They blockaded the Imeretian capital Kutaisi, but did not dare to attack the citadel for fear of reaction from the Ottoman Empire and withdrew.
Alexander, supported by Mamia IV Gurieli, won a victory at the battle of Chikhori, capturing Dadiani, but under the Ottoman pressure, the king had to restore him to Mingrelia and concede the districts of Sachilao and Samikelao in governorship to his alienated brother Mamuka.
[2] In 1741, Mamuka followed Alexander in his exile to Kartli, when the throne of Imereti was seized by their half-brother George IX in an Ottoman-sponsored coup.
They continued to stir unrest in Imereti, but Solomon decisively defeated the Ottomans and their Imeretian allies at the battle of Khresili in 1757.
In 1766, they finally succeeded to put Mamuka's son Teimuraz on the throne of Imereti, but Solomon staged a comeback in 1768.