Collusion of Herve Phrangopoulos with Turks of Samouch collapsed: Franks killed or captured at Chliat

Summary:
Herve Phrangopoulos, furious at his treatment by Michael VI, corrupted 300 Franks wintering in Armeniakon and led them to Media, making an alliance with the Turkish raider Samouch against the Romans. But Herve became suspicious of his new allies, though Samouch seemed thonest. Herve secretly ordered his troops not to sleep unarmed, expecting an assault from Samouch. The latter found out, attacked at breakfast time, but was defeated. Herve returned from pursuit of the Turks towards Chliat, ordering his Franks to stay in camp. But his troops demanded to enter Chliat whose governor, Aponasar, had been their ally, to rest after the battle with Samouch. He vainly tried to persuade them not to trust a heathen's oaths, but was forced to follow them. Samouch planned with Aponasar to order the city's inn-keepers to arrest or murder their Frankish guests on a given signal. They were successful: the Franks were attacked while asleep after drinking, Herve was captured and many of his men killed. Samouch sent goodwill embassies to Michael VI, claiming to have destroyed those plotting against him and captured their leader Herve Phrangopoulos 
Dates:
1057 
Aponasar, amir of Chliat (Aponasar 101)
  • Although he had concluded an alliance with the Franks of Herve 101 Phrangopoulos, when these entered Chliat he had a meeting with Samouch 101 (whose Turks had fled to Chliat, pursued by the Franks) and the Saracens of the city (:) Skylitzes 485.72-486.85
  • Agreed with Samouch 101 and the Saracens of Chliat to order the inn-keepers (of Chliat) to arrest their Frankish guests when given the signal, or, failing that, to murder them; he later gave the signal for the attack (:) Skylitzes 486.85-89
  • Sent embassies to Michael 6 expressing his goodwill and claiming that he had destroyed those who were plotting against the emperor, having captured their leader (Herve 101 Phrangopoulos) (:) Skylitzes 486.91-94
Hervé Phrangopoulos/Frankopoulos (Herve 101)
  • Corrupted 300 among the Franks wintering in the region (Armeniakon), led them to Media where he concluded an alliance with Samouch 101 against the Romans, but after some disagreement between Franks and Turks he became suspicious of the latter (:) Skylitzes 485.53-60
  • Ordered secretly his troops not to sleep unarmed, expecting an assault from his ally Samouch 101, but after the latter found out, attacked, and was defeated, he returned from his pursuit of the Turks and ordered his Franks to remain in the camp (:) Skylitzes 485.60-71
  • Pressed by his troops to enter Chliat whose governor (Aponasar 101) was their ally, in order to rest after the battle against the Turks, he tried in vain to change their mind urging them not to trust a heathen's oaths, but was forced to follow them (:) Skylitzes 485.71-80
  • Was captured in Chliat when his Franks were attacked while asleep after drinking, following orders from the city's amir Aponasar 101 (formerly an ally) to the city's inn-keepers (:) Skylitzes 486.91
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • Was sent embassies from the amir (of Chliat Aponasar 101) who expressed his goodwill and claimed to have destroyed those who were plotting against the emperor (the Franks), having captured their leader (Herve 101 Phrangopoulos) (:) Skylitzes 486.92-94
Samouch/Zamouches, Turkish leader (Samouch 101)
  • While in Media he concluded an alliance with Herve 101 Phrangopoulos against the Romans, and after some disagreement between Franks and Turks he pretended to stick to their agreement, although Herve was expecting an attack from him (:) Skylitzes 485.55-60
  • When he found out that (his ally) Herve 101 had secretly ordered the Franks to remain armed, he equipped as many troops as he had and attacked them while having breakfast, but the latter were well prepared and routed the Turks who fled to Chliat (:) Skylitzes 485.61-70
  • Agreed with the amir Aponasar 101 and the Saracens of Chliat to order the inn-keepers (of Chliat) to arrest their guests (his former allies the Franks, who entered the city to rest) when given the signal, or, failing that, to murder them (:) Skylitzes 486.84-87