Diauehi or Daiaeni was a tribal union of possibly proto-Armenian, Hurrian or proto-Kartvelian groups, located in northeastern Anatolia, that was formed in the 12th century BC in the post-Hittite period. It is mentioned in the Urartian inscriptions. It is usually identified with the Yonjalu inscription of the Assyria kingTiglath-Pileser I's third year. Diauehi is a possible locus of Proto-Kartvelian; it has been described as an "important tribal formation of possible proto-Georgians" by Ronald Grigor Suny. Although the exact geographic extent of Diauehi is still unclear, many scholars place it in the Pasinler Plain in today's northeastern Turkey, while others locate it in the Turkish–Georgian marchlands as it follows the Kura River. Most probably, the core of the Diauehi lands may have extended from the headwaters of the Euphratesinto the river valleys of Çoruh to Oltu. The Urartian sources speak of Diauehi's three key cities – Zua, Utu and Sasilu; Zua is frequently identified with Zivin Kale and Ultu is probably modern Oltu, while Sasilu is sometimes linked to the early medievalGeorgiantoponym Sasire, near Tortomi. The region roughly corresponded to the previous Hayasa-Azzi territory. Archibald Sayce suggested that Daiaeni was named after an eponymous founder, Diaus. This federation was powerful enough to counter the Assyrianforays, although in 1112 BC its king, Sien, was defeated by Tiglath-Pileser I. He was captured and later released on terms of vassalage. In 845 BC, Shalmaneser III finally subdued Diauehi and downgraded its king, Asia, to a client ruler. KingAsia of Diauehi was forced to submit to the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III in 845 BC, after the latter had overrun Urartu and made a foray into Diauehi. In the early 8th century, Diauehi became the target of the newly emerged regional power of Urartu. Both Menua and Argishti I campaigned against the Diauehi kingdom. Argishti I defeated King Utupursini, annexing his possessions and in exchange of his life, Utupursini was forced to pay a tribute including a variety of metals and livestock. Diauehi was finally destroyed by Colchian incursions by about the 760s BC, the date of the last recorded references to Diauehi.
