Draft:Capture of Ganja (1139)

The Capture of Ganja took place in 1139 after the earthquake of Ganja, which was exploited by King Demetrius I of Georgia and looted the city. The troops stole many artifacts and prized items from the city, including the Ancient Gates of Ganja which was utilized as a trophy.

Capture
Historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi wrote: "In those days, there suddenly was mist and fog, and mountain and plain were covered allover, and there was a terrible earthquake, and the capital, Gandzak, was destroyed. And by the grace of God, the newly ordained Catholicos survived, but the great teacher Grigor died in the earthquake, along with many other men, women and children, of uncountable number, who were killed by buildings falling on them. And the king of the Georgians, Demetrius, came and pillaged everything, and he took the gate of the city to his country."

Aftermath
In reply to this, the sultan of the Eldiguzids attacked Ganja several times, and in 1143 the town again fell to the sultan. According to Mkhitar Gosh, Demetrius ultimately gained possession of Ganja, but, when he gave his daughter in marriage to the sultan, he presented the latter with the town as dowry, and the sultan appointed his own emir to rule it.