Sadun III Artsruni Mankaberdeli[1] Սադուն Բ Արծրունի | |
|---|---|
| Atabeg andAmirspasalar of Georgia | |
| In office 1272–1282 | |
| Preceded by | Ivane III Abuletisdze |
| Succeeded by | Khutlubuga |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1282 |
| Children | Khutlubuga |
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Sadun Artsruni, alsoSadun of Mankaberd (Georgian:სადუნ მანკაბერდელი;Armenian:Սադուն Բ Արծրունի) of theHouse of the Artsrunids, was an Armenian prince, Prince ofHaghbat and Mankaberd.[1] He was acourt official and becameAtabeg (Governor General) andAmirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief of the army) of theKingdom of Eastern Georgia, and later chamberlain of Avag's daughter Khoshak.[3][4] He was concurrently "Prime Minister" of the MongolIl-KhanAbaqa.[5]
Sadun was a great-grandson of Amir K'urd (Abulasan), governor ofTbilisi during QueenTamar's reign in Georgia.[3] In 1258, Sadun won a wrestling match in front of the Mongol rulerHulegu Khan, who gave him the title ofTarkhan. Sadun then accompanied Hulegu in his military campaigns inSyria in 1259, in the conquest ofSasun, and in the capture of the citadel ofAleppo. He was then awarded the district of Sasun from Hulegu.[3]
Throughout the 13th century, the high officesAtabeg (Governor General) andAmirspasalar (Commander-in-Chief of the Georgian army) had been held by theZakarids, but following theMongol invasions of Georgia the Mongol victors gave these offices to the "renegade"Sadun of Mankaberd in 1272.[6] WhenAbaqa became the new Mongol ruler, Sadun received from him the title ofAtabegAmirspasalar for the GeorgianBagratid Kingdom.[7] He was said to be close to the Mongols, and had been promoted by them: "Sadun Artsruni was appointed as atabeg of Georgia by Abaqa Khan".[7][8] In his position, he especially controlled the policies of Eastern Georgia, which, while being ruled byDemetrius II, remained pro-Mongol throughout.[8] Sadun was also awarded control of the royal domains ofTelavi,Belakani andKars, and acquiredDmanisi fromDemetrius II.[3] His estate in Georgian Armenia was next to that of theZakarids.[9][10]
The rise of Sadun examplifies the way the Mongol maintained control over the Georgian territory, by maintaining the original kingship within the original Bagratid family, through the offices of theatabegi and theamir-spasarali, given to those who were collaborating with them.[9][4]
He was an acquaintance ofShams al-Din Juvayni, avizier in the service of the Mongols, and organized his marriage withKhoshak, daughter ofAvag Zakarian, whom he had had under his supervision.[11]
Sadun married the daughter ofXoja Aziz, a powerful Persian official active in the administration of Georgia.[12] Sadun died in 1282, and his title ofAmirspasalar was transmitted to his sonKhutlubuga. However,Demetrius II of Georgia blocked Sadun's son Khutlubuga from getting the office ofatabeg, and instead promoted Tarsaich Orbelian of theOrbelians.[6][9]
At that time, Demetre II reigned in Eastern Georgia, whose policy was governed by Sadun of Mankaberd, who was close to the Mongols, until his death. Since the latter was promoted by the Ilkhan Khans, it should not be in his interest to go against them. Moreover, during this period, Eastern Georgia's opposition against the Mongols is not visible neither in the Georgian original sources nor anywhere else.
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