Victory of rebel Isaakios Komnenos over imperial army at battle of Polemon/Hades

Summary:
The course of the battle was quite different on the two wings. Aaron defeated the right wing of the army of Isaakios, pursued the troops to their camp, captured Romanos Skleros, and would have won a clear victory had he not hesitated, for Isaakios was planning to flee to Nicaea. The left wing of Isaakios' army, led by Katakalon Kekaumenos, routed the imperial right, reached and entered their camp, destroyed the tents and killed the generals Maurokatakalos and Katzamountes, thus encouraging their own side while scaring the successful men of Aaron. In this ambiguous situation, Isaakios in the centre was able to stand firm, and encouraged his men to advance. He had a narrow escape when attacked by four Pechenegs. Nikephoros Botaneiates distinguished himself in single combat with Radulf the Frank, who was captured. Finally Isaakios' troops won a great victory, with considerable bloodshed. Theodoros and Aaron returned defeated to Michael VI. Isaakios advanced towards the city 
Dates:
1057 
Aaron, brother of Alousianos (Aaron 101)
  • After the defeat of his troops (by Isaakios 1 Komnenos) he returned to the emperor (Michael 6) together with the domestikos (Theodoros 105) (:) Skylitzes 496.71-72
  • Vanquished the right wing (of the army of Isaakios 1 Komnenos), pursued the enemy troops up to their camp, captured Romanos 104, and he would have won a clear victory had he not desisted from pillaging the camp, for Komnenos was planning to flee (:) Skylitzes 495.43-47
Maurokatakalos, commander under Michael VI (Anonymus 204)
  • Fell during the battle (at Hades) when Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101) entered and destroyed the encampment πίπτει Skylitzes 495.54-58
  • Fell during the battle at Polemon/Hades when Katakalon 101 entered and destroyed the encampment of the imperial troops (:) Skylitzes 295.54-58
Katzamountes, commander under Michael VI (Anonymus 205)
  • Fell during the battle (at Hades) when Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101) entered and destroyed the encampment πίπτει Skylitzes 495.54-58
  • Fell during the battle at Polemon/Hades when Katakalon 101 entered and destroyed the encampment of the imperial troops (:) ' 
Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (Isaakios 1)
  • During the fierce battle against the imperial troops at Polemon/Hades near Nicaea, the right wing of his army had trouble so he reinforced his left wing and advanced against the enemy, and was proclaimed victorious and acclaimed by all (:) τὴν ἐπινίκειον εὐφημίαν κατήνεγκε Attaleiates: History 55.7-56.1 / 42.2-15
  • After the ravaging of the enemy encampment by Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, his men put to flight the enemy troops (sent by Michael 6) and one of their commanders, Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates, who fought against Radulf 101, was captured and brought to him (:) Skylitzes 496.68-69
  • Shaken by the defeat of the right wing of his army (at Hades) and the capture of its leader Romanos 104 Skleros, he considered fleeing to Nicaea (:) Skylitzes 495.46-47
  • Katakalon 101 Katakalon Kekaumenos's victory on the left wing in particular implanted boldness in his men, while it cast down the spirits in their opponents and persuaded them to flee (:) Zonaras 18.2.23
  • The imperial left wing defeated the right wing of Isaakios 1 Komnenos's men and captured alive its commander Romanos 104 Skleros (:) Zonaras 18.2.21
  • A great imperial massacre took place, not only of common soldiers, but also of commanders and more were taken captive; and victory smiled openly on him (:) Zonaras 18.2.24
  • Although his right wing fled after the left, he stood firm in the centre, master of the pursuers and the fugitives; seeing this, some of Michael 6's army (no more than four Scythians from the Tauros) attacked him with spears, but missed (:) ἐν μέσοις εἱστήκει κρείττων καὶ τῶν διωκόντων καὶ τῶν φευγόντων Psellos: Chronographia VII 13.1-13
  • Pressed with equal force on either side he remained stationary; he took this as a good omen, that he was unmoved when struck on either side; he at once urged his forces to fall more vigorously on the enemy, take heart, rout and pursue afar (:) τοῦτο δὴ ἐκεῖνος οἰωνὸν λαβὼν αἴσιον, ὡς εἴη ἀκίνητος βαλλόμενος ἑκατέρωθεν Psellos: Chronographia VII 13.13-20
  • His army faced that gathered by Michael 6 in a battle with all the horrors of civil war; he won the victory, and the emperor, when he heard, collapsed and lost heart for further resistance (:) Psellos Keroularios 362-363
  • Proved his bravery and great deeds not only to his subjects, but to the barbarians too, for he prevailed over the emperor (Michael 6) by his sword and was invested with power ὡς μάχῃ κεκρατηκὼς τοῦ κρατοῦντος Attaleiates: History 59.22-60.3 / 46.6-9
  • He raised an unprecedented rebel army, as did his opponents (Michael 6 and the bureaucratic party): in a hard-fought battle, he was totally victorious, forcing his enemies to send ambassadors (:) Psellos Leichoudes 407-408
  • There was an unprecedented revolt of the entire military class of Byzantium, which he came to lead; he won a victory over the troops scraped together by Michael 6, treating his defeated opponents generously and winning over the city populace (:) Psellos Kategoria 1318-1354
  • Arrived at the village of Almeas intending to reach the palace at Damatrys the following day (:) Skylitzes 498.28-30
  • A civil war broke out and people were divided. Romans were killed by Romans and children turned against their parents and vice versa; Isaakios won the battle and Michael 6 was unwillingly removed from power (:) Manasses, Chronicle 6286-6292a
Katakalon Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101)
  • Defeated the enemy troops (of Michael 6), reached and entered their camp, destroyed the tents, and thus encouraged the forces of Komnenos (Isaakios 1) while scaring those of Aaron 101 (at the head of the enemy's left wing) (:) Skylitzes 495.47-52
  • The left wing of the foe, which Katakalon 101 Katakalon Kekaumenos led, routed the imperial right, entered their very camp, tore apart the tents and hurled them to the ground (:) Zonaras 18.2.22
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • A civil war broke out and people were divided. Romans were killed by Romans and children turned against their parents and vice versa; Isaakios 1 won the battle and Michael was unwillingly removed from power (:) Manasses, Chronicle 6286-6292a
Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3)
  • Distinguished himself more than anyone else and proved to be a valiant man (during the battle with the troops of the rebel Isaakios 1 against those of the emperor Michael 6 near Nicaea) (:) ἠρίστευσε δὲ πλέον τῶν ἄλλων Attaleiates: History 56.1-5 / 42.16-19
  • Incited to fight by Radulf 101 he attacked him, hit and trashed his shield with his sword, was left unharmed when Radulf struck back hitting him on the helmet, but was then captured and taken to Komnenos (Isaakios 1) by some of the latter's men (:) Skylitzes 495.61-496.69
Pnyemios the Iberian, general under Michael VI (Pnyemios 101)
  • Fell during the battle (at Hades) when Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101) entered and destroyed the encampment πίπτει Skylitzes 495.54-58
  • Fought at the battle of Hades (against Isaakios 1 Komnenos) in the left wing of the army (of Theodoros 105) under the command of Aaron 101: in association with Lykanthes 101, Radulf 101 (:) Skylitzes 495.39
Radulf the Frank, military commander under Michael VI (Radulf 101)
  • While the emperor (Michael 6)'s troops were fleeing he sought to engage in battle with one of the famous generals, and when Nikephoros 3 appeared he approached him, incited him to fight, but failed to harm him when his sword hit his helmet (:) Skylitzes 495.59-496.67
Romanos Skleros, brother of Maria Skleraina (Romanos 104)
  • Was captured by Aaron 101 when the latter pursued and vanquished the right wing (of the army of Isaakios 1 Komnenos at the battle of Hades) (:) Skylitzes 495.43-44
  • The imperial left wing defeated the right wing of Isaakios 1 Komnenos's men and captured alive its commander Romanos 104 Skleros (:) Zonaras 18.2.21
Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai (Theodoros 105)
  • After the defeat of his troops (by Isaakios 1 Komnenos) he returned to the emperor (Michael 6) together with Aaron 101 (:) Skylitzes 496.71-72
  • Not yet aware of his ambivalence, the battalions and the national army attacked courageously charging with a war-cry; their right wing routed and pursued the enemy's left (:) οὔπω τὴν στρατηγικὴν γνόντες ἀμφιβολίαν Psellos: Chronographia 12.3-12