Sulayman was persuaded by Philaretos' son to attack his father's city of Antioch. As they set out from Nicaea in secret for Antioch, he left Abul-Kasim as governor of Nicaea with authority over all other commanders. He left Nicaea with Philaretos' son but only 280 soldiers, rode swiftly by night, and slaughtered the entire population of a village called al-'Amraniyya, so that they could not reveal his presence as he approached Antioch. Sulayman reached Antioch in twelve nights (resting by day), without being seen