Michael the akolouthos was sent against the Pechenegs with orders to fight cautiously. He annihilated some Pechenegs at Goloe, then defeated a detachment he met at Toplitzos, and joined Bryennios the ethnarches, who was at the head of Frankish and Varangian mercenaries and 20,000 horse-archers summoned from the East, and had also been sent to defend against Pecheneg raids. Aware that the Pechenegs, fearing this army, had moved from Thrace to Macedonia, Michael and Bryennios left Adrianople quietly at night, and reached Charioupolis with their troops. They decided to take this opportunity for a battle, in spite of the cautious imperial orders. They charged and surprised the unsuspecting Pechenegs when they approached, pursuing them, causing heavy losses, as far as Mt. Rentakion [There is confusion whether Bryennios or Michael was in charge - but the location, Charioupolis, guarantees that we are reading of the same battle]