In 1235–1236, Mongol forces, unlike their
first raid in 1221, appeared with the sole purpose of conquest and occupation of Kingdom of Georgia and easily overran the
already devastated kingdom. Queen Rusudan fled to the security of western Georgia, while the nobles secluded themselves in their fortresses. Finally, in 1239, on
Ivane I Jaqeli’s advice, Rusudan sent four envoys; her
amirspasalar (commander-in-chief) and
atabeg
Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince. The first instance of the title's use was wit ...
(tutor)
Avag Mkhargrdzeli, the
mandaturtukhutsesi (grand master of ceremonies)
Shanshe Mkhargrdzeli, the
msakhurtukhutsesi ''Msakhurtukhutsesi'' (; lit. the "''Master of Servants"'') was a majordomor of the royal court or master of the royal household in feudal Georgia. He served in charge of the palace and its finances. "Within his province was the supervision of t ...
(majordomo)
Vahram Gageli and
Eristavi (duke) of
Hereti Shota Kupri Shota may refer to:
* Shota (dance), a traditional dance from Kosovo
* Shota (Georgian given name), a Georgian given name
* Shōta, a Japanese given name
* Shota (wrestler), Japanese professional wrestler
* Shotacon
, abbreviated from , is, in ...
), to negotiate surrender to
Chaghatai. The Mongol leader received the envoys graciously and released Georgian prisoners.
To ensure her personal immunity, Rusudan set off with Arsen,
bishop of
Chqondidi and
mtsignobartukhutsesi ''Mtsignobartukhutsesi'' () the head of notaries, composer of documents in feudal Georgia. From the beginning of the 12fth century - the head of government, or Chancellor, the first person after the king.
Following the ecclesiastic Council of Ruis ...
(chancellor), on the long trek to Batu Khan’s capital on the Volga and peace treaty was signed on following terms:
* Georgian nobles would rank equally with the Mongol
noyans (lords);
* Georgia would lose its Muslim vassals (like
Shirvan), but could keep its Christian (like
Armenia) territory;
* Georgia would pay annual tribute of 50,000 ''
Hyperpyron'' (about 250
''kilos'' of gold) and additionally pay various taxes;
* Georgia would provide soldiers for the
Mongol army
The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal member of ...
(
Kheshig);
*
David, Rusudan’s son, was recognized as Rusudan’s heir';
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Georgian-Mongolian treaty of 1239
Ceasefires
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire of the 13th and 14th centuries was the largest contiguous land empire in history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Europe, ...
1230s treaties