User:Iazyges/Battle of Shirimni

Battle of Shirimni (შირიმნის ბრძოლა) also known as the Battle of Palakazio was fought between the armies of the Byzantine Empire and Kingdom of Georgia near the village of Shirimni, close to the Palakazio Lake (now Childir, Turkey) on September 11, 1021.

Background
The early 11th century was marked by increasing tensions between the Kingdom of Georgia and the Byzantine Empire, largely due to territorial disputes in eastern Anatolia. In 1014, King George I took advantage of Byzantine focus on their war with Bulgaria, and invaded the disputed territories. The Byzantine Empire counterattacked in 1021, led by Emperor Basil II. This counterattack forced the Georgians, and their Armenian allies, to retreat from the disputed territory. Basil II pursued the fleeing troops, catching them near the village of Shirimni, in the fall of 1021.

Battle
Initially, the Georgian and Armenian forces had success in attacking the Byzantine positions, however they were eventually defeated, and forced to retreat further into Georgian territory.

Aftermath
After securing victory in the Battle of Shirimni, Basil II wintered his troops in Trapezius, before resuming his campaign the next year, gaining another victory against the Georgian forces at the Battle of Svindax in spring of 1022.