Arab rule in Georgia
Arab rule in Georgia refers to the period between the 7th and mid-11th centuries when Arabs occupied Georgia and established an Arab feudal regime (Caliphate).
Arab rule in Georgia is divided into three main periods: 1) From the arrival of the Arabs to Georgia until the establishment of the Emirate of Tbilisi (the 50s of the 7th century - the 30s of the 8th century). This was a period of battles to establish Caliphate rule in Georgia; 2) From the 30s of the 8th century to the 80s of the 9th century (from the establishment of the Emirate of Tbilisi until it separated from Caliphate and became an independent principality). This was a period of strong Arab control in east Georgia; 3) From the 80s of the 9th century to the mid-11th century (until the establishment of the Seljuk dynasty in the Middle East). At that time Arab rule in Georgia was practically over. Its remnants remained only in the Emirate of Tbilisi.
Arabs invaded Georgia for the first time between 642 and 643. However, these campaigns did not bear any political results, so the Arabs were forced to turn back. They started systematic campaigns to establish their rule in Georgia only after conquering Iran (651) and Armenia (652). First, Arabs took over Kartli in 654-655 following the invasions of Habib Ibn Maslama. Arab-Georgian relations were determined by the “Deed of Protection”, which forced the Georgian population to pay tribute to Arabs. This time, Arab rule in Georgia only lasted for two years. Georgians took advantage of internal fighting for the throne in the Caliphate (651-661) and stopped paying tribute. By the end of the 70s of the 7th century, Arabs restored their rule in Kartli. The Byzantine Empire contested Arab rule in Georgia. In 685, the Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire signed a truce, according to which, these two empires would equally split the tribute from Cyprus, Armenia, and Georgia. In 686, there was an uprising in Georgia and Armenia. Eristavi of Kartli, Nerse defeated Baraba, an Arab commander in Armenia. At that time, Khazars contested Arab rule in the South Caucasus. Khazars invaded the South Caucasus in the 80s of the 7th century and Arabs had difficult battles with them. Georgians tried to use the rivalry between Arabs and Khazars to their advantage, however, it was in vain. In 697, the ruler of Egrisi (west Georgia), Sergi, son of Barnucius, rebelled against Byzantine rule and gave his principality to Arabs. Arabs occupied the capital of Egrisi, Tsikhegoji (nowadays Nokalakevi) and a couple of fortresses in Kodori Valley but soon left West Georgia. At the beginning of the 8th century, Arabs settled in Kartli. In 704-705, they minted their own silver coin in Tbilisi. In the 20s of the 8th century, Caliph Hisham sent a punitive expedition headed by Jarrah ibn Abdallah (see Jarrah’s invasion to Georgia) to strengthen Arab rule in the South Caucasus. For the same reason, Arabs sent Marwan ibn Muhammad (in Geo. sources: Murvan Kru). Between 735 and 736 he decimated Georgia (see Murvan Kru’s expeditions). After this military campaign, Arabs put their ruler (Emir) in Kartli with a residence in Tbilisi. Arab rule in Georgia became stable. Arabs imposed heavy taxes (Kharaj and Jizya) on the eastern Georgian population. Furthermore, people were forced to upkeep the local army and numerous officials. The population was obligated to maintain roads, bridges, and other facilities. Arab rule facilitated the appearance of the Muslim population in Georgia. From the second half of the 8th century, Arabs started to get involved in the internal affairs of the occupied countries. In the 9th century, they abolished the Eristavi system. Every social class was discontent with the Arab rule. The productive population of Georgia, which paid tribute and was forced to fulfill the abovementioned obligations, was in an especially dire state. Arab rule was more or less strong in the central regions of Georgia, however, the outskirts soon became independent. On the cusp of the 8th and 9th centuries, several feudal kingdoms and principalities were established (Kingdom of Abkhazia – West Georgia, Chorepiscopate [a bishopric-duchy] of Kakheti, Hereti Principality, Kingdom of Iberians – Tao-Klarjeti).
The Emirate of Tbilisi retained only parts of Shida and Kvemo Kartli territories. From the beginning of the 9th century, the Emirs of Tbilisi started to oppose the central government of the Caliphate. The Arab state weakened and finally fell apart. From the second half of the 9th century, the Emirate of Tbilisi became a local feudal principality. The Caliphate tried to subdue dissident Emirs and once again control Georgia, but failed. In 853, Caliph al-Mutawakkil sent a large army headed by Bugha al-Turki to the South Caucasus (see Bugha al-Turki campaign in 853-854). He conquered Tbilisi, but could not restore the former Arab rule in Georgia. In 914, Abdul-Kassim (Yusuf Abd al-Saj) by the order of the Caliph, attempted to conquer Armenia and Georgia, however, he was unsuccessful (see Abdul-Kassim military campaign of 914). This was the last and ultimately unsuccessful attempt by Arab leaders to restore Arab rule in Georgia. The ideological aspect played an important role in the fight of the Georgian people for independence. In this regard, the patriotic sermon of Ioane Sabanisdze is of particular importance. By talking about the martyrdom of Abo Tbileli (Abo of Tiflis), he spread propaganda to preserve Christianity and national unity. Arab rule significantly hindered the social and economic development of Georgia.
Literature: გაბაშვილი ვ., სიხარულიძე ე., მახლობელი აღმოსავლეთი ადრეფეოდალურ ხანაში, წგ.: ნარკვევები მახლობელი აღმოსავლეთის ისტორიიდან, თბ., 1957; ლ ო რ თ ქ ი ფ ა ნ ი ძ ე მ., ჰაბიბ-იბნ-მასლამის „დაცვის სიგელი“, «მასალები საქართველოსა და კავკასიის ისტორიისათვის», 1951, ნაკვ. 29; მისივე, არაბთა მფლობელობის ხასიათი საქართველოში, იქვე, 1963, ნაკვ. 35; ჯავახიშვილი ივ., ქართველი ერის ისტორია, წგ. 2, თბ., 1983 (თხზ. თორმეტ ტომად, ტ. 2); ჯანაშია ს., არაბობა საქართველოში, შრომები, [ტ.] 2, თბ., 1952.
M. Lortkipanidze
