Battle of Kvareli

In 1755, Avar khan Nursal-Bey invaded the Kingdom of Kakheti with an army of 20,000-30,000 soldiers, originating from Jar-Balakan and Dagestan. The Avar army was supplemented by Shamkhalate of Tarki and Gazikumukh Khanate, fighters from other principalities of Dagestan, as well as detachments from Shaki Khanate and Ganja Khanate. In July of 1755, he laid siege to the Kvareli castle, a large fortress built on the Kakheti plains.^[3] The defense of Kvareli fortress was of great importance for the future of Georgia, because if the enemy won and the fortress fell, the area beyond Alazni would remain with the enemy, then it would not be difficult to conquer all of Kakheti. Even the weakened Kartli would easily be conquered by Nursal-Bey and through the Ottomans, he would be able to reach western Georgia.^[7][8] Based on the size of the castle and the range of rifle fire at this time, it is estimated that Nursal-Beg's siege lines would have stretched 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to fully encircle the castle.^[9] At this time, King Teimuraz II of Kartli and King Heraclius II of Kakheti had no standing army, although Nursal-Bey was unaware of this. After 20 days of siege, 206 Georgian warriors loaded with food and ammunition were sent to Kvareli at night, crossing the Alazani river, sneaking past the Avars guards and fought their way to the castle while herdsmen managed to burn the khanate's camp around the castle.^[3] In addition, Heraclius sent an army to raid the undefended Jar-Balakan. Jar-Balakanians abandoned the siege and returned to their country to save their wives and children, but the raiding party had already moved on to Shamkhalate of Tarki, Gazikumukh Khanate, Shaki Khanate and Ganja Khanate with each khanate contingency abandoning the siege to protect their homeland. Meanwhile King Teimuraz and King Heraclius had gathered an army to attack the besiegers, breaking through the thinly spread lines. ^[9][3]

• Papuna Orbeliani - "The story of Kartli" in Georgian