The Sarmari ambush of the Georgians (620 AH)

In Sha'ban 620 AH the commander of the fortress of Sarmari, in the lands of Armenia, raided the lands of the Georgians and plundered several villages. The fortress obeyed the lord of Khilat, Shihab al-Din Ghazi ibn al-Adil. ¹

Shalwa, lord of Duwin and one of the great commanders of the Georgians, gathered his army, besieged Sarmari, plundered its surroundings and then returned. ¹

The commander of Sarmari learned that the Georgians had camped in a narrow valley between Duwin and Sarmari. He marched with a light army and reached the valley at the time of dawn. He divided his army into two parties, from the top of the valley and from its bottom, and they attacked the Georgians while they were unaware. They captured Shalwa with a large number of their commanders. ¹

The king of Georgia sent to the king al-Ashraf, lord of the lands of al-Jazira. He said that he wished to release his men from captivity if the peace held, and if it was broken, he should let him know. ¹