have been generally peaceful. Moreover,

1612-530: The enemy step-by-step into a trap. He chose a mountainous and wooded area near the Didgori Mountain range, situated between Manglisi and Tbilisi, to attack. "On August 11, 1121, King David led his army along the Nichbisi valley from the ancient capital of Mtskheta and divided his troops into two parts, one under his personal command and the other smaller group under his son Demetrius I , hidden in reserve behind

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1664-468: The faces of the Antioch knights and footmen, confusing them further. Soon, Artuqid flanking forces enveloped the crusaders. During the fighting, Roger was killed by a sword in the face at the foot of the great jewelled cross which had served as his standard. The rest of the army was killed or captured; only two knights survived. Renaud Mansoer took refuge in the fort of Sarmada to wait for King Baldwin, but

1716-535: The higher numbers are exaggerated, all sources indicate that the Muslims made massive preparations. In mid-summer 1121, the Muslim troops advanced along various routes, with part of them passing the provinces of Erzerum and Kars , while Sultan Toghrul ibn Muhammad moved through Ganja and Tughan-Arslan the "Hunchback" marched from Dvin ." According to Matthew of Edessa , the Muslim coalition numbered 560,000 men in total, led by Ilghazi with his vassal Tughan-Arslan , and with support from nomadic Arab tribes. As

1768-521: The king, which consisted of 5,000 well-trained and heavily armored mounted warriors with lances and bows. They were used as shock cavalry together with the nobility. The Crusaders , the Kipchak cavalry, and a small portion of infantry were deployed in the center of the Georgian army around the king's banner while the rest were equally split in two major wings initially out of sight for the Seljuqs. Each formation

1820-433: The late 11–12th centuries and shifted the balance scales in favor of Georgian cultural as well as political supremacy in eastern Asia Minor." Battle of Ager Sanguinis 7,000–11,000 Period post-First Crusade Second Crusade Period post-Second Crusade Third Crusade Period post-Third Crusade Fourth Crusade Fifth Crusade Sixth Crusade and aftermath Seventh Crusade End of

1872-410: The meeting. While this was going on, David ordered a frontal attack on the enemy vanguard with his crusader knights which not only devastated the enemy's forward lines, but also entangled the Seljuq archers in close combat, effectively taking out a crucial component of Ilghazi's force. This trick resulted in chaos and panic among the Muslims. The Georgians then began to quickly advance on the flanks from

1924-506: The narrations of Homer and Aristotle to me about the Trojan War and the bravery of Achilles or Josephus’ writings about the valor of the Maccabees or Alexander and Titus at Jerusalem?” The battle entered Georgian national consciences as a “miraculous victory” (ძლევაჲ საკვირველი) and is without doubt one of the apogees of Georgian history. It signaled the emergence of Georgia as a military power in

1976-474: The nearby heights with orders to attack the flank at a given signal." The course of the battle is differently related in the contemporary historical records. According to the Arab chronicler Ibn al-Athir , David sent a small Kipchak detachment of his men in order to simulate negotiation. The Muslims thought that the small detachment had left the Georgian army seeking protection, so the Muslims did not regard them as

2028-427: The nearby terrain offered to disguise his troop movements. The Seljuk cavalry was provoked or tricked into a relatively narrow pass where they probably had not much room to maneuver. As these were cut off from the rest of Ilghazi's army, the Georgians were easily able to take them out with spears, pikes, and light infantry using bows and javelins. The rest of the coalition army was probably forced to climb slopes to attack

2080-467: The pressure of Ilghazi's armies. The weakening of the main enemy of the Latin principalities was beneficial for the Kingdom of Jerusalem under King Baldwin II . According to A. Mikaberidze, "The triumphant victory at Didgori captured the imagination of future Georgian generations. A contemporary chronicler marveled, “What tongue can relate the wonders which our sustaining Christ gave us on that day? And what are

2132-506: The reputation of Ilghazi as a great military commander and champion of Muslims against Christians spread far and wide. After this victory Ilghazi made a truce with the Crusaders and went north towards Armenia at the invitation of the sultan's brother Toghrul, ruler of Arran . There he joined a Muslim coalition against Christian Georgians and lead the coalition's army, in which his vassal Tughan-Arslan lord of Arzen , Bidlis and Dvin ,

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2184-411: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Didgori . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Didgori&oldid=1056382593 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

2236-482: The service of the Georgian king David IV. The Georgian-Kipchak alliance was facilitated by David's earlier marriage to the Khan 's daughter, who received the name Gurandukht . Kipchaks were outfitted by the crown and were granted lands to settle. In turn, the Kipchaks provided one soldier per family, allowing King David to establish a standing army in addition to his royal troops. The participation of Frankish soldiers in

2288-632: The siege, and Ilghazi feigned a retreat, Robert's men were drawn out from the fort and ambushed. Ilghazi was also waiting for reinforcements from Toghtekin , the Burid emir of Damascus , but he too was tired of waiting. Using little-used paths, his army quickly surrounded Roger's camp during the night of 27 June. The prince had recklessly chosen a campsite in a wooded valley with steep sides and few avenues of escape. Roger's army of 700 knights, 500 Armenian cavalry and 3,000 foot soldiers, including turcopoles , hastily formed into five divisions. These drew up in

2340-462: The sword and leaving them to the carnivorous beasts and birds of the mountains and plains” of the Manglisi Valley. Terrible and savage slaughter of the enemy troops ensued and the [enemy] corpses filled up the rivers and covered all valleys and cliffs. With the Kipchaks joining in, the final remnants of Seljuq resistance crumbled and joined the rout. The battle was decided within three hours with

2392-456: The western side of the mountain in full formation. Ilghazi and his son-in-law both survived the attack on the vanguard, but were severely injured during the fight and withdrew from the battlefield, leaving the Seljuq army virtually leaderless. The majority of his commanders were either injured or killed, which caused confusion and probably resulted in a lack of adequate response to the chaotic situation. King David didn't hesitate and personally led

2444-434: Was a well-defended fortress only a short distance away from Antioch, and Ilghazi would not be able to pass if they were stationed there. The Patriarch also advised Roger to call for help from Baldwin, now king of Jerusalem , and Pons, but Roger felt he could not wait for them to arrive. Roger camped in the pass of Sarmada , while Ilghazi besieged the fort of al-Atharib . A force under Robert of Vieux-Pont set out to break

2496-446: Was completed in the year following the battle at Didgori. David laid siege to and captured the city of Tbilisi , which became the capital of Georgia. The medieval sources emphasize David's acts of revenge against the Muslims of Tbilisi. However, the Arab historian al-'Ayni (1360–1451), who utilizes sources, some of which have not survived, admits that the city was pillaged but says that

2548-406: Was formed. The Georgian army of 56,000 men included 500 Alans , about 200 Franks , and 15,000 Kipchaks . The smallest formations would be equivalents of today's platoons "group of 20" (ოცეული), then a "group of 100" (ასეული) and so forth all led by servants of higher status and different rank. The core component of David's army was the so called mona-spa, or servant host, the personal retinue of

2600-409: Was headed by a great and dense line of horsemen. The heavy cavalry would smash into the enemy ranks with their lances , joined by the infantry which would entangle the Seljuq main body in fights while the cavalry was to regroup and carry out repeated attacks till the enemy broke. At the sign of collapse, David would then send forward his Kipchak cavalry. Initially the king and all his entourage stayed in

2652-404: Was later taken captive by Ilghazi. Among the other prisoners was likely Walter the Chancellor , who later wrote an account of the battle. The massacre led to the name of the battle, ager sanguinis , Latin for "the field of blood." The description ager sanguinis is possibly a Biblical reference to the field purchased by Judas with the money he had been given to betray Jesus . The Acts of

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2704-414: Was organizing whatever defense he could. Even so, because of the loss of the Antiochene field army, Atharib, Zerdana , Sarmin , Ma'arrat al-Numan and Kafr Tab rapidly fell into Muslim hands. Ilghazi was defeated by Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Count Pons at the Battle of Hab on 14 August and Baldwin took over the regency of Antioch. Subsequently, Baldwin recovered some of the lost towns. Even so,

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