Battle of Bazaleti of 1626
Battle of Bazaleti of 1626, between the armies of Teimuraz I, the King of Kartli-Kakheti, and Giorgi Saakadze.
Saakadze's desire to unify the country and curb the arbitrariness of the nobility displeased the latter. They set Giorgi Saakadze and Teimuraz I against each other. Teimuraz I did not like the relationship of Saakadze with the Ottoman sultan and the kings and princes of Western Georgia. Shah Abbas I of Iran tried to use the discord in Kartli to his advantage and offered reconciliation to Teimuraz I. This circumstance aggravated the relationship between Teimuraz and Saakadze. Their relationship completely deteriorated at the end of the summer of 1626. Teimuraz moved to Kakheti and a part of the great feudal lords of Kartli went with him, including Zurab Aragvis Eristavi, brother of Saakadze's wife, and Iotam Amilakhvari. Prince of Mukhrani, Kaikhosro, Saakadze's son-in-law, Iese Ksnis Eristavi, and a large part of the royal nobility of Kartli remained on Saakadze's side. One group of feudal lords of Kartli, who were loyal to Simon II, Khan of Kartli, did not participate in the battle. Saakadze offered to the King of Imereti Giorgi III, to make his son Alexander the king of Kartli. In case of victory, Alexander would be the king of Kartli-Kakheti and the heir to the throne of Imereti. This would create the basis for the unification of Georgia. George III accepted the proposal and sent auxiliary troops. With the permission of the Ottoman sultan, auxiliary troops were sent to Saakadze from Samtskhe as well.
The battle took place near Bazaleti Lake in late autumn. Saakadze's army came from a long distance in bad weather and had to fight in unfavorable conditions. Saakadze did not take part in the battle for a while. Davit Gogorishvili mounted Giorgi's horse and entered the battle on his behalf. He was killed by Zurab Eristavi. Rumors started that Saakadze was killed. Giorgi was forced to participate in the battle. Many were killed and wounded in the fierce clash (Saakadze, Teimuraz I and Zurab Eristavi were among the wounded). The battle ended with the victory of Teimuraz I and Zurab, which was a great victory for the feudal lords.
The Battle of Bazaleti was a tragedy for the Georgian people. Georgian blood was spilled and the unification of Georgia failed. The main reason for Saakadze's defeat was the weakness of the unifying forces.
Literature: ბ ე რ ძ ე ნ ი შ ვ ი ლ ი ნ., ჯ ა ვ ა ხ ი შ ვ ი ლ ი ი ვ., ჯ ა ნ ა შ ი ა ს., საქართველოს ისტორია, ნაწ. 1, თბ., 1943; საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევები, ტ. 4, თბ., 1973; ჯ ა მ ბ უ რ ი ა გ., გიორგი სააკაძე, თბ., 1964.
G. Jamburia
