Battle of Nakhiduri

Battle of Nakhiduri (1599)
16th century Ottoman miniature depicting Ottoman forces fighting against Simon I of Kartli
Date 1599 Location Nakhiduri, Kvemo Kartli, Georgia Result Ottoman victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Kingdom of Kartli
Commanders and leaders
Cafer Pasha Mustafa Pasha	Simon I of Kartli (POW)
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

The Battle of Nakhiduri ^[3] (Georgian: ნახიდურის ბრძოლა) was a battle between Simon I of the Kingdom of Kartli and the Ottoman forces of Cafer Pasha, beylerbey of Tabriz.^[2][1]

Background

In 1598 Simon I of Kartli rebelled against the Ottoman Empire and ceased his annual tribute payments.^[1] Simon I took back the fortress of Gori from the Ottomans after a nine month long siege, as a result the Ottomans feared that revolts would spread throughout other regions of the southern Caucasus.^[1] The Ottomans immediately took action and launched a punitive expedition against Simon I.^[2] The Ottomans sent Cafer Pasha, the beylerbey of Tabriz against the Georgians.^[1]

Battle

When King Simon I learnt that an Ottoman army was marching against him he went out to face them.^[1] The Ottomans marched into the Algeti valley where a Georgian army gathered at Nakhiduri.^[2] A major battle took place at Nakhiduri and King Simon I led the initial charge.^[2] After five hours of fighting the Ottomans defeated the Georgians and the Georgians were forced to flee the battlefield.^[2][1] During the pursuit of the Georgians by the Ottomans, King Simon I was captured by the Turks near the village of Partskhisi.^[2]

Aftermath

King Simon, who was taken captive, was brought to Istanbul and imprisoned in Yedikule.^[2][1] During his imprisonment, he converted to Islam and took the name Mehmed Pasha. As a Muslim, he died in captivity.^[4][1]

References