Abbas I
The battle was the result of the Kartli-Kakhetian Uprising of 1625, when Teimuraz I took the leadership of the second rebellion against the Safavid Empire in his lifetime. Abbas I of Persia sent a large army under the command of Isa Khan Safavi (the "qurchi-bashi") to quell the uprising, and made him the commander of the Safavid forces in Georgia. Abbas I ordered the Safavid governors in the Caucasus to assist Isa Khan. The Safavid army also included the "beglarbegs" of Shirvan and Erivan, as well as soldiers from northern and central Iran. Shah Abbas I was commanding the expedition from southern Azerbaijan, where he was encamped.