Battle of Chalagan

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Battle of Chalagan

Part of the Kara Koyunlu invasions of the Caucasus

Date	December 1412
Location	Near Chalagan, Azerbaijan
Result	Kara Koyunlu victory

Combatants

Kara Koyunlu Turkmen

Georgian Kingdom and Shervan

Commanders

Kara Yusuf

Constantine I of Georgia, Ibrahim I of Shirvan

Strength

Unknown

2.000 Georgians, unknown number of Shervanese

The Battle of Chalagan was fought between the Kara Koyunlu Turkmen and the alliance of Georgia and Shirvan at the place of Chalagan (the present day Chalagan-Gyuney, Azerbaijan), in December 1412, and resulted in the allies’ defeat.

The conflict was preceded by the fall of Timurid empire immediately after the great conqueror’s death (1405) and subsequent clashes between the various clans in Azerbaijan. Having taken control of Southern Azerbaijan (around 1406), the Kara Koyunlu tribal federation leader, Kara Yusuf, launched an offensive against Shervanshah Ibrahim I (1382-1417) who had headed a struggle against the Timurids in Northern Azerbaijan. Shervan's former ally the Karabakh ruler Yar Ahmed Karamanlu sided with Kara Yusuf, while Ibrahim joined his forces with the ruler of Shaki Sidi Ahmed Orlat and the Georgian king Constantine I, who marched in the head of 2000 Georgian cavalry to support the Shirvanese.

A major battle was fought at the village Chalagan in December 1412 and ended in a decisive defeat of the allies. Ibrahim and Constantine fell in the hands of the fierce enemy. The Georgian king, his brother, and 300 Georgian officers were beheaded by the orders of Kara Yusuf.

Victorious in the battle, Kara Yusuf was able to secure his positions against the threats from north, and focused now on Baghdad.