The large Muslim army was defeated by the Georgian King George III at the gates of Ani.

In 1124 the Armenians decided to ask help from the Georgian King David IV, who besieged the city but Ani surrendered without a fight.

In 1154–1155, Emir Saltuk II marched on Ani, but Shaddad informed his suzerain, the King of Georgia, of this.

[4] In July, 1161, a muslim coalition was formed consisting namely of the troops of Shah-Armens, Saltukids, and the lord of Kars and Surmari.

Allies selected the route through the Araxes river, and the Artuqid lord Najm al-Din Alpi set out to join them.