Grounds for the Information about the Campaign of Georgians to Jerusalem in the First Half of 16th Century

Abstract

According to “Akhali Kartlis Tskhovreba” (New Life of Kartli, 1st half of 18th c.), the Ottoman Sultan assigned the envoy to King George of Kartli (1525-1527), King Bagrat of Imereti (1520-1574) and King Levan of Kakheti (1510-1527) and informed that Georgian churches of Jerusalem were taken over by an enemy. He called the kings to drive the enemy away and promised to transfer the churches to them. Georgian kings were glad to arrange the campaign to Jerusalem, and the sultan fulfilled his promise. This information was repeated by Vakhushti Bagrationi and Timote Gabashvili in various versions and with some additions.

This information has raised different opinions among researchers as early as in 19th century. Part of them (T. Bagrationi, T. Zhordania) have not questioned its validity while the others (M. Brosset, Al. Tsagareli) stated that the Georgians would never come to Jerusalem with the weapons. Discussions on this issue continued into the twentieth century. E. Metreveli and L. Menabde questioned the Georgian “campaign” in Jerusalem. Though no new historical sources dealing with the above issues were found, differences of view still persist. Most researchers (E. Mamistvalishvili, R. Pirtskhalaishvili, A. Tvaradze, S. Maskharashvili, Ts. Ghvaberidze) regard that the campaign of Georgians to Jerusalem has really taken place. Each of them justifies the cause and time of the “campaign” of Georgians to Jerusalem (1517 or 1527) in his way. G. Japaridze, relying on Arabian sources, made the conclusion that discussing the Georgian’s campaign to Jerusalem is unreal and groundless. This has never occurred. Therefore, it is even more interesting to clarify what is based on the information on the “campaign” of Georgians to Jerusalem.

The research showed that: when Sultan Suleiman I (1521-1566) arranged a campaign to Europe (1521-1532), the Franciscans driven away from Sion fought to return back or to settle in Jerusalem – they attempted to purchase or hire a Georgian monastery located in Jerusalem, named “Dair-al-Amud” (“Column”). Against the background of the events in Jerusalem, it is not excluded that the Sultan has made an appeal to the Georgians to protect Georgian churches, Supposedly, Georgian kings have really arrived in Jerusalem but not to fight, rather to claim their rights on Georgian churches and monasteries and this, due to hostile relations with the Ottoman Empire, was later rethought and regarded as the campaign.