Surmali

Surmari stood beside the Araks, within sight of Mount Ararat, protected by a deep ravine and a fortress with strong towers. The Spanish envoy Ruy González de Clavijo visited in 1404 on his journey to Timur's court and described a large city approached through a guarded gate. Its inhabitants recounted an earlier siege by Tokhtamysh, whose troops entered and damaged the walls despite an agreement with the defenders. Nearby salt-bearing hills supplied the surrounding country.