Diaokhi

Diaokhi or Diauehi (Diauhi) known to Assyrians as Daiaeni (Dayaeni) (“the Land of the Sons of Diau”) was an ancient kingdom in what is now Northeastern Turkey and Southwestern Georgia (country).

Contents

History

Diaokhi emerged as an union of proto-Georgian tribes to counter Assyrian attacks to the north at the end of the second millennium BC. An anti-Assyrian confederation led by Diaokhi included the countries of Hushane , Didine , Biane , Ultuza , Sheriaze , Ashqalashi , Haldiriulhe and Baltulhe .

The country was ruled by a king who had the city of Zua as a capital. Pute and Utuha were other major cities.

In 1112 BC , Diaokhi led a powerful coalition of the peoples of the Southwestern Caucasus and Upper Mesopotamia against Assyria. However, the allies was defeated and subdued by the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser I. The Assyrian kings campaigned against the Diaokhi people several times as of 845 BC.

The dominancy in the region (called Nairi in Assyrian sources) then was disputed between Diaokhi and newly emerged Urartu. In the north, Diaokhi had to fight Colchis. Diaokhi was subdued by the Urartan King Menuas in ca. 810 BC-770 BC and again by Argishtis I in ca. 786 BC -764 BC .

Permanent wars with Urartu resulted in the decline and subsequently fall of Diaokhi in the mid-8th century BC. A part of Diaokhi had been incorporated into Colchis by 755 BC.

The name Diaokhi (Taokhi>Tao) is believed to give an origin to the historical province of Tao (see Tao-Klarjeti).