Greatly upset by the news of Neokaisareia's pillaging by the Turks despite his being on campaign, Romanos IV took his forces and advanced across difficult mountain paths, reaching Sebasteia. There he left the baggage and infantry with his stepson Andronikos. The latter, though now a co-emperor, was treated more like a hostage than a fellow-commander, or as a replacement in case Romanos perished in battle