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Battle of Garni | |||||||
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Part of Jalal al-Din's invasions of Georgia | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
![]() | Khwarezmian Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ivane Mkhargrdzeli Shalva Akhaltiskheli ![]() Ivane Akhaltsikheli † | Jalal al-Din Mangburni | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
17,000[3]–20,000 engaged[4] | 140,000–200,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
20,000 killed[4] | unknown | ||||||
Location of Garni in Armenia with present-day administrative borders. |
The Battle of Garni (Georgian: გარნისის ბრძოლა, Armenian: Գառնիի ճակատամարտ) was fought in 1225 near Garni, in modern day Armenia, then part of the Kingdom of Georgia. The invading Khwarazmian Empire was led by Jalal al-Din Mangburni, its last Sultan, who was driven from his realm by the Mongol Empire and was trying to recapture lost territories. The battle ended with a Khwarezmid victory and is marked as a disastrous event in Georgian history due to betrayal. As a result, the royal court of Georgian Queen Rusudan (1223–1245) moved to Kutaisi and the country was exposed to subsequent looting during the Mongol invasions of Georgia.