The Arab Invasion of Abasgia was a significant conflict during the Caucasian wars, involving the Arab Caliphate and the Kingdom of Abasgia at the fortress of Anacopia in 737 AD. The Arab forces, led by Marwan ibn Muhammad, aimed to subdue Abasgia. However, the Abasgian defenders, commanded by King Leon I, utilized their mountainous strongholds to successfully resist and repel the invasion.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
| Arab Invasion of Abasgia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Arab Conquests | |||||||||
.jpg) The Anacopia Fortress, primary defense point of the Kingdom of Abasgia | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Arab Caliphate | Kingdom of Abasgia | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Marwan ibn Muhammad | Leon I of the Leonid Dynasty | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 20,000-60,000 | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Heavy losses, thousands killed | Unknown | ||||||||
Background
editDuring the 8th century, the Umayyad Caliphate expanded into the Caucasus. However, they encountered resistance from the Abasgians, who managed to maintain their independence due to the strategic mountainous region of Anacopia, which was heavily fortified.[8]
Battle
editIn 737, the Arab general Marwan ibn Muhammad launched an invasion into Abasgia, pressing forward to capture the fortress of Anacopia. Local sources describe that the fortress was defended by 2,000 Abasgians, along with 1,000 Kartvelian soldiers who sought refuge from Arab aggression. Despite the strength of Marwan’s forces, the Abasgian army inflicted heavy casualties, forcing the Arabs to retreat.[9][10]
Battle of Anacopia
editDuring the eighth century Anacopia found itself near the moving frontier that separated Byzantine Christendom from the Umayyad Caliphate, and in 736/737 Marwan II, appeared outside the walls with a force of 60,000 men and laid siege to what was by now the capital of the Kingdom of Abkhazia. The Georgian chronicle relates that the citadel was defended by a force of 1,000 Iberians and 2,000 Abkhazians under the leadership of Leon I of Abkhazia. The chronicle recalls that the Arab forces suffered from an epidemic that killed 35,000 of them while a further 3,000 were killed in the fighting. The successful defence of Anacopia is regarded as a pivotal turning point in the history of the region.[11][12]
Aftermath
editThe defeat at Anacopia allowed Abasgia to retain its autonomy and resist further Arab influence. In recognition of this victory, Byzantine Emperor Leo III granted King Leon I the hereditary right to rule Abasgia, strengthening the region's political autonomy.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Chachkhaliya, D.K. (2000). Chronicles of Abkhazian Kings. Moscow.
- ^ Anchabadze, Z.V. (1959). From the History of Medieval Abkhazia (6-17 centuries). Sukhumi.
- ^ Anchabadze, Z.V. (1959). История средневековой Абхазии. Sukhumi.
- ^ "Kollautz, A. Abasgia (2000; in Turkish)". apsnyteka.org (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Bgazhba, O. Kh.; Lakoba, S. Z." apsuara.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Gitsba, T. Sh. Strana drevnikh abazgov (Sukhum, 2012)". apsnyteka.org (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Apsny – Strana dushi – Blagovest". cofe.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2012-06-17. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Turkhaninov, G.F. (2008). The Discovery and Decipherment of the Ancient Writing of the Caucasus. Krasnodar Academic Press.
- ^ Jemakulov, B.M. (2008). The Abasgian Kingdom. Cherkessk.
- ^ Anchabadze, Z.V. From the History of Medieval Abkhazia, p. 54, 1959.
- ^ "Anacopia Fortress". Tourist Site of Abkhazia Republic. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ "Anacopia fortress". Pointerst. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ Dzyba, V.A. (2016). Abazins in the Wars of Russia. Moscow.