While strategos of Theodosioupolis, Alousianos was accused of some wrong-doing. Without an investigation, Ioannes the orphanotrophos demanded fifty pounds of gold from him and seized his village in Charsianon. After fruitlessly petitioning Michael IV, he left for Thessalonica disguised as Theodorokanos' Armenian servant, scorning his wife and children and travelling with a few attendants from the empire's extreme east unto its west. Although forbidden entrance to the capital, he visited an acquaintance of Psellos there and remained undetected by the orphanotrophos' all-seeing power. Alousianos had heard from his homeland Bulgaria of the bastard Deljan's ascent and with youthful daring went and joined him at Ostrobos