Alexios (I) Komnenos joined campaign of Romanos IV, but was sent back to console his mother

Summary:
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 
Dates:
1071 
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • Began his military career under Romanos 4 (:) Anna Komnene 11.4
  • At the age of 14 he wished to accompany Romanos 4 on campaign against the Turks, but was left at home because of the sorrow of his mother (Anna 61) at the death of her son Manuel 61 (:) Anna Komnene 11.5-14
  • While still a youth he forced his mother (Anna 61 Dalassene) to send him on campaign with his brother (Isaakios 61) who was at the head of an army, followed him, and proved his valour before coming of age (:) Οὔπω δὲ τὴν ἥβην ὑπερβὰς ἐβιάζετο τὴν μητέρα συνεκπέμπειν καὶ αὐτὸν τῷ ἀδελφῷ Bryennios 87.16-20
  • Sent by his mother (Anna 61) to join the emperor (Romanos 4)'s campaign and torn between his fondness of war and his love for his mother, he left and caught up with the army at Dorylaion where the emperor was encamped (:) φθάνει τοῦτον περὶ τὸ Δορύλαιον σκηνοῦντα Bryennios 105.5-11
  • Although pressed hard by the emperor (Romanos 4) to return to his mother, he tried to stay and join the campaign, but could not convince the emperor who finally forced him to go back unwillingly (:) τὸν βασιλέα οὐκ ἔπειθε, καὶ ἄκοντα γὰρ τοῦτον ἐπαναζεῦξαι πρὸς τὴν μητέρα παρεσκεύασεν Bryennios 105.11-19
Anna Dalassene (Anna 61)
  • Was forced by her young son Alexios 1 Komnenos to let him join his brother (Isaakios 61) on campaign (:) ἐβιάζετο τὴν μητέρα συνεκπέμπειν καὶ αὐτὸν τῷ ἀδελφῷ Bryennios 87.17
  • Her son Alexios 1, whom she had sent to join the imperial army at Dorylaion, was unwillingly sent back to her by the emperor (Romanos 4) (:) πρὸς τὴν μητέρα παρεσκεύασεν Bryennios 105.17-19
  • Alexios 1 was prevented from going on campaign for her sake, since his brother Manuel 61 had just died (:) διὰ ταῦτα ὑποστρέψαι πρὸς τὴν μητέρα τὸ μειράκιον Ἀλέξιον κατηνάγκασε Anna Komnene 11.5-18
Manuel Komnenos, eldest brother of Alexios I (Manuel 61)
  • His death plunged his mother Anna 61 into mourning; as a result, his teenage brother Alexios 1 was prevented from joining the Mantzikert campaign, in order to console her Anna Komnene 11.10-20
Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (Romanos 4)
  • Unmoved by Alexios 1's pleas to be allowed to join the campaign, he sent him back to his mother (Anna 61) and marched on, assembling and training his army (:) τὰς Ῥωμαϊκὰς δυνάμεις συνήθροιζε καὶ πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον αὐτὰς ἐξηρτύετο Bryennios 105.17-21
  • Joined by Alexios 1 at Dorylaion, where his army was encamped, he burst into tears, enquired about Alexios 1's mother (Anna 61), and pressed him hard to return to her, having lost another son (Manuel 61) only recently (:) δακρύειν τε ἤρξατο καὶ περὶ τῆς ἐκείνου μητρὸς ἐπυνθάνετο καὶ τέλος βιάζεται τοῦτον πρὸς τὴν μητέρα παλινοστῆσαι Bryennios 105.10-21
  • When Alexios 1 eagerly joined his army for the Mantzikert campaign, he refused to allow him to continue; he sent him back to console his mother Anna 61, who was mourning Alexios' eldest brother Manuel 61 (:) Anna Komnene 11.2-18