# Inal campaign to Abkhazia

Inal the Great consolidated his power in Northwestern Abkhazia and maintained blood ties with the Abkhaz houses of Achba and Chachba. At the end of the XIII century, the Megrelian ruler George Dadiani invaded the Abkhazian lands, leading to conflict with the princes of Chachba. After the destruction of the fortresses and the attack on Dzhigeti, the war between Megrelia and Abkhazia became inevitable. Having supported the princes of Chachba, Inal defeated the Megrelian army and expanded his influence on Abkhazia. The revolt in Circassia against the Inala government was suppressed with his support. After the wars, Inal consolidated its power in the north and south Caucasus, leading to the consolidation of Abkhazians and Adygs. Inal died in Abkhazia, giving his last campaign in this region.

## History

Inal's policy was also active in South Circassia. The consolidation of Inal from the very beginning of his reign in North-Western Abkhazia, as well as the blood relations and alliances with the powerful Abkhaz houses of Achba and Chachba obliged him to interfere in "Abkhaz affairs" . As early as the end of the XIII century, the Megrelian ruler Georgy Dadiani invaded the south-eastern regions of the Abkhaz principality, which belonged to the Abkhaz princes of Chachba. The princes of Chachba were forced to leave Sukhum. Chachba's attempts to restore his power continued throughout the 19th century. In the early '90s. The 14th century. Vameq Dadiani invaded the lands of the princes of Chachba. The fortresses of Ugagno and Gagari were destroyed. That's when Wamek Dadiani went to Gigetia. The campaign was dictated not only by the help of the Adyghe Abkhazians, but also by the claims of the strengthened Megrelian state to Gigetia, which clashed with the interests of Circassia (this region was border). At the beginning of the XV century, the Abkhaz princes of Chachba were dependent on the Megrelian rulers of Dadiani. Megrelia's actions in Abkhazia and Djibouti led to a confrontation with Inal. Linked by kinship and alliance with Chachba, having his own interests in Abkhazia, Inal could not refuse military aid against Megrelia. Feeling the support of Inal, in 1414 the princes of Chachba broke from the obedience of Dadiani. With the help of Inal, the Megrelian army was defeated. In a bloody battle, Mamia II Dadiani was killed. Interference in the affairs of Abkhazia meant Inal's direct claim to the whole of Abkhazia, from which followed the inevitability of conflict not only with Megrelia, but also with other West Georgian state entities. Taking advantage of the occupation of Inal in the fight against the Genoese, the Emperor Alexander I of Imereti, at the head of a large Cartvelian-Megrell army, invaded Abkhazia. Chachba was again forced to submit. Inal, engaged in a war with the Genoese, could not refuse the patronage of Abkhazia. Traditions indicate that during the siege of the Genoese fortress, Humarán Inal hurried to Abkhazia to help Chachba. Meanwhile, a group of Abkhaz and Abkhazian feudal lords in South Circassia rose in revolt against the rule of Inal. The rebels were led by Prince Ozdemir. According to the Abadshah legends, Ozdemir was an Abazin who settled in the Hamyschka region. The mutiny was beneficial primarily to the western Georgian rulers, who thus wanted to prevent the inevitable Inal's campaign into Abkhazia, which was extremely dangerous for them. Osdemir's actions were also to the advantage of the Genoese. Ozdemir, having united a significant number of dissatisfied with the strong princely power of the Inal mountaineers, defeated the army sent against him. After the capture of Humran, Inal himself with his main forces opposed the rebels. Ozdemir was defeated, after which he fled to the interior of Abkhazia. During the military operations in Abkhazia, the rebels were completely defeated, and Ozdemir was killed. Inal, relying on an alliance with Achba and Chachba, managed to subjugate the insubordinate Abkhaz rulers and spread his influence to Abkhazia. Inal's campaign into Abkhazia was directed primarily against Megrelia and other western Georgian possessions. According to R. Traho, the war took place in 1433-1434, as a result of which the power of Inal over Abkhazia was recognized. The loss of power over Abkhazia by the Megrelian ruling house by the end of the first half of the XV century and its independence is confirmed by other data. Thus, during the correspondence of the Kartvelian king George VIII with the Duke of Burgundy in 1459, in connection with the planned campaign against the Turks, the duke (prince) of Abkhazia Rabia is mentioned as an independent owner. By the end of his stay in Abkhazia, Inal's post could be located in Psh, in the Inal fortress, which was named in honor of the great prince. The medieval fortress towered over the village. The bowl is 100 meters high. On the northern approaches, it had a facade and a moat 8 m wide. The main entrance to the fortress was from the north side - the terraces. The height of the walls reached 7-8 m. This fortress, judging by everything, was a well-fortified point on the way to Eastern Cherkessia, through the Sanchar Pass. Thus, Inal managed to suppress the internal rebellion, preserving the integrity of the principality, and to repel the claims of the West Georgian rulers, marking the southern borders of his state. The foreign policy of Inal led to the consolidation of the dominant positions of Circassia in the North Caucasus and the South Caucasus. It contributed to the economic and political consolidation of the Adyghe and Abkhazians, the entry into their sphere of influence not only of the related Abazin, but also of other mountain peoples. The Abkhaz campaign was the last enterprise of the great prince. After the end of hostilities, Inal remained in Abkhazia (Jigetia) to restore complete calm, where he died and was buried with great honors.