Michael VI prepared western armies & any loyal eastern troops, under experienced leaders

Summary:
The experienced Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai, and Aaron, brother of Aikaterine wife of Isaakios Komnenos, were appointed chief commanders of the army by Michael VI. He granted honours, gifts and money to both soldiers and generals. They had under their command most of the western army and some loyal units from the east, especially the armies of Anatolikon and Charsianon 
Dates:
1057 
Aaron, brother of Alousianos (Aaron 101)
  • Appointed by the emperor (Michael 6) fellow commander and advisor to Theodoros 105, he was sent against Komnenos (Isaakios 1), crossed to Chrysopolis, reached Nikomedeia, sent troops to capture the Sangarios bridge, and encamped on Mount Sophon: in association with Theodoros 105 (:) συνάρχοντα καὶ σύμβουλον Skylitzes 493.81-90
Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (Isaakios 1)
  • The emperor Michael 6 assembled the western forces and any remaining from the east, who had not been led away with him (:) Zonaras 18.2.20
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • Supported by many among the eastern troops who defected when Isaakios 1 Komnenos was proclaimed strategos, as well as by the entire western army, he moved them from Europe to Asia and they encamped at Nikomedeia, but ordered them to move on to Nicaea (:) ὃ δὲ καὶ τοὺς προσρυέντες ἐκεῖθεν καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἑσπερίαν δύναμιν Attaleiates: History 54.14-23 / 41.13-20
  • Appointed Theodoros 105 chief commander and leader of the army and Aaron 101 to be the latter's fellow commander and advisor, and sent them against Komnenos (Isaakios 1) (:) Skylitzes 493.79-84
  • Aware of the rebellion (of Isaakios 1) and that most of the eastern Roman army was against him, he did not attempt to send envoys to sue for peace, but prepared for war instead, and summoned the entire western army (:) Skylitzes 492.68-73
  • Appointed the most renowned Macedonians to lead the western army, granted honours, gifts and money to both soldiers and commanders, and did the same for those eastern troops still loyal to him, namely the armies of Anatolikon and Charsianon (:) Skylitzes 492.73-493.79
  • Set over the western forces as supreme commander the domestikos of the east, the eunuch Theodoros 105, servant of the empress Theodora 1, and joined with him as co-leader the magistros Aaron 101, brother of the wife (Aikaterine 101) of (Isaakios 1) Komnenos (:) Zonaras 18.2.20
  • Assembled the western forces and any remaining from the east, who had not been led away with (Isaakios 1) Komnenos (:) Zonaras 18.2.20
Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai (Theodoros 105)
  • Appointed chief commander of the army by the emperor (Michael 6), he was sent against Komnenos (Isaakios 1), crossed to Chrysopolis, reached Nikomedeia, sent troops to capture the Sangarios bridge, encamped on Mount Sophon and prepared for war: in association with Aaron 101 (:) Skylitzes 493.79-90