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Ksani Fortress Most castles and fortifications in Georgia were built for protection against foreign invaders. The fortress of Ksani, however, is an exception, as it was built because of the disputes within the Georgian Royal Family in the 16th century. The name The fortress of Ksani stands at the confluence of the rivers Ksani and Mtkvari (Kura), which is why it is called both Ksani and Mtkvari Fortress. The fortress also has another name, Konstantin-Labati, after the Georgian Prince Constantine, who rebuilt the fortress in the 18th century. Building complex - The defence wall Defence wall The defence wall was built in two stages. In the first stage, dating from the 16th century, only river stone was used as a building material. Brick was also used in the second construction phase in the 18th century. The total length of the fortress wall is 39.5 metres and the width 26.4 metres. The height of the Ksani Fortress wall varies from 5 to 15 metres in some places. Prismatic tower of the Ksani fortress The tower is integrated into the western wall of the fortress and is only half preserved - the northern and part of the western walls are still standing. The floors were 2 to 4 metres high and the walls 1.7 metres thick. On the tower, numerous embrasures and the battlements on the top floor are still clearly visible. The chimney on the fourth floor is also well preserved. Two cylindrical towers a) The first tower is attached to the north-west side of the wall from the outside and dates from the second phase of construction in the 18th century. It has two floors. On the first floor there are buried amphorae and a chimney, and the attic ends with several merlons that are still preserved. b) The second cylindrical tower with three floors is attached to the north-eastern side of the wall. The foundation of the tower dates from the 16th century, but most of the tower dates from the 18th century. The tower was used as a residential and defensive structure and had chimneys and several embrasures on each floor. The walls of the tower are 2 metres thick. Five-storey tower of Ksani Fortress The five-storey tower at the eastern corner has an elongated shape and is rounded from the south. The tower dates from the second construction period and is built against the wall from the outside. Water tank and wine cellar On the south-east side of the five-storey tower there is a cylindrical water reservoir with a volume of about 30 cubic metres and 15 wine amphorae of various sizes. On the grounds of the fortress there is a fountain-like water reservoir, into which water was brought through underground ceramic pipes. History of Ksani fortress The Ksani Fortress was built between 1511 and 1514 by the Georgian prince Bagrat. The reason for the construction of the fortress was the conflict between his brothers Av-Giorgi (Giorgi the Vicious) and David. The background was as follows: Av-Giorgi was the elder son and rightful heir to the throne of the Georgian King Constantine II, but Av-Giorgi had a vicious character and his father wanted the younger son, David, to become king. This did not sit well with Av-Giorgi, so he murdered his own father and proclaimed himself King of Kakheti. His brother David, later David the X, became king of the neighbouring province of Kartli. David knew that his older brother would claim more of Georgia's territory and decided to build several fortresses, including Ksani. He commissioned his younger brother Bagrat to build them. Bagrat built the fortress of Ksani and managed to capture the eldest brother, Av-Giorgi, in 1513. Since the 16th century, the fortress has seen many turbulent times and has changed hands several times. In the 18th century, under King Irakli II, the fortress returned to Georgian hands and Prince Konstantin Muchranbatoni rebuilt it in 1746. He then gave the fortress its second name, Konstantin-Labati. Interesting facts about Ksani fortress Av-Giorgi besieged Ksani Fortress during his second military expedition to Kartli Province. After three months of siege, Av-Giorgi had red wine sent to the fortress for his hostile brother, adding ironically, "You are of royal blood and deserve to drink something decent after three months". He then received fresh salmon from the fortress with the following message "You've been standing by the river for three months and haven't eaten a decent fish. Then Av-Giorgi realised that the people in the fortress were not lacking for anything and decided to give up the siege. |
