The Kura valley and the foothills between the Georgian lands of Kazakh and Tavush and the atabeg's city of Ganja, with Shamkor at its centre.
Here David Soslan broke Abu Bakr on 1 June 1195, took Shamkor and Ganja and handed Shamkor to the atabeg's rebel brother Amir Amiran as a Georgian vassal; Amir Amiran soon died (poisoned by Abu Bakr, says the Georgian account) and the atabeg took Ganja back. Since then, says a modern summary, the Eldiguzids could only barely contain further Georgian raids, and David Soslan raided Ganja, Barda and Beylagan in the 1190s. No truce is recorded.
In the winter of 1199-1200 this is ground neither side can farm or tax safely.
How things stand that morning
Raided frontier; Shamkor held for the atabeg or by a local emir (not pinned).
Who raids here
Georgian royal and Mkhargrdzeli troops against the Ganja district; the atabeg's emirs at Ganja and the Turkmen of the Arran winter pastures against Georgian Kazakh and Tavush.
Anchoring castles
Georgian side: the Kazakh district and the Kiurikid castles of Matsnaberd and Nor Berd; Gag and Tavush were in Muslim hands until the Mkhargrdzeli took them (Kirakos, no year). Eldiguzid side: Ganja and Shamkor (aze sheet anchors Shamkor to the atabeg).
Last campaign
Shamkor (1 June 1195) and the Georgian raids that followed (undated). Iranica places a further war, with Shamkor and Ganja forced to accept Georgian overlordship, after the fall of Ani; it is read here as 1200-01 (later).
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1200-01 (596-597 AH by Iranica's dating; not pinned)Abu Bakr attacks Shirvan and is beaten; Shamkor and Ganja accept Georgian overlordship. The Gag branch of the Mkhargrdzeli later holds Shamkor.Depends on: Abu Bakr choosing war; the Georgian army free Stopped by: A settlement between Tamar and the atabeg
Where the sources disagree
- Shamkor is dated 1 June 1195 by the Georgian tradition and 1194 by one Wikipedia page (aze sheet note).
Evidence: No source describes raiding in that particular winter; the belt rests on the 1195 war, the undated Georgian raids of the late 1190s and the absence of any truce.
On the map: A rough drawing of a raiding zone whose extent is not recorded.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.