Battle of Rakhsi


The Battle of Rakhsi or Araxes took place between the Kingdom of Georgia and the Seljuks in the Rakhsi river in 1118.

Battle

In 1118,, a Georgian nobleman who ruled Javakheti, was killed by the Seljuks in Javakheti. The Georgian king, David IV, heard in about the Seljuk invasion of Javakheti and the 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 and massacring the Seljuk garrisons on the Aras in April 1118.

Aftermath

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.