Conflict: | Battle of Rakhsi |
Partof: | the Georgian–Seljuk wars |
Date: | April 1118 |
Place: | Rakhsi (Araxes) |
Result: | Georgian victory |
Combatant1: | Kingdom of Georgia |
Combatant2: | Seljuk Empire |
Commander1: | David IV |
Commander2: | Unknown |
The Battle of Rakhsi or Araxes took place between the Kingdom of Georgia and the Seljuks in the Rakhsi (Araxes) river in 1118.
in 1118 a Georgian nobleman who ruled the Javakheti was killed by the Seljuks in Javakheti, the Georgian King David IV heard from Nakhiduri the story of the Seljuks invasion of Javakheti and killing of Beshken Jaqeli. David refused to listen to his nobles' advice to retreat and managed to avenge Beshken's death by defeating the Seljuks in Rakhsi (Aras river) and massacred the Seljuk garrisons on Aras in April 1118.
David IV captured Lori in 1118. Since 1065, the city had been the capital of Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget, created by the Kiurikian dynasty. David IV annexed Lori with its surrounding territory to Georgia. In July 1118, David IV captured Agarani in one day. Bagrat IV, David's grandfather, had taken three months to capture Agarani in the previous century.