Clarification of some Details in the History of the Hephthalites and the Kingdom of Kartli during Late Antiquity

This contribution examines an unclear episode in the history of the Hephthalites, i.e. the war of Shah Pērōz (459-484) against them, as well as the role played by the king of Kartli, Vakhtang I Gorgasali (c. 440-502), in these events. Analysing Greek, Syriac, Persian, Arabic, Georgian and Armenian sources, the author concludes that Pērōz led three campaigns: the first between 459 or 460 and 469, the second between 474 and 475, and the third in 484. The first two ended with the shah’s capture, while in the third he met his death. The king of Kartli took part only of the first two campaigns. The clarification of the chronology of Pērōz’s wars against the Hephthalites permits verification and accurate dating of various events in the political life of the Kingdom of Kartli in the second half of the 5th century.