| Battle of Chkheri | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofRusso-Turkish War (1768–1774) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Imereti Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti |  Ottoman Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Solomon I | Suleyman Pasha [Ka] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown 2,000 | 4,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 50 killed 100 wounded | 2,400 killed 600 captured | ||||||
TheBattle of Chkheri took place between theKingdom of Imereti and theOttoman Empire during theRusso-Turkish War (1768–1774), on February 6, 1774.
In 1773,Solomon I andHeraclius II signed a alliance treaty against the Ottomans. In the same year, the kings together with 11 thousand cavalry marched inJavakheti, capturedAkhalkalaki, reachedKars andArdahan. The Pasha ofChildir Eyalet could not resist, they would have releasedSamtskhe, they would have abolished the Pasha ofChildir Eyalet, but Solomon get seriously injury and this campaign was stopped because of that.[2]
In response to the Javakheti campaign, The Pasha ofChildir Eyalet sent a 4,000-strong army to sackImereti. At the same time, Pasha of Childir Eyalet appealed toKatsia II Dadiani and the eristavi of theAbkhazians againstSolomon. According to the agreement with the eristavi ofSamegrelo, they had to attack Imereti from two sides. The Abashidzes, the owners of Vakhani Castle, betrayed Solomon I and gave way to the enemy. Katsia II Dadiani also arrived at the border of Imereti. Solomon askedHeraclius II for help, Heraclius did not hesitate and sent 2,000 men to his rescue, forcing Katsia II Dadian to turn back. The Ottomans realized that they had fallen into a snare and began to retreat, but King Solomon cut off the retreat, led them to the Chkherimel river and defeated them on February 6, 1774. Rajab, a leader ofAvars, who raided many timesKartli-Kakheti, will be captured, whom King Solomon sent to Heraclius as a gift.[3]
The victory in the Battle of Chkheri was of great importance, this was another defeat ofChildir Eyalet and theOttoman Empire in Imereti, and the sending ofHeraclius II's auxiliary detachment and his correct action to neutralizeKatsia II Dadiani played a major role in this victory. 3,000 men from the Ottoman Empire were killed or captured, only 50 Georgians were killed and 100 wounded.[4]