Revaluating the Role of Marwān b. Muḥammad in the Creation of Murvan Qru

Abstract

This article reconsiders the hypothesis that Murvan Qru’s campaign, as appears in Georgian Sources, is a part of Marwān b. Muḥammad’s campaigns in the Caucasus during the years 735-740. Instead, we propose that this campaign is a fictitious creation in Georgian historical sources, aiming to glorify the House of the Chosroids. 

A critical examination of Arabic, Armenian, Greek, and Georgian sources reveals that:

A) Marwān b. Muḥammad did not operate against Georgia at all. This can be attested by the fact that Marwān b. Muḥammad’s target in this series of campaigns was to subjugate the Khazar Khaganate and its subordinates in the region of South Dagestan. Moreover, the time frame of these campaigns leads us to reject that Marwān b. Muḥammad’s army could attack Georgia at that time.

B) The Arab dominion was consolidated in Georgia before Marwān b. Muḥammad’s campaigns against the Khazar Khaganate. It is evident that since the beginning of the eighth century Kartli had already recognized the Arab suzerainty, as it can be confirmed both from the written sources and numismatics. As a result, we propose that the Presiding Prince of Kartli, whom we identify as a member of the pro-Arab party in Kartli and not with the Chosroid Step’anoz, assisted Marwān b. Muḥammad in his struggle against the Khazars.

C) Marwān b. Muḥammad’s transformation into Murvan Qru is a result of propaganda in favour of the Chosroids and against the pro-Arab parties in Georgia. Based on this, Marwān b. Muḥammad’s defeat by the Chosroids can be interpreted as Pseudo-Juansher’s effort to prove that the Chosroids were chosen by the Divine Providence to liberate and rule the country.