Utuphursi | |
---|---|
King of Diaokhi | |
King of Diaokhi | |
Reign | 9th- 8th century BCE |
Predecessor | Unknown (previous known ruler Asya) |
Successor | Unknown (last known ruler) |
Utuphursi is the last known ruler of the kingdom of Diaokhi, a confederation of proto-Georgian tribes. His reign spanned over three decades during which he faced the expansionist policy of neighboring Urartu. He fought several battles against kings Menua and Argishti I in the first half of the 8th century BCE. His reign is documented through Urartian texts.
Utuphursi is the last known ruler of the Kingdom of Diaokhi, a confederation of tribes in northeastern Anatolia. [1] He reigned in the end of the 9th century and the early 8th century BCE [2] over dozens of proto-Georgian tribes controlling territories from Anatolia to Colchis, from his capital Sasilu (close to the modern Turkish town of Tortum). [3]
Early on, he had to face his powerful southern neighbor, Urartu, whose king Menua ( 810- 786 BCE) led an expansionist policy toward the South Caucasus and saw Diaokhi as the region's center. [4] Menua captured Sasilu after a battle but Utuphursi took refuge in the northeast of the kingdom. Menua continued his campaign, capturing several fortresses and the city of Zua on his way. [5]
Utuphursi was forced to accept his defeat after the fall of his last stronghold, Utu. He recognized himself as a vassal of Urartu and was made to pay an annual tribute of gold and silver, in return for the freeing of Diaokhian prisoners captured during the invasion. [2]
Utuphursi's loyalty toward Urartu remained flimsy (Menua himself calls the kingdom a "troubling subject"). [5] Using Menua's death in 786 BCE, he proclaimed his independence by refusing to pay tribute to his successor, Argishti I (786-764 BCE), who launched a campaign against him in 785 BCE. [6] Utuphursi was quickly defeated after the capture of his new capital Zua and agreed once again to Urartu's domination over his kingdom. Argishti I had his victory inscribed over a building in Zua. [7]
A few years later, while Urartu was busy with wars against Assyria, Utuphursi decided to once again revolt. Argishti I returned to Diaokhi and burned down Zua, though keeping Utuphursi on the throne. [8]
In 768 BCE, Utuphursi launched a third revolt but was once again defeated by Argishti I, [9] who chose to annex the southern territories of Diaokhi. [10] Urartu build a series of fortresses on its border with Diaokhi as part of a strategy to rapidly respond to any further challenge to his power. [11] Argishti I would die four years later, and Utuphursi disappeared from historical sources. Diaokhi's final collapse at the hands of a Colchis-Urartu alliance took place either at the end of his reign or shortly after his death. [1]
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)Utuphursi | |
---|---|
King of Diaokhi | |
King of Diaokhi | |
Reign | 9th- 8th century BCE |
Predecessor | Unknown (previous known ruler Asya) |
Successor | Unknown (last known ruler) |
Utuphursi is the last known ruler of the kingdom of Diaokhi, a confederation of proto-Georgian tribes. His reign spanned over three decades during which he faced the expansionist policy of neighboring Urartu. He fought several battles against kings Menua and Argishti I in the first half of the 8th century BCE. His reign is documented through Urartian texts.
Utuphursi is the last known ruler of the Kingdom of Diaokhi, a confederation of tribes in northeastern Anatolia. [1] He reigned in the end of the 9th century and the early 8th century BCE [2] over dozens of proto-Georgian tribes controlling territories from Anatolia to Colchis, from his capital Sasilu (close to the modern Turkish town of Tortum). [3]
Early on, he had to face his powerful southern neighbor, Urartu, whose king Menua ( 810- 786 BCE) led an expansionist policy toward the South Caucasus and saw Diaokhi as the region's center. [4] Menua captured Sasilu after a battle but Utuphursi took refuge in the northeast of the kingdom. Menua continued his campaign, capturing several fortresses and the city of Zua on his way. [5]
Utuphursi was forced to accept his defeat after the fall of his last stronghold, Utu. He recognized himself as a vassal of Urartu and was made to pay an annual tribute of gold and silver, in return for the freeing of Diaokhian prisoners captured during the invasion. [2]
Utuphursi's loyalty toward Urartu remained flimsy (Menua himself calls the kingdom a "troubling subject"). [5] Using Menua's death in 786 BCE, he proclaimed his independence by refusing to pay tribute to his successor, Argishti I (786-764 BCE), who launched a campaign against him in 785 BCE. [6] Utuphursi was quickly defeated after the capture of his new capital Zua and agreed once again to Urartu's domination over his kingdom. Argishti I had his victory inscribed over a building in Zua. [7]
A few years later, while Urartu was busy with wars against Assyria, Utuphursi decided to once again revolt. Argishti I returned to Diaokhi and burned down Zua, though keeping Utuphursi on the throne. [8]
In 768 BCE, Utuphursi launched a third revolt but was once again defeated by Argishti I, [9] who chose to annex the southern territories of Diaokhi. [10] Urartu build a series of fortresses on its border with Diaokhi as part of a strategy to rapidly respond to any further challenge to his power. [11] Argishti I would die four years later, and Utuphursi disappeared from historical sources. Diaokhi's final collapse at the hands of a Colchis-Urartu alliance took place either at the end of his reign or shortly after his death. [1]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)