Battle of Khresili

Battle of Khresili
Date December 14, 1757 Location Near Khresili Result Decisive Georgian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Imereti	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Solomon I of Imereti Papuna Tsereteli †Khutunia Shervashidze Katsia Dadiani Beri Tsulukidze Beso Lortkipanidze Kaikhosro Agiashvili Giorgi Abashidze Zurab Mikeladze Archil Batonishvili	Ali Pasha †Gola Pasha †Kemkha Pasha †Levan Abashidze Rostom, Duke of Racha Pasha of Poti Pasha of Qutaisi rulers of fortresses (Tsutskvati, Baghdadi, Shorapani).
Strength
11 000 main troops 5 000 additional forces	30 000 Turkish Army 11 000 men from Turkish fortresses of imereti 10 000 Georgians
Casualties and losses
minor losses	38 000-45 000

The Battle of Khresili (Georgian: ხრესილის ბრძოლა) was fought, in 1757, between the armies of the Kingdom of Imereti and the Ottoman Empire. The king of Imereti Solomon I defeated the army of Turks. The battle took place in 14 December 1747. Solomon I was trying to establish a strong monarchy and unify western Georgia. Those actions stained the relations between Georgian King and Ottoman Empire. Ottomans exceptionally wanted to stop Solomon's struggle against slavery. Ottomans made a union with Georgian betrayer Lords. Levan Abashidze, who was fighting against King of Imereti, arrived in Akhaltsikhe and led Ottoman army to the Kingdom of Imereti. Solomon enticed them in strategically adroit place near Khresili and heavily defeated them.

Background

In 17th century western Georgia was vassal of Ottoman Empire. Ottoman garrisons were disposed In Tsutskvati, Poti and Shorapani fortresses. Only from Mengrelia (part of Georgia) 12 000 slaves were sold in Ottoman Empire every year. Georgians were in a danger of extinction. King of Imereti Solomon I prohibited slavery, opposed betrayer Lords and wanted independence from Ottoman Empire. Sultan sent Gola Pasha with large army to punish Solomon I and reestablish ottoman rule over Kingdom of Imereti.

Purpose

Ottomans wanted to destroy Solomon I and his supporters and to finally conquer western Georgia. The aim of Georgians was to clear Imereti from Turks.

Battle

Early morning Georgians started attack. King Solomon himself reached Ali Pasha and killed him. Ottomans became confused after death of their leader. Georgians heavily defeated ottoman army.

Battle of Khresili Georgian Attack