Battle of Aspindza

The Battle of Aspindza (ასპინძის ბრძოლა) was fought on 20 April 1770 between the Georgians, led by king of Kartli-Kakheti Erekle II, and the Safavid Empire. The Georgians won a victory over the Persians and Turks. The Georgian king (Erekle the 2nd) asked the general of Russia (Totleben) for help at the battle of Aspindza, and in return Erekle would do his best to have good relations with Russia. General Totleben agreed to help. As soon as the small army of Erekle and large army of Totleben were about to meet and merge, Totleben unfortunately, retrieved his huge army back to Russia. Totleben's plan was to let the Ottoman Empire completely destroy the Kartli-Kakhetian army along with the king. Russia,then, can incorporate the kingdom easily into the country. Erekle along with his outnumbered army, was devastated. Although, the morale of the Georgians managed to override the Ottoman Turks and ended with a Georgian victory.

The battle is the subject of the patriotic ode "On the Battle of Aspindza" by Besiki.