Diplomacy gone to seed: a history of Byzantine foreign relations, A.D. 1047-57

International Journal of Kurdish Studies, Jan, 2004 by Paul A. Blaum

The Georgian Chronicles--only translated into English within the past decade--may provide the best insight as to why Toghrul Beg chose after two years to release Liparit in a transparent display of bigheartedness. Following the capture of Liparit at the battle of Kapetrou, the Georgian eristhavs or magnates, along with Liparit's sons Ivane and Niania, had restored king Bagrat IV to full power over his own dominion. Bagrat IV soon consolidated his position enough to imprison Liparit's sons (though he soon released Ivane) and assist the Byzantines in person in their successful attempt to relieve Kurdish Gandja, then tenaciously besieged by Turkmen nomads. More about this campaign will be said later. After Bagrat's brilliant success at Gandja, his prospects seemed bright enough that the people of Tiflis, a Muslim enclave, invited Bagrat to take possession of their city. The Georgian Chronicles note that "... they escorted him inside, and there was great joy and amity." It was at this point that Toghrul Beg turned loose Liparit with the likely purpose of creating dissension in Georgia. If that were indeed his intention, he succeeded all too well. Liparit first went to Ani, soon to learn that Bagrat had left Tiflis and was marching south against him. Liparit thought it expedient then to visit Constantinople and pay his respects to Constantine IX, who furnished him troops for the fight against Bagrat. The sultan's cunning repatriation of Liparit was proving a mixed blessing for Christian unity in those perilous times. In 1054, Bagrat IV, along with his mother Mariam, went himself to confer with Constantine IX in the Byzantine capital. The Emperor appointed him a nobilissimus, which made him in effect a member of the imperial family, and extended to him "great glory and honor." Nevertheless, because of the intrigues of his favorite Liparit, Constantine IX maintained the Georgian king in gilded captivity for what proved to be three (or more likely two) years. During the king's absence, Liparit had Bagrat's young son Keorki (George) crowned king under his own tutelage and the guardianship of Bagrat's sister, Gourandoukht. Liparit for a time had things much his own way, since he now managed to be friends with both Toghrul and the Byzantine emperor. After awhile, the princes in Liparit's own camp wearied of his sovereignty, arrested him, and turned him over to Bagrat IV, who by now had returned from Constantinople "in great glory with gifts and incalculable treasure." Ultimately, Bagrat and Liparit came to terms, and Liparit left Georgia in gilded exile, ending his turbulent career as a monk under the name Antony. He died in Constantinople between 1062 and 1064. (20) As cleverly as he placed his bets, Constantine IX had many races to watch and did not always back the right horse.

After the first Turkish ghazwa in 1048, Toghrul had sent a sharif or descendant of Muhammad as ambassador to Constantine IX, directing the Emperor to accept the status of tributary. Apparently, the sultan took the word of Ibrahim Inal that the raid had been an unqualified success when in fact the Byzantine left and right wings at Kapetrou had triumphed and pursued the Turks "until cock's crow." Constantine IX adamantly dismissed any talk of tribute and ordered the fortification of places on the Azerbaijani frontier. Toghrul was unable to take further action against the Byzantines because of the revolt of his half-brother, Ibrahim Inal, instigated--the Byzantines said--by Toghrul's own jealousy. Ibrahim Inal took refuge in the virtually impregnable bastion of Sarmaj in the Jibal, and Toghrul Beg only captured the place after a protracted siege and with the help of 100,000 men. This took place in the Muslim year 441 (1049/50). Toghrul Beg, perhaps in recognition of his brother's prowess as warrior, forgave him and allowed him to take charge in the Jibal and Azerbaijan. (21) For the moment, Toghrul had tidying up to do in his house, and he refrained from further military adventures.