[3] Early on, he had to face his powerful southern neighbor, Urartu, whose king Menua (810-786 BCE) led an expansionist policy toward the South Caucasus and saw Diaokhi as the region's center.
He recognized himself as a vassal of Urartu and was made to pay an annual tribute of gold and silver, in return for the freeing of Diaokhian prisoners captured during the invasion.
[8] In 768 BCE, Utuphursi launched a third revolt but was once again defeated by Argishti I,[9] who chose to annex the southern territories of Diaokhi.
[10] Urartu build a series of fortresses on its border with Diaokhi as part of a strategy to rapidly respond to any further challenge to his power.
Diaokhi's final collapse at the hands of a Colchis-Urartu alliance took place either at the end of his reign or shortly after his death.