Siege of Birtvisi (1403)

The Siege of Birtvisi was a siege laid by the Timurid sultan, Timur, on Birtvisi Fortress in eastern Georgia in 1403.[1][2]

Siege of Birtvisi
Part of Timurid invasions of Georgia

Sheupovari tower of the fortress in 2011.
Date22 August 1403
Location
Birtvisi, Kingdom of Georgia
41°36′32″N 44°32′21″E
Result Timurid victory
Belligerents
Timurid Empire
Shirvanshah		 Kingdom of Georgia
Commanders and leaders
Timur
Ibrahim I		 Ivane Toreli

Battle
The Birtvisi canyon with the Sheupovari tower on top of a rock.

In medieval Georgia, Birtvisi entertained a reputation of an impregnable stronghold whose master could control the entire strategic Algeti gorge.[1] The defense of the fortress was led by Ivane Toreli, who commanded 150 soldiers in addition to 30 Aznauri and their families.[3] It took eight attempts for Timurid forces to subdue the fortress.[4] Gates were stormed by 52 Merkit volunteers who were experts at rock climbing.[3] Commander Ivane Toreli's wife was given to harem of Ibrahim I of Shirvan, a vassal of Timur.

References
  1. Allen, William Edward David (1932), A History of the Georgian People: From the Beginning Down to the Russian Conquest in the Nineteenth Century, p. 125. Taylor & Francis
  2. Gabriel Michaud, Louis (1816). Biographie universelle, ancienne et moderne ou Histoire, par ordre alphabétique, de la vie publique et privée de tous les hommes qui se sont fait remarquer par leurs écrits, leurs actions, leurs talents, leurs vertus ou leurs crimes: Ge - Go, Volume 17. Michaud, 1816. Retrieved 9 Jan 2009.
  3. Rayfeld, Donald (15 February 2013). Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia. Reaktion Books, 2013. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-78023-070-2.
  4. "Jim in Georgia". Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2013.


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