Struggle between Pechenegs Tyrach & Kegen; Kegen, defeated, was welcomed in Byzantium

Summary:
A Pecheneg leader Kegen found that the supreme leader Tyrach planned to kill him, making several unsuccessful attempts, as he realised that Kegen's military success was more popular than his own high birth. So Kegen won the backing of two tribes (Belemarnis and Pagoumanis) and rebelled. However he was vanquished by Tyrach and his eleven tribes. Kegen wandered in the marshes, decided to defect to the emperor, reached Dristra and retreated to a river island with his 20,000 supporters. He sent messages to the local governor Michael, informing him of his wish to defect and promising to be very useful. He was received by the governor, who provided everything necessary, and reached Constantinople. He was received kindly by Konstantinos IX, he promised to accept baptism and to persuade his people to follow him; he was made patrikios, with three forts on the banks of the Danube and much land, and became an ally of the Romans. He kept his promise and was baptized along with his people by Euthymios, a monk sent to perform the rite by the Danube 
Dates:
1045 (Uncertain) 
Kegen, Pecheneg leader (Kegen 101)
  • Fought with 2 tribes backing him (Belemarnis and Pagoumanis) and, vanquished by Tyrach 101 and his 11 tribes, he wandered in the marshes, decided to defect to the emperor, reached Dristra and retreated on a river island with his 20,000 supporters (:) Skylitzes 456.60-67
  • Sent messages to the local governor (Michael 114) informing him of his wish to defect to the emperor and promising to be very useful to the latter's affairs, was received by the governor who provided everything necessary, and reached Constantinople (:) Skylitzes 456.67-5
  • Received kindly by the emperor (Konstantinos 9), he promised to accept the baptism and to persuade his people to follow suit, was made patrikios, was given 3 forts on the banks of the Istros (Danube) and much land, and became an ally of the Romans (:) Skylitzes 456.5-457.10
  • Kept his promise and was baptized along with his people by Euthymios 101, a monk sent to perform the holy bath by the Istros (Danube) (:) Skylitzes 457.10-14
  • Aware of Tyrach 101's plans to have him killed he fled to the marshes of the Borysthenes and thus escaped, remained in hiding, and sent secret messages to his family and his tribe, the Belemarnis, and persuaded them and the Pagoumanis tribe to defect from (:) Skylitzes 456.55-60
  • On learning this [that Tyrach 1 wished to kill him], he befriended two of the tribes (there were thirteen in all) (:) Zonaras 17.26.5
  • Tyrach 101 lay in wait for him, wishing to kill him (:) Zonaras 17.26.4
  • With the two tribes crossed the Danube and came to the Roman borders, saying that he had come to the emperor (Konstantinos 9) as a deserter and would not be useless to him (:) Zonaras 17.26.5
  • He persuaded the Pechenegs with him to partake of this divine baptism (:) Zonaras 17.26.8
  • Visited the queen of cities and came into the emperor Konstantinos 9's presence; he received the saving baptism and was honoured as patrikios (:) Zonaras 17.26.7
Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)
  • Kegen 101 visited the queen of cities and came into his presence; Kegen 101 received the saving baptism and was honoured as a patrician (:) Zonaras 17.26.7
  • Kegen 101's appeal was revealed to him and the ruler of the land (Konstantinos 116) was ordered to receive the Pechenegs (:) Zonaras 17.26.6
  • Kegen 101 came to the Roman borders, saying that he had come to him as a deserter and would not be useless to him (:) Zonaras 17.26.5
  • Ordered Michael 114 to receive Kegen 101 who wished to defect to him with his supporters, to provide them with everything necessary, and to send him to Constantinople, and he received kindly Kegen who was baptized and made patrikios (:) Skylitzes 456.72-8
Michael, doux of Dyrrachion in 1042 (Michael 114)
  • Was sent messages by Kegen 101 informing him of his wish to defect to the emperor and promising to be very useful to the latter's affairs, notified the emperor (Konstantinos 9), and was ordered to equip him and send him to Constantinople (:) Skylitzes 456.67-4
Tyrach, Pecheneg leader (Tyrach 101)
  • Realizing that, although he was held in high esteem by the Pechenegs because of his noble birth, Kegen 101 was more popular because of his courage in war, he feared for his authority and sought a way to get rid of Kegen (:) Skylitzes 455.50-52
  • Attempted on several occasions to ambush Kegen 101 but failed, decided not to delay but to attack him openly, and sent an army to arrest and kill him (:) Skylitzes 455.52-456.55
  • Fought with the 11 tribes (out of the 13 Pecheneg tribes) and vanquished Kegen 101 and the 2 tribes supporting him (:) Skylitzes 456.60-62
  • Attacked by Kegen 101 (who had defected to the Romans) he sent embassies to the emperor (Konstantinos 9) reminding him of their alliance and threatening allout war unless he restrained Kegen, but his envoys (Anonymi 117) were sent back empty-handed (:) Skylitzes 457.20-31
  • Lay in wait for Kegen 101 wishing to kill him (:) Zonaras 17.26.4