Certainty: 2 Bagrat IV corrresponded with Alp Arslan over poll-tax (jizya) Certainty: 2
1064
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan attacked towns in Georgia & Shakki (?) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Despite poor defences at Ani, attempt was made to sieze booty from Alp Arslan as he passed Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Responding to pointless provocation, Alp Arslan besieged & sacked Ani despite its natural strength Certainty: 2
1067
Certainty: 3 Alp Arslan advanced against the empire Certainty: 3
1068
Certainty: 2 Strategy of Alp Arslan before first campaign of Romanos IV Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Psellos wrote to Eustratios Choirosphaktes, with congratulations on Romanos IV's victory Certainty: 3
1069
Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote Oratio Panegyrica 20 & 21 for Romanos IV, as he left Constantinople on campaign Certainty: 1
1070
Certainty: 2 Mantzikert captured & garrisoned by Alp Arslan Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Struggle among Turks between Alp Arslan & Erisgen; latter defected to Byzantines Certainty: 2
1071
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan began his campaign against Byzantium Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 At Theodosioupolis Romanos took two months of provisions, because country ahead was destroyed Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Information reached Romanos IV at Mantzikert that Alp Arslan had fled to Baghdad Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Turkish forces reported nearby: Nikephoros Bryennios, sent against them, later demanded reinforcements Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Psellos implies that though Romanos knew nothing of sultan's presence, he (Psellos) did know Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bryennios & Basilakes continued the fight, the latter taking the lead & being captured
The sultan Alp Arslan advanced not far from the Roman camp, preparing for battle and planning to capture the emperor. He sent cavalrymen to reach the Roman camp and then pretend to withdraw. Nikephoros Basilakes, initially accompanied by Nikephoros Bryennios and his forces, followed them. But then Bryennios abandoned the struggle, and Basilakes was left alone with his followers to pursue the Turks. When he reached their camp his horse was hit, he fell under the weight of his armour and was captured and taken to the sultan. Bryennios meanwhile had to fight his way back to the Roman camp, being seriously injured on the way. When he reached the camp he told the emperor of Basilakes' capture and his own struggles. He was asked to remain in his tent to heal his wounds, which he did [Note that Bryennios' account may be read as a vindication of his relative, and it is tempting to do so]
Certainty: 2 The Roman camp was surrounded, & no word came from Chliat Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Turks requested peace from Romanos IV as he drew up his army, but he decided to attack Certainty: 3
Battle of Mantzikert (general factoids)Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Turkish tactics & intervention of Andronikos Doukas led to defeat & capture of emperor Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan reassured Romanos he would be treated honourably, kept him for 8 days & set him free Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Romanos hurried westwards via Koloneia: at Melissopetri he learned that his wife had deposed him
The freed Romanos IV reached Theodosioupolis dressed as a sultan and was welcomed. He spent a few days there recuperating from the wound to his hand, changed into Roman clothes, and left through the Iberian villages to Koloneia and Melissopetrion, accompanied by the sultan's envoys. His confidant Paulos, ex-katepano of Edessa, learned of the revolution in Constantinople (either at Theodosioupolis or at Melissopetrion) and left for Constantinople to learn more. Paulos seems to have given the bad news to Romanos when he was at Melissopetrion. The first approach from the capital was peaceful: Romanos received letters from Michael VII with envoys offering him amnesty for his evil actions. He was indignant, having done no wrong, and answered that he would not renounce the empire and that he was greatly wronged. He thought he could return to power at once without trouble, and, like a herald of good news after that great disaster, wrote and signed with his own hand letters to Eudokia about what happened to him, causing great uproar in the palace. Some later Muslim sources ignore the civil war, making Romanos become a monk as soon as he learned of his deposition
Certainty: 2 Romanos & Khacatur wintered in Cilicia, missing (Attaleiates says) a good chance to advance Certainty: 2
1072
Certainty: 2 Turks invaded & pillaged after removal of Romanos IV Certainty: 2