Barjik

Who was Barjik?

Barjik was a Khazar prince who flourished in the late 720s. He is described by al-Tabari as "the son of the Khagan"; his exact status and position is unknown though he may have been the Bek.

Barjik led the Khazar armies in the Khazar-Arab wars of the early 700s. In 730, he won a victory at the Battle of Marj Ardabil, sacking and occupying the city. He killed the Arab general al-Djarrah al-Hakami and mounted the latter's head on his throne as a trophy. This enraged the Umayyad troops who faced him the following year outside of Mosul, and Barjik was defeated and slain in the ensuing battle.