Pages: 247-268

The article provides a comprehensive summary of Khwarezm-Shah Jalal ad-Din’s coins known in the Northern Caucasus, who restruck coins of Georgian treasury, captured in Tbilisi (1226) and coins of Georgian Queen Rusudan minted in 1227. They were found in different circumstances, as stray finds, as coins from hoards, as grave goods in the burials in highlands of Ingushetia and North Ossetia. Considering these differences, it is possible to link the inflow of these coins with the revival of trade and economic relations (after 1222) between this region and Georgia, which after that never interrupted, judging by the silver coin of Queen Rusudan (1230) found in Azov, until the beginning of the second military campaign of the Jochids in the end of 1230s. The coins from the highlands, where they were used as elements of garnishment or as amulets, could be received by the Alans and Durdzuks from Queen Rusudan for their assistance, though unsuccessful, in defense of Tbilisi during Jalal ad-Din’s second invasion into Georgia. A separate analysis of the finds (the ones from the highland zone, where they were found in the graves, and the ones coming from the foothill plain zone), offers different explanations for their appearance in the region.

Keywords: Northern Caucasus, Georgian coins of the 13th century, Khwarezm-Shah Jalal ad-Din, Queen Rusudan, conquest of Tbilisi in 1226, commercial and economic ties with Georgia.

Information about authors:

Evgeniy Narozhny (Armavir, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Nonpublic Joint-stock Company “Nasledie Kubani” (“Kuban Heritage”). Krasnoarmeyskaya St., 16, Krasnodar, 350063, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Aslan Tsutsiev (Vladikavkaz, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. North-Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov. Vatutin St., 44—46, Vladikavkaz, 362025, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]