Ksani Fortress, Medieval fortress in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia.
Ksani Fortress stands on Mount Sarkineti at approximately 600 meters above sea level in eastern Georgia, overlooking the meeting point of the Ksani and Mtkvari rivers. The complex features multiple towers, water reservoirs, and storage chambers designed to support extended periods of siege.
Prince Bagrat I of Mukhrani built the fortress in 1512 during conflicts between the rulers of neighboring Georgian regions competing for power. This construction reflected the military tensions and territorial disputes that defined the era.
The fortress's name in early modern records was Mtkvari or Mtveri, after the river; locals call it Ksani. Its cylindrical tower has qvevri jars sunk into the ground floor, and the courtyard holds a pond and a wine cellar. A 1746 inscription above the entrance commemorates Constantine III of Mukhrani's reconstruction.
The hilltop location demands good physical condition for the steep climb and sturdy footwear for uneven terrain. Visitors should bring adequate water and allow time for the demanding approach to the site.
The fortress's water came from a ceramic-pipe aqueduct whose source lay several kilometers east along the mountain ridge. Inside, a well-like reservoir in the courtyard and a large basement cistern in the southeastern tower stored the supply. During the 1512 siege, Bagrat sent George II of Kakheti a live salmon from the castle pond, proof that the defenders were not starving.
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