# Surmari's trap

Surmari's trap was a military trap to destroy Turco-Seljuk troops. Turkic invasions in 1053 were causing destruction to the land. Gtlmush, who was invading country, destroyed surrounding areas of Kars, but couldn't enter to it. After this failure, Gtlmush moved to Surmari [hy; tr], where the Armenians made a trap for the invaders, aiming to slaughter the incoming soldiers in a night attack.

## Background

The Byzantines were following the situation, wary that the Turco-Seljuks were conquering Armenia. In 1045, Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos was notified that Gagik II tried to strengthen country, calls him to Constantinople, to talk about Ani's problem. Gagik arrives to the capital of Byzantine, but where turns out that Constantine conspired. Gagik II is trapped in the Byzantine court, after which a series of raids are undertaken against Ani, resulting in the decline of the Bagratid Kingdom of Ani.
After this events, such a situation is created in Armenia that the enemy cannot take advantage of the opportunity and marches into Armenia. First invasions by Seljuks were in 1047 with army about 100.000. These continues in future. There was peace in 1051-1052.
   Two generals from Tughril's court, named Abreim (Ibrahim Yannal) and Gtlmush, came to Armenia with a huge army, convinced that the entire Armenian land under the rule of the Horoms would be destitute and defenseless, since the Horoms had removed brave and powerful men from the East and were trying to keep the Armenian land and the entire East under the control of cowardly commanders.

## Seljuk invasion

In 1053, Ibrahim rebelled against the Seljuk leader Tughril Bey, after which he fled and took refuge with Gtlmuş, who had also rebelled. Having suffered defeats, Gtlmuş fled to the borders of Virk, taking with him his own 60,000-strong army. From the borders of Virk, he invaded the kingdom of Vanand (Kars) and besieged the capital, Kars. Harakord was able to capture the surroundings of Kars, destroy and plunder it, but was unable to capture the citadel of Kars.
   Only those who managed to enter the fortress above the city were saved. Gtlmush's troops remained there all day, looting and destroying the houses, then setting fire to the city, and taking the spoils and prisoners, they went to their own country.
Unable to capture the Kars citadel, the Seljuks move towards Dvin.

## Trap

On the way to Dvin, the enemy spends the night in Surmari (Saint Mary, later Surmalu). The Armenians, knowing that the enemy has committed great destruction and plunder in Kars, nevertheless receive the enemy with great festivities and feasts. It was a strategic move by which the Armenians let the enemy's vigilance slip. The entire army settles in the houses of Surmari and, drunk from the feast, goes to sleep.
When the enemy was almost completely asleep, when, at the signal of the mayor of Surmari, the Armenians began the night massacre. Almost completely massacred the enemy's soldiers who were caught by surprise. Only Gtlmush and his small detachment manage to escape. The Armenians, wanting to complete their attack, begin to pursue the enemy, who flees and leaves Armenia.
   After destroying Kars (except for the Citadel), Gtlmush, hearing the news that Tughril Beg was pursuing him with his army, quickly retreated, and a great misfortune happened on the way. Gtlmush, near Ani, entered Mari (Saint Mary or Surmariheg.)... like a traveler and stationed his army there... The kafir ("infidel", i.e. Christian) raisi of this city, deceiving Gtlmush's soldiers, entertained each of them in an apartment. By the secret order of the raisi, after giving abundant food and wine to the Muslim soldiers who were being entertained in each house, they were made to drink. Late at night, while everyone was sleeping, on a special signal, the hosts killed 60 thousand guest soldiers individually. In the morning, Gtlmush, terrified and saddened by what had happened, accompanied by the commanders around him, pursued by the Armenians, fled on all fours.