In the autumn of 1225, Georgia was attacked by the Khwarezmian shah Jelal ad-Din Mingburnu, pursued by the Mongols. The Georgians suffered bitter defeat at the Battle of Garni, and the royal court with Queen Rusudan moved to Kutaisi, when the Georgian capital Tbilisi was besieged by the Khwarezmians. Rusudan made an alliance with the neighbouring Seljuk rulers of Rüm and Ahlat, but the Georgians were routed by the Khwarezmians at Bolnisi, before the allies could arrive (1228).
The Khwarezmians were superseded by the Mongols. They advanced into Georgia in 1235. Devastated and plundered by Jelal ad-Din’s incursions, Georgia surrendered without any serious resistance. By 1240 all the country was under the Mongol yoke.
Rusudan sent her son David VI of Georgia to the Mongol court to get his official recognition as heir apparent. She died in 1245, still waiting for her son to return.
Reverse: Ornamented frame in the centre, Asomtavruli letters ႰႱႬ, Rusudan.
Die Orientation: 9 H
Weight: 2.35 g
Georgian Asomtavruli legend on the Obverse Reads: ႱႠႾႤႪႨႧႠႶႧႨႱႨႧႠႨႽႤႣႠႵჃႬ, in the name of God, was struck in the K’oronikon 450(1230) Legend in Arabic on the Reverse Reads: ملكة الملكات جلال الدنيا والدين روسدان بنت تامار ظهير المسيح Queen of Queens, glory of the world and faith, Rusudan, daughter of Tamar, follower of the Messiah.
Reverse: Ornamented frame in the centre, Asomtavruli letters ႰႱႬ, Rusudan.
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 2.3 g
Double Struck on the Obverse. Georgian Asomtavruli legend on the Obverse Reads: ႱႠႾႤႪႨႧႠႶႧႨႱႨႧႠႨႽႤႣႠႵჃႬ, in the name of God, was struck in the K’oronikon 450(1230) Legend in Arabic on the Reverse Reads: ملكة الملكات جلال الدنيا والدين روسدان بنت تامار ظهير المسيح Queen of Queens, glory of the world and faith, Rusudan, daughter of Tamar, follower of the Messiah.