Turkish request to cross Vaspurakan; capture of Stephanos Leichoudes by Kutulmush

Summary:
Kutulmush, returning from defeat at the hands of Mutamid ad-Daula Qirwas b. Muqallad and wishing to traverse Media-Vaspurakan, sent envoys to its governor Stephanos Leichoudes, requesting to be allowed through, promising to leave the land untouched and unharmed. Leichoudes thought that this request was motivated by fear, so he refused it, and prepared to attack the Turkish army. Kutulmush's vanquished army was ill-equipped, but he engaged in a victorious battle, captured Stephanos, and on his way through Tabriz sold him to the local ruler 
Dates:
1044 (Uncertain) 
envoys of Kutulmush to Stephanos Leichoudes (Anonymi 117)
  • Were sent by Kutulmush 101 to Stephanos 103 with a request for permission to pass through the latter's land, Media-Vaspurakan, with promises to leave it untouched and unharmed (:) Skylitzes 446.82-85
  • Sent by Kutulmush 101 to the governor of Roman-ruled Media (Stephanos 103 Leichoudes) in order to request permission for his defeated army to cross the country, promising to leave it untouched and unharmed (:) ἀξιῶν συγχωρηθῆναί οἱ τὴν δίοδον καὶ ὑπισχνούμενος ἄψαυστον καὶ ἀσινῆ τὴν χώραν διατηρῆσαι Bryennios 97.25-99.5
ruler of Tabriz (Anonymus 190)
  • Was sold by Kutulmush 101 who was passing through Tabriz the captured Stephanos 103 (formerly governor of Media-Vaspurakan) (:) Skylitzes 446.92
Kutulmush, cousin of Tughrul Beg (Kutulmush 101)
  • Returning from his defeat in the hands of Karbeses 101 and wishing to traverse Media-Vaspurakan, he sent envoys (Anonymi 117) to its governor Stephanos 103 requesting to be allowed through, promising to leave the land untouched and unharmed (:) Skylitzes 446.79-84
  • Frustrated because his vanquished army was ill-equipped and would soon be attacked by Stephanos 103, he nevertheless engaged in a victorious battle, Stephanos was captured, and on his way through Tabriz he sold him to the local ruler (Anonymus 190) (:) Skylitzes 446.87-92
  • Described Vaspurakan as an exceedingly fertile land which was, however, ruled by women (referring to the soldiers who had fought him) (:) Skylitzes 446.95-3
  • Retreating after his defeat by Karbeses 101 through Roman-ruled Media and wishing to encamp near Vaspurakan, he sent envoys (Anonymi 117) to its governor Stephen 1 requesting permission to cross the country, promising to leave it untouched and unharmed (:) ἀξιῶν συγχωρηθῆναί οἱ τὴν δίοδον καὶ ὑπισχνούμενος ἄψαυστον καὶ ἀσινῆ τὴν χώραν διατηρῆσαι Bryennios 97.23-99.5
  • Having defeated the Romans, he sold his captive Stephanos 103 in Tabriz and returned to the sultan (Tughrul Beg 51) and spoke in defence of his campaign, describing Media as a fertile land ruled by women (alluding to the soldiers he had fought against) (:) τοῦτον μὲν ὁ Κουτλουμοῦς γενόμενος κατὰ τὸ Ταβρέζιον ἀπεμπολεῖ Bryennios 99.5-17
  • Being defeated, turned back and sent an embassy to the ruler of Media, the so-called Baasparkan of old (Stephanos 103), seeking permission to cross his country (:) Zonaras 17.25.16
  • Since Stephanos 103 had been appointed to rule Vaspurakan by the emperor, he not only did not permit Kutulmush 101 to cross, but even took the field against him, and after joining battle was defeated; he lost many of his people and was himself captured (:) Zonaras 17.25.17
Stephanos Leichoudes, patrikios, governor of Vaspurakan (Stephanos 103)
  • Was taken captive by the troops of the leader (Tughrul Beg 51) of the Nephthalite Huns (Seljuk Turks) who raided the eastern borders of the empire (:) ἀρχηγὸν τῶν Ῥωμαίων ζωγρείᾳ εἷλον Attaleiates: History 44.8-10 / 33.23-25
  • Was sent to govern Media-Vaspurakan by the emperor (Konstantinos 9) (:) Skylitzes 446.80-81
  • Received the envoys of Kutulmush 101 (Anonymi 117) who requested permission to pass through his territory promising to leave it untouched and unharmed, but considered this request a sign of fear, gathered his army, and attacked the Turks (:) Skylitzes 446.85-87
  • His army defeated by that of Kutulmush 101, he was captured together with many others and was sold at Tabriz to the local ruler (Anonymus 190) (:) Skylitzes 446.89-92
  • Suspecting that it was fear that prompted Kutulmush 101's request for safe passage through Media, he gathered his army, attacked the Turks, was defeated, captured and sold in Tabriz by Kutulmush 101 (:) τὴν παράκλησιν δειλίαν εἶναι ὑποτοπάσας...ἡττᾶται...ἑάλω δὲ καὶ αὐτός. Ἀλλὰ τοῦτον μὲν ὁ Κουτλουμοῦς γενόμενος κατὰ τὸ Ταβρέζιον ἀπεμπολεῖ Bryennios 97.25-99.12
  • An embassy was sent to him by Kutulmush 101 seeking permission to cross his country (:) Zonaras 17.25.16
  • Since had been appointed to rule this country by the emperor, he not only did not permit Kutulmush 101 to cross, but even took the field against him, and after joining battle was defeated; he lost many of his people and was himself captured (:) Zonaras 10.25.17