Battle of Garni

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The Battle of Garni (or Garnisi) was fought in 1225 between Georgians (numbering, according to the sources, some 60,000 men) and Khwarazmians (numbering, it was said, 200,000, but likely much less); the invaders were led by Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, the desperate last sultan of the Khwarezmid Empire who, driven from his realm by the Mongols, was trying to recapture it. Having his request of an alliance being rejected by the Georgians, he attacked them. In the battle at Garni Georgia was heavily defeated; as a result the royal court with Queen Rusudan (1223-1245) moved to Kutaisi and the country was left exposed to subsequent Mongol aggression.