Alexios (I) at the age of 14 wished to accompany Romanos IV on campaign against the Turks and persuaded his mother to let him go, with his brother Isaakios. He joined the imperial army at Dorylaion. He was pressed hard by the emperor Romanos IV to return to his mother, who was in mourning for his elder brother Manuel. Alexios tried to stay and join the campaign, but could not convince the emperor, who finally forced him to go back unwillingly. He remained at home