Siege of Ani (1161)

The Siege of Ani was the unsuccessful siege of the city of Ani, by the Seljuqid coalition arranged by the ruler of Shah-Armens in 1161. The large Muslim army was defeat by George III of Georgia at the gates of Ani.

Background
In 1156 the Ani's Christian population rose against the emir Fakr al-Din Shaddad, and turned the town over to his brother Fadl ibn Mahmud. But Fadl, too, apparently could not satisfy the people of Ani, and this time the town was offered to the George III, who took advantage of this offer and subjugated Ani. He took much loot from Ani and carried off into captivity the whole family of Shaddadids, including Fadl.

In May, 1161 George III appointed his treasurer, Sadun as governor of Ani and returned to Tbilisi,

Ani campaign
In July, 1161 troops of a muslim coalition consisting, namely those of the Shah-Armens of Ahlat, Saltukids of Erzerum, and the lord of Kars and Surmari was formed. Allies selected the route through the river Araxes, and the Artuqid lord Najm al-din set out to join them. In August, 1161 they arrived before Ani and besieged it.

When the king George III of Georgia has arrived to meet them, the emir Saltuk II remembering his oath to the king Demetrius, lifted the siege and left the battlefield. Muslims were defeated and put to the sword and many of them perished. King George liberated the people of Ani who had been taken captive and gave the devastated town assistance. He then marched against the Saltuk II, and in the same year, 1161, defeated and made him prisoner, who was redeemed by his sister, Shahbanu Hatun, wife of the ruler of Ahlat.

Georgians then entered in Shah-Armen possessions and looted Van. Some 9000 Muslims, including the nobles and members Sökmen II family were taken as prisoner. The news of the defeat reached the lord Najm ad-din when he had arrived in Malazgirt, the latter went back to Mayyafariqin without having joined Shah-Armens or taken part in the battle.

Aftermath
Jamal ad-Din, Vizier of Mosul; sent an envoy to the king of the Georgia and sent also the sum of 1000 dinars to ransom such Muslim captives who had no family and no money. A Christian version of these negotiations is found in Bar Hebraeus: Jamal al-din who was “a most merciful man” chose as his ambassador to George III the head of the Jacobite community (Maphrian) Ignatius. “He was received honourably and a large number of prisoners were given to him for nothing”. George sent presents to Jamal ad-din and sent his own envoy to accompany the maphrian on his return journey. Both the embassies entered Mosul “with crosses hanging from the heads of their spears”.