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| conflict = Battle of Khresili
| conflict = Battle of Khresili
| date = December 14, 1757
| date = December 14, 1757
| place = Near [[Khresili]]
| place = Near [[Khresili]], [[Ottoman Empire]]
| result = [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] victory<ref>Šotʻa Mesxia, ''An Outline of Georgian History'', (Tbilisi University Press, 1968), 32.</ref>
| result = [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] victory<ref>Šotʻa Mesxia, ''An Outline of Georgian History'', (Tbilisi University Press, 1968), 32.</ref>
<!-- Belligerents -->| combatant1 = [[File:Kingdom of Imereti coat of arms.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Kingdom of Imereti]]
<!-- Belligerents -->| combatant1 = [[File:Kingdom of Imereti coat of arms.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Kingdom of Imereti]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of The Principality of Mingrelia (Portolan 1560).svg}} [[Principality of Mingrelia]]
{{plainlist|
:{{flagicon image|Flag of The Principality of Mingrelia (Portolan 1560).svg}} [[Principality of Mingrelia]]
*[[File:Banner of Guria.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Principality of Guria]]
:[[File:Banner of Guria.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Principality of Guria]]
*[[File:Flag of Abkhazia (c. 1770-1864).svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Principality of Abkhazia]] ([[Samurzakano]])
:[[File:Flag of Abkhazia (c. 1770-1864).svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Principality of Abkhazia]] ([[Samurzakano]])
}}
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Ottoman red flag.svg}} [[Ottoman Empire]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Ottoman red flag.svg}} [[Ottoman Empire]]
| commander1 = {{plainlist|
| commander1 = {{plainlist|
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:'''Total:''' 55,000 men<ref name="jav"/>
:'''Total:''' 55,000 men<ref name="jav"/>
}}
}}
<!-- Casualties -->| casualties1 = Few casualties
<!-- Casualties -->| casualties1 = Fewer casualties<ref name=" :xrbrz"> [https://www.georoyal.ge/?MTID=5&TID=89&id=2853/ Battle of Khresili]</ref>
| casualties2 = 38,000-40,000
| casualties2 = 38,000–45,000<ref name=":xrbrz"/>
}}
}}


{{Campaignbox Georgian-Ottoman Wars}}
{{Campaignbox Georgian-Ottoman Wars}}


The '''Battle of Khresili''' ({{lang-ka|ხრესილის ბრძოლა}}, {{Lang-tr|Hresili Muharebesi}}) was fought in 1757, between the armies of the [[Kingdom of Imereti]] and the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The king of [[Imereti]], [[Solomon I of Imereti|Solomon I]] defeated the Turkish army. The battle took place on December 14, 1757. Solomon I established a strong monarchy and unified western Georgia. His actions strained the relations between the Georgian King and Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, in particular, wanted to stop Solomon's struggle against slavery. The Ottomans were in an alliance with rebellious Georgian nobles, one such example was Levan Abashidze, who was fighting against the King of Imereti. Abashidze arrived in Akhaltsikhe and led an Ottoman army to the Kingdom of Imereti. Solomon enticed them into a strategically adroit place near Khresili and decisively defeated them.<ref name="iobashvili">Iobashvili g. Georgian Soviet History; tome 11, page 508, Tbilisi., 1987.</ref>
The '''Battle of Khresili''' ({{lang-ka|ხრესილის ბრძოლა}}, {{Langx|tr|Hresili Muharebesi}}) was fought on December 14, 1757, between the armies of the [[Kingdom of Imereti]] and the [[Ottoman Empire]]. King [[Solomon I of Imereti]] established a strong monarchy and unified western Georgia. His actions strained the relations between him and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, in particular, sought to stop Solomon's struggle against slavery. They were in an alliance with rebellious Georgian nobles who opposed their monarch. One of them was [[Levan Abashidze (noble)|Levan Abashidze]], who lead an Ottoman army to the Kingdom of Imereti. Solomon enticed his enemies into a strategically adroit place near Khresili where his forces would gather to engage them.<ref name="iobashvili">Iobashvili g. Georgian Soviet History; tome 11, page 508, Tbilisi., 1987.</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
In the 17th century, western Georgia was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman garrisons were dispatched to [[Tsutskvati]], [[Poti]] and [[Shorapani]] fortresses.<ref>
In the 17th century, western Georgia was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman garrisons were dispatched to [[Tsutskvati]], [[Poti]] and [[Shorapani]] fortresses.<ref>
Niko Berdzenishvili, issues of the history of Georgia, book II, chapter, 1965, p. 213</ref> 12,000 slaves were sold in the Ottoman Empire every year from [[Samegrelo|Mengrelia]] alone. Realizing that Georgia was facing the threat of heavy depopulation, the King of Imereti, Solomon I prohibited slavery, opposing turncoat lords and wanted independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman [[Sultan]] sent Gola Pasha with a large army to punish Solomon I and re-establish Ottoman rule over the Kingdom of Imereti. The Turkish force of 30,000 led by Seraskir Pasha awaited Solomon I by the city of [[Akhaltsikhe]]. Solomon was informed of the arrival of the Ottomans and he immediately gave out orders. Kaikhosro Agiashvili would take control over the Fortress of [[Baghdati]], The king's brother, Archil alongside Giorgi Abashidze would seize the [[Shorapani]] Fortress, Beso Lortkipanidze would besiege the Capital, [[Kutaisi]]. Zurab Mikeladze, would blockade the road from [[Poti]] which goes through [[Principality of Guria]] in order to stall the advance of the Pasha of Poti. Papuna Tsereteli, Beri Tsulukidze, Kacia Dadiani and Khutunia Shervashidze with a force of 11,000 troops would await King Solomon I. The location of the battle was chosen as it would be the Valley of Khresili within [[Tkibuli]].
Niko Berdzenishvili, issues of the history of Georgia, book II, chapter, 1965, p. 213</ref> 12,000 slaves were sold in the Ottoman Empire every year from [[Samegrelo|Mengrelia]] alone. Realizing that Georgia was facing the threat of heavy depopulation, the King of Imereti, Solomon I prohibited slavery, opposing turncoat lords and wanted independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman [[Sultan]] sent Gola Pasha with a large army to punish Solomon I and re-establish Ottoman rule over the Kingdom of Imereti. The Turkish force of 30,000 led by Seraskir Pasha awaited Solomon I by the city of [[Akhaltsikhe]]. Solomon was informed of the arrival of the Ottomans and he immediately gave out orders. Kaikhosro Agiashvili would take control over the Fortress of [[Baghdati]], The king's brother, Archil alongside Giorgi Abashidze would seize the [[Shorapani]] Fortress, Beso Lortkipanidze would besiege the Capital, [[Kutaisi]]. Zurab Mikeladze, would blockade the road from [[Poti]] which goes through [[Principality of Guria]] in order to stall the advance of the Pasha of Poti. Papuna Tsereteli, Beri Tsulukidze, Kacia Dadiani and Khutunia Shervashidze with a force of 11,000 troops would await King Solomon I. The location of the battle was chosen as the valley of Khresili within [[Tkibuli]].


==Battle==
==Battle==
Early in the morning, the Georgians started the attack. Ottoman army was cornered exactly where king Solomon I wanted them. Georgian attack was well prepared, numerically smaller Georgian army compensated its small size by high morale and determination to wipe out invading Turks from their land. King Solomon personally led his small army's charge, reached the Gola pasha and cut his head off.<ref>Levan Tkeshelashvili, King Solomon I the Great of Imereti, Kutaisi, 2016, p.40</ref> Turks panicked and tried to escape. But their leader, Abashidze somehow restored moral in Turkish army and they returned to battle, but soon Abashidze was killed by Georgian soldier: Gegela Tevdoradze (later he was called Gegelashvili). after they saw the death of their commander, Ottomans finally gave up on fighting and Georgians decisively defeated the Ottoman army. A large part of the Ottoman army was destroyed, a part was captured, a small part helped themselves by escaping. In the battle of Khresili, the commanders of the Ottoman army were killed: Gola Pasha, Kemkha Pasha and Levan Abashidze.<ref>M. Rekhviashvili, Imereti in the 18th century, Tbilisi 1982, p. 43</ref>
The Georgians launched their attack in the early morning of December 14, 1757. The advancing Ottoman army was concentrated and cornered where king Solomon wanted them. The assault was well prepared. Being smaller in size, the Georgian force had to compensate with a superior position, higher morale and determination in order to repulse the invading Turks. King Solomon personally led his army's charge, eventually reaching Gola Pasha himself and reportedly decapitating him.<ref>Levan Tkeshelashvili, King Solomon I the Great of Imereti, Kutaisi, 2016, p.40</ref> The Turks panicked and tried to escape. But their leader, Abashidze restored their moral and they returned to battle. However soon Abashidze was killed by Georgian soldier Gegela Tevdoradze (later he was called Gegelashvili). Seeing the death of their commanders, the Ottoman army finally started to rout enmasse and the Georgians proceeded to beat them. A large part of the Ottoman army was destroyed and captured, while some managed to escape. In the battle of Khresili, the commanders of the Ottoman force, Gola Pasha, Kemkha Pasha and Levan Abashidze were all killed.<ref>M. Rekhviashvili, Imereti in the 18th century, Tbilisi 1982, p. 43</ref>


Ottomans never recovered from such a massive loss of manpower. Two further attempts to invade Imereti after this battle were with smaller Ottoman armies of 20,000 and 13,000 people strong, and while they were still numerically superior to Solomon I's small army, they were defeated just as well.<ref>Shota Lomsadze, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tbilisi, 1975, p. 216–217</ref><ref>Mariam Lortkipanidze, Roin Metreveli, Kings of Georgia, Tbilisi, 2007, p. 262 {{ISBN|99928-58-36-2}}</ref>
The Ottomans never recovered from the massive loss of manpower. Two further attempts to invade Imereti after this battle were conducted with smaller armies of 20,000 and 13,000 soldiers, and while they were still numerically superior to Solomon I's small army, those were defeated as well.<ref>Shota Lomsadze, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tbilisi, 1975, p. 216–217</ref><ref>Mariam Lortkipanidze, Roin Metreveli, Kings of Georgia, Tbilisi, 2007, p. 262 {{ISBN|99928-58-36-2}}</ref>


==Strategic ramifications==
==Strategic ramifications==
After the battle of Khresili, in 1758-1766, the Ottomans attacked Imereti many times, but they could not subjugate Solomon I. Ottomans were eventually forced to sign a treaty with the kingdom of Imereti, which stated that Imereti was no longer an Ottoman vassal but a kingdom under Ottoman protection. the only remnant of past Ottoman glory in this treaty was an annual tribute of 60 women (of any ethnic origin, not necessarily Georgians), which king Solomon failed to honor anyway.<ref>მარიამ ლორთქიფანიძე, ოთარ ჯაფარიძე, დავით მუსხელიშვილი, როინ მეტრეველი, „საქართველოს ისტორია“ ოთხ ტომად, ტომი III, თბილისი, 2012, გვ.398 </ref>
After the battle of Khresili, in 1758-1766, the Ottomans attacked Imereti many times, but they could not subjugate Solomon I. The Ottomans were eventually forced to sign a treaty with the kingdom of Imereti, which stated that Imereti was no longer an Ottoman vassal but a kingdom under Ottoman protection. The only remnant of past Ottoman glory in this treaty was an annual tribute of 60 women (of any ethnic origin, not necessarily Georgians), which king Solomon failed to honor anyway.<ref>მარიამ ლორთქიფანიძე, ოთარ ჯაფარიძე, დავით მუსხელიშვილი, როინ მეტრეველი, „საქართველოს ისტორია“ ოთხ ტომად, ტომი III, თბილისი, 2012, გვ.398 </ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 01:58, 1 November 2024

Battle of Khresili

The general representation of the positions.
DateDecember 14, 1757
Location
Near Khresili, Ottoman Empire
Result Georgian victory[1]
Belligerents

Kingdom of Imereti

Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Strength
  • 11,000 main troops
  • 5,000 additional forces
Total: 16,000 men[2]
  • 30,000 Turkish army
  • 15,000 Turkish soldiers garrisoned in Imereti
  • 10,000 pro-Ottoman Georgian rebels
Total: 55,000 men[2]
Casualties and losses
Fewer casualties[3] 38,000–45,000[3]

The Battle of Khresili (Georgian: ხრესილის ბრძოლა, Turkish: Hresili Muharebesi) was fought on December 14, 1757, between the armies of the Kingdom of Imereti and the Ottoman Empire. King Solomon I of Imereti established a strong monarchy and unified western Georgia. His actions strained the relations between him and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, in particular, sought to stop Solomon's struggle against slavery. They were in an alliance with rebellious Georgian nobles who opposed their monarch. One of them was Levan Abashidze, who lead an Ottoman army to the Kingdom of Imereti. Solomon enticed his enemies into a strategically adroit place near Khresili where his forces would gather to engage them.[4]

Background

In the 17th century, western Georgia was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman garrisons were dispatched to Tsutskvati, Poti and Shorapani fortresses.[5] 12,000 slaves were sold in the Ottoman Empire every year from Mengrelia alone. Realizing that Georgia was facing the threat of heavy depopulation, the King of Imereti, Solomon I prohibited slavery, opposing turncoat lords and wanted independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Sultan sent Gola Pasha with a large army to punish Solomon I and re-establish Ottoman rule over the Kingdom of Imereti. The Turkish force of 30,000 led by Seraskir Pasha awaited Solomon I by the city of Akhaltsikhe. Solomon was informed of the arrival of the Ottomans and he immediately gave out orders. Kaikhosro Agiashvili would take control over the Fortress of Baghdati, The king's brother, Archil alongside Giorgi Abashidze would seize the Shorapani Fortress, Beso Lortkipanidze would besiege the Capital, Kutaisi. Zurab Mikeladze, would blockade the road from Poti which goes through Principality of Guria in order to stall the advance of the Pasha of Poti. Papuna Tsereteli, Beri Tsulukidze, Kacia Dadiani and Khutunia Shervashidze with a force of 11,000 troops would await King Solomon I. The location of the battle was chosen as the valley of Khresili within Tkibuli.

Battle

The Georgians launched their attack in the early morning of December 14, 1757. The advancing Ottoman army was concentrated and cornered where king Solomon wanted them. The assault was well prepared. Being smaller in size, the Georgian force had to compensate with a superior position, higher morale and determination in order to repulse the invading Turks. King Solomon personally led his army's charge, eventually reaching Gola Pasha himself and reportedly decapitating him.[6] The Turks panicked and tried to escape. But their leader, Abashidze restored their moral and they returned to battle. However soon Abashidze was killed by Georgian soldier Gegela Tevdoradze (later he was called Gegelashvili). Seeing the death of their commanders, the Ottoman army finally started to rout enmasse and the Georgians proceeded to beat them. A large part of the Ottoman army was destroyed and captured, while some managed to escape. In the battle of Khresili, the commanders of the Ottoman force, Gola Pasha, Kemkha Pasha and Levan Abashidze were all killed.[7]

The Ottomans never recovered from the massive loss of manpower. Two further attempts to invade Imereti after this battle were conducted with smaller armies of 20,000 and 13,000 soldiers, and while they were still numerically superior to Solomon I's small army, those were defeated as well.[8][9]

Strategic ramifications

After the battle of Khresili, in 1758-1766, the Ottomans attacked Imereti many times, but they could not subjugate Solomon I. The Ottomans were eventually forced to sign a treaty with the kingdom of Imereti, which stated that Imereti was no longer an Ottoman vassal but a kingdom under Ottoman protection. The only remnant of past Ottoman glory in this treaty was an annual tribute of 60 women (of any ethnic origin, not necessarily Georgians), which king Solomon failed to honor anyway.[10]

References

  1. ^ Šotʻa Mesxia, An Outline of Georgian History, (Tbilisi University Press, 1968), 32.
  2. ^ a b Javakhishvili, Book 2, p. 127
  3. ^ a b Battle of Khresili
  4. ^ Iobashvili g. Georgian Soviet History; tome 11, page 508, Tbilisi., 1987.
  5. ^ Niko Berdzenishvili, issues of the history of Georgia, book II, chapter, 1965, p. 213
  6. ^ Levan Tkeshelashvili, King Solomon I the Great of Imereti, Kutaisi, 2016, p.40
  7. ^ M. Rekhviashvili, Imereti in the 18th century, Tbilisi 1982, p. 43
  8. ^ Shota Lomsadze, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tbilisi, 1975, p. 216–217
  9. ^ Mariam Lortkipanidze, Roin Metreveli, Kings of Georgia, Tbilisi, 2007, p. 262 ISBN 99928-58-36-2
  10. ^ მარიამ ლორთქიფანიძე, ოთარ ჯაფარიძე, დავით მუსხელიშვილი, როინ მეტრეველი, „საქართველოს ისტორია“ ოთხ ტომად, ტომი III, თბილისი, 2012, გვ.398

46°38′08″N 32°37′01″E / 46.635417°N 32.616867°E / 46.635417; 32.616867

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