Byzantine army divided: Roussel & Tarchaneiotes marched on Chliat, Romanos made for Mantzikert

Summary:
Romanos IV had already sent Roussel de Bailleul with Frankish and Pecheneg mercenaries to plunder the area of Chliat. Now he detached more than half of the rest of the army under Joseph Tarchaneiotes, including the best of the cavalry, to follow them. Tarchaneiotes opposed the dividing of the army. Romanos, with a smaller force, wanted to capture Mantzikert and then join the others at Chliat. These arrangements, not foolish in themselves, proved disastrous when the sultan appeared unexpectedly at Mantzikert 
Dates:
1071 
Joseph Tarchaneiotes, proedros and doux of Antioch (Joseph 61)
  • Was sent by Romanos 4 at the head of a large part of the army, far larger than the part kept by the emperor, and was also given a large number of infantry soldiers, and took the road to Chliat to help the Pechenegs and Franks sent there earlier (:) παραβοηθήσων τοῖς προαποσταλεῖσι Σκύθαις καὶ Φράγγοις Attaleiates: History 149.12-150.6 / 111.23-112.10
  • Was entrusted by Romanos 4 with a considerable part of the army, including the best of the cavalry, and left for Chliat in order to help the Uze and Frankish mercenaries (sent there earlier by the emperor to plunder) (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 144.18-24
  • Was sent unwillingly by Romanos 4 at the head of part of the army to Chliat, a city defended by a strong Turkish garrison, although he had advised Romanos 4 not to divide his army when the enemy was encamped so close (:) ἀπρόθυμον δὲ τότε παντάπασιν ὄντα, καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ παραινοῦντα εἴσω τὰς δυνάμεις ἁπάσας κατέχειν καὶ μὴ μερίζειν τὸ στράτευμα, ἀγχοῦ τῶν ἐναντίων στρατοπεδευόντων Bryennios 109.8-15
  • Marched to Chliat when news arrived that the enemy was advancing with a multitude of troops, in order to prevent the city's garrison from collecting all the food supplies from the area and thus prolong the siege and cause famine among the army (:) καὶ ἅμα συντηρήσων ἐκτὸς τοῦ ἄστεως τοὺς καρπούς Attaleiates: History 150.6-12 / 112.10-15
Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (Romanos 4)
  • Knowing that the sultan (Alp Arslan 51) was in a hurry to return to Persia, he hoped that by dividing his army he would capture Mantzikert soon and then join the rest of his troops (at Chliat) whom he could summon quickly in case of a sudden attack (:) διὰ ταχυδρόμων μετακαλέσασθαι τοὺς οἰκείους Attaleiates: History 150.12-19 / 112.16-21
  • Although his decision to divide the army was militarily sound, its outcome was altered through divine intervention when the sultan (Alp Arslan 51) arrived while the Roman troops were leaving Mantzikert for Chliat, and he was thus reproached for this (:) οἱ δὲ πολλοί, ἀγνοοῦντες τὸ τῆς διαιρέσεως αἴτιον, μῶμον ἐκείνῳ προσάπτουσιν Attaleiates: History 150.19-151.7 / 112.21-113.4
  • Sent Pecheneg mercenaries to plunder and raid Chliat, as he had done before, and also sent some Germans, also called Franks (Normans?), under Roussel 61, but did not intend to join them and capture Chliat (:) οὐ προέθετο συμμῖξαι τοῖς προαποσταλεῖσι Attaleiates: History 148.18-149.2 / 111.10-15
  • Instead of advancing to Chliat he chose to attack Mantzikert first, captured the year before by the leader of the Persians (Alp Arslan 51), in order to re-establish Roman control there before marching against the enemy at nearby Chliat (:) διέγνω λοιπὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρότερον εἰς τὸ ἄστυ τοῦτο παραβαλεῖν Attaleiates: History 149.2-10 / 111.15-21
  • Underestimated the ability of the enemy garrison at Mantzikert to withstand an attack and sent a large part of his army, far larger than the one he kept with him, under Joseph 61 together with a large number of infantry soldiers to attack Chliat (:) προσεπιδοὺς αὐτῷ καὶ στῖφος πεζῶν οὐκ εὐκαταφρόνητον Attaleiates: History 149.10-150.5 / 111.22-112.9
  • Underestimating the number of Turks defending Mantzikert and having heard that a countless army was marching against his Uze and Frankish mercenaries, he entrusted a considerable part of his forces including the best of the cavalry to Joseph 61 (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 144.17-25
  • Divided his army hoping that he would take Mantzikert quickly and then join his forces at Chliat, or that he could rapidly summon the latter if necessary, being nearby, but heard that the sultan (Alp Arslan 51) was marching against him (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 144.25-145.2
  • Divided his army and gave one section to Roussel 61 and dispatched him against Chliat (:) Zonaras 18.13.8
Roussel de Bailleul (Roussel 61)
  • Was sent by Romanos 4 (from Theodosioupolis) at the head of German troops, also called Franks (Normans?), to plunder Chliat together with Pecheneg mercenaries (:) ἐπαπέστειλε δὲ καὶ Γερμανοὺς τοὺς λεγομένους Φράγγους μετά τινος ἡγουμένου τούτων Attaleiates: History 148.18-23 / 111.10-13
  • Was sent by Romanos 4 from Theodosioupolis to plunder Chliat together with Uze mercenaries, at the head of Frankish troops (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 144.13-15
  • Romanos 4 divided his army, gave him one section and dispatched him against Chliat (:) Zonaras 18.13.8