Ibrahim
Khan
informed
[Herakl]
about
[Aqa
Muhammad
Khan's]preparations
with
a
fast
messenger.
When
Herakl
Khan
learned
that
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan
hasstopped
his
attempts
to
subjugate
Karabagh
and
is
moving
towards
Tiflis,
asked
hisgrandson
Solomon
Khan,
the
Vali
of
Bash
Achogh,
his
sons
and
other
relatives,
towhom
he
had
presented
various
regions
of
Georgia
for
help.
Although
Herakl
was
alreadyold,
over
seventy,
he
was
anxious
to
defeat
his
enemies.
So
he
started
to
assemble
an
armyand
get
ready
to
war.
However,
there
were
misunderstandings
between
his
sons,
thereforethey
refused
to
support
him,
apart
from
Solomon
Khan,
who
sent
4000
warriors
from
BashAchogh.
In
spite
of
Vali
's
persuasions
and
demands
sent
through
messengers,
not
a
single
regiment
came
to
his
aid:
they
were
busy
feasting
and
reveling.
ThereforeHerakl
had
to
face
the
huge
army
of
the
enemy
with
his
small
number
of
people,
some
of
hissubjects,
servants,
and
the
group
of
Moslem
tribe
of
Qazakh
and
wage
a
war,
trying
toprevent
his
[Aqa
Muhammad
Khan's]
entrance
to
the
land
of
Georgia.
Herakl
arrived
atInja-chay,
an
area
in
Qazakh
and
waited
for
his
sons
to
send
assistance,
but
it
was
notlikely.
When
Aqa
Muhammad
reached
to
Ganje,
Vali
withdrew
from
Inja-chay
and
senthis
wife
Dedavalu
to
Dushet
(Tushet)
out
of
caution.
He
stayed
with
his
small
group
ofpeople
in
Tiflis.
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan,
moving
from
one
station
to
another
arrived
atSoghanloq,
stopped
there
and
in
the
morning
made
an
assault
upon
Tiflis.
Vali
drewhis
small
troops
and
cannons
down
to
the
river
Mardanes
(Kizrans),
where
there
was
aQarantin
station.
When
[Aqa
Muhammad
Khan's]
regiments
advanced
into
the
field,
afierce
battle
took
place
there.
The
Georgian
artillerists
fought
so
skillfully
that
theykept
off
the
enemy's
advancement.
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan
summoned
Mustoufi
Khan
Davalu,
the
Commander-in-Chief
of
his
army,
the
bravest
of
his
warriors
and
ordered
him,
"Youmust
conquer
Tiflis!"
By
chance
the
air
was
dimmed
with
dust
and
smoke
and
it
was
hard
to
seeone
another.
The
commander
advanced
forth
with
the
army
and
the
Qizilbashs
unaware
of
theright
way
started
climbing
the
mountain.
When
the
mist
and
dust
dispersed,
the
Vali
and
his
army
noticed
that
the
Qizilbash
troops
were
in
their
rear
above
blocks
of
thetown.
Therefore
Vali
had
to
flee,
and
there
was
no
chance
to
return
his
palace.
Consequently
he
made
for
the
highlands
of
Qaraqalhan,
crossed
the
bridge
of
Havlabar(Hellevar)
with
one
of
his
cavalrymen
and
a
donkey
rider.
The
Qizilbash
army
invaded
Dar-al-Sorur
Tiflis,
plundered
it,
making
ita
house
of
grief
and
sorrow.
Its
churches
were
profaned
and
the
church-plate
was
capturedby
that
violent
group
of
evildoers.
The
nice
buildings
were
robbed
and
damaged
by
thosedevils.
The
dark-hearted
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan
stayed
there
for
seven
days,
demolished
the
city
and
filled
it
with
grief.
The
fine
buildings
were
forfeited
of
itsbeauty
and
wealth.
Afterwards
[Aqa
Muhammad
Khan]
returned,
spent
the
winter
in
Mughan[plain],
and
in
the
spring
advanced
towards
Araq
and
his
country.
After
the
sack
of
Tiflis
Vali
called
up
his
sons
and
tavads
and
those,
who
escaped
from
death
and
warned
them:
-My
days
have
come
to
an
end.
So
it
doesn't
befit
me
to
be
awine-scooper
in
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan's
gaieties
and
obey
his
orders.
-The
way
out
is
to
have
him
take
one
of
my
sons
a
hostage.
At
that
time
Vali
was
informed
about
Aqa
Muhammad
Khan'sreturn.
This
made
him
happy
and
he
calmed
down.
