Before beginning their destructive campaign in Georgian kingdoms and principalities, the Sajids overran Caucasian Albania and Armenia, executing king Smbat I.

Unable to seize control of the stronghold of Tmogvi, he besieged the castle of Q'ueli (Q'uelis-Tsikhe), which was a fief of a prominent Georgian feudal, Gurgen II of Tao.

The size of the Muslim army, which included siege engines, was so colossal that the camps set up by its soldiers would cover the expanses of five villages: And they came to the castle of Qveli, belonging to Gurgen the Archduke, in which the leading lords among them Gobron the blessed martyr for Christ.

And they put up ropes to link their tents, since this was the way in which they attacked, that loathsome race of godless, cruel bowmen, who would eat dogs, mice, human flesh, and all sorts of unclean things.

After the first strike of the sword, Gobron made the sign of the cross with blood on his forehead and exclaimed, "I thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, that you have accounted me, the most contemptible and chief among sinners, worthy to lay down my life for your sake!".