By 1298, the Turkomans had become a serious threat to the Empire of Trebizond, advancing east as far as the Georgian border and laying waste to territories including Speri and Bayburt.

In 1298-1299, Rashid al-Din Hamadani reported that nomadic Turkoman flooded the “mountains of Trebizond” (probably referring to the Pontic Alps) and the regions of Erzincan and Bayburt.

When Azat-Mousa reached Tao and Basiani, he devastated them and took captives, later he moved to impassable Murghuli and Nigali valley, where his army was beaten off by the sons of noble Kherkhemeli.

In about 1302, duke of Tao, Taqa Panaskerteli defeated the Turkomans at Tortomi Castle,[2] but was unable to drive them from his lands.

News of these events reached prince Beka I of Samtskhe, who summoned all his subjects and set out against the Turks.