Battle of Nakhiduri (1599) | |||||||
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16th century Ottoman miniature depicting Ottoman forces fighting against Simon I of Kartli | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Ottoman Empire | Kingdom of Kartli | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Cafer Pasha Mustafa Pasha | Simon I of Kartli (POW) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
30,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
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]
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]
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]
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]