It stood in a strategically convenient spot, guarding the important road from Shida Kartli toward southern Georgia. The fortress is first mentioned in historical sources by the author of the "Matiane Kartlisai" in connection with the wars between Demetre, king of the Abkhazians (967–975), and his brother Teodosi. Teodosi asked for help from Adarnase, governor of the Dzama valley, and the lord of Dzama sheltered him in his residence, Dzama fortress. "Then King Demetre sent his army; they invested the fortress of Dzama and fought against it for some three months." In the end Adarnase of Dzama and Teodosi were forced to surrender to Demetre.