When the Seljuq sultan Alp Arslan carried out a jihad by making a raid against the Byzantines. When he stopped in Marand, he enlisted the help of Tughtigin, a Turcoman emir, as his guide to the country. After he reached Nakhshevan, he gave orders to build boats to cross the river Araxes. He then conquered towns and fortresses in Georgia, destroying churches and building mosques in their stead. After Georgia and Abchasia, he entered and seized the territory of Shakki, whose king converted to Islam and received back from him the government over the country as a sign of generosity