George, harassed by the massive Turkic influx, known in Georgian history as didi turkoba, or the Great Turkish Invasion, from 1079/80 onward, is pressured into submitting to Malik-Shah to ensure a precious degree of peace at the price of an annual tribute.

George is even able to garner Seljuq military support in his campaign aimed at bringing the eastern Georgian principality of Kakheti, which has long resisted the Bagratid attempts of annexation, within a unified Georgian realm.

However, tired with a protracted siege of the Kakhetian stronghold of Vezhini, George abandons the campaign when snow falls, and headed for the Ajameti forests to ease his disappointment by hunting.

The Seljuq auxiliaries also lift the siege and plunder the fertile Iori Valley in Kakheti.

Aghsartan I, king of Kakheti, goes to the sultan to declare his submission, and in token of loyalty embraces Islam, thus winning Seljuq protection against the aspirations of the Georgian crown.