a coalition of muslim rulers led by shams al-din eldiguz, ruler of adarbadagan and some other regions, embarked upon a campaign against georgia in early 1163. he was joined by the shah-armen sökmen ii, ak-sunkur, ruler of maragha, and others. with an army of 50,000 troops they marched on georgia. the georgian army was defeated. the enemy took the fortress of gagi, laid waste as far as the region of gagi and gegharkunik, seized prisoners and booty, and then moved to ani. the muslim rulers were jubilant, and they prepared for a new campaign. however, this time they were forestalled by george iii, who marched into arran at the beginning of 1166, occupied a region extending to ganja, devastated the land and turn back with prisoners and booty. in 1167, george iii marched to defend his vassal shah aghsartan of shirvan against the khazar and kipchak assaults and strengthened the georgian dominance in the area.