Abstract
Artaqian Principalities had hostile relations with Kingdom of Georgia these Relations were characterized by military features because of the geographical closeness on one hand, and the political circumstances which prevailed in the area from the other hand. For an accurate understanding of the nature of this relation, we should provide a brief summary about the evolution of each of the two powers.
Artaqian evolved as a governing family in the fifth century A. H. (11th century A. D.). The family’s grandfather is Atraq Ibn Aksab (479-484 A.H./1086-1091 A. D.). Prince Atraq was one of the leaders of Seljukian Sultan Melikshah (465-485 A.H./1072-1092 A. D.). As a repay of the services he did to the Seljukians, he was appointed as the ruler of some places in Iraq and became the Seljukians' deputy in Jerusalem in (479A.H. /1086 A. D.). But the Seljukians’ weakness made the Fatimides take over Jerusalem and the Artaqians headed eastward to the peninsula and established their principalities in Keifa fort, Khertabert and Mardin.
The Georgian kingdom was established in the western part of Asia in Caucasian land specifically, at the separating edge between west Asia and east of Europe. So, this geographical location led to the establishment of different kinds of relations with the different powers in the area. These relations were characterized by quietness and sometimes characterized by conflicts. These relations were very hostile with the Islamic powers, especially with the Artaqian principalities in the peninsula land.
The relations between the two parties were characterized by hostility - just like the Artaqian relations with other Christian powers such as Minor Armenia Kingdom in Minor Asia and the relations with the crusaders in Syria. But that hostility was not on a religious basis from the Artaqian side, but it was political because of the neighboring locations of the two parties, as a result of threatening one another. Therefore, each of them has the desire to expand on the account of the other. The first military confrontation was in (515 A.H./1121 A. D.) and the situation continued until (600 A.H./1086-1200 A. D.), and this is what we will bring to light in details within the scope of this study.
