Battle of Martqopi

The Battle of Martqopi (მარტყოფის ბრძოლა) was a 1625 military confrontation between Georgia and Iran. The Georgians' 15,000 men strong force, led by general Giorgi Saakadze, annihilated a 30,000 men strong Iranian detachment of Shah-Abbas I.

In spring 1625, in order to avoid a forthcoming revolt, Shah-Abbas I sent 60,000 of his troops into Georgia under the orders of Qarciha-Khan. He attempted to carry out the policy of wholesale massacre and deportation in Kartli. Apparently, the Shah did not fully trust Giorgi as he took his son Paata hostage, after appointing Giorgi the adviser to the Persian general. By the side of Giorgi in the army of the enemy, there was another son of his, Avtandil. Upon Giorgi’s advice, Qarciha-Khan dispatched most of his troops to different parts of Javakheti, caused them disperse and made them easier to defeat. The Georgians owe their success to the preparations carried out by commander-in-chief Saakadze. According to the plans of the leaders of the revolt, the Georgians were to assault the enemy camp earlier than planned; Saakadze and his entourage were to slaughter the commanders of the Persian army. On the dawn of March 25, Annunciation, the joint Kartlian and Kakhetian troops approached the enemy’s camp. Hearing the noise, the guards gave alarm. All Persian commanders gathered in Qarciha-Khan’s tent and also summoned Giorgi. Giorgi killed Qarciha-Khan with help of his son, while Avtandil took the life of Qarciha’s son. It did not take long for Giorgi and his entourage to slaughter the stunned Persian commanders. The rest of the Georgians under their second commander Zurab Eristavi, encroached upon the confused enemy who were left without any guidance at that time. After a fierce and bloody massacre throughout the evening, the Georgians won a crushing victory. Only 3,000 out of 30,000 Persian warriors managed to escape. The data about the Martqopi battle are given in “the Life of Kartli” and by a Turkish chronicler Mustafa Naima of the 17th century. In the aftermath of the battle, the Georgians took Tbilisi and drove the Persians out of other regions, while half of the Shah's army which did not take part in the battle, still remained combat effective.