Konstantinos X marched out to Choirobakchoi with absurdly small army

Summary:
Konstantinos X had been stung by complaints and accusations that his stinginess harmed the empire. He made a false start, from which Psellos claims to have stopped him. He eventually left Constantinople to face the invading Uzes, and encamped at Choirobakchoi opposite Athyras with an army of 150 men, whose small size caused amazement to many 
Dates:
1065 
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • Unable to cope with complaints and accusations that his stinginess harmed the empire, he left Constantinople (to face the invading Uzes) and encamped at Choirobakchoi opposite Athyras with his 150-strong army whose small size caused amazement to many (:) ὅτι φειδωλίας τὰ Ῥωμαίων ἀπεμπολοῦντό τε καὶ καταπροΐεντο Attaleiates: History 84.23-85.7 / 64.6-11
  • Offended by accusations of stinginess, he left Constantinople (to fight the Uzes) with an army whose size of no more than 150 soldiers sent to face such a huge crowd caused amazement, and pitched camp at Choirobakchoi (in the 6th regnal year of Doukas (1065-66) in the 3rd indiction (1064-65) in the year 6573 from creation (1064-65): Ἧν δὲ τὸ τηνικαῦτα ἔτος μὲν ἕκτον βασιλεύοντι τῷ Δούκᾳ, ἰνδικτιὼν γ ´, ἐν τῷ φογ ´ ἔτει τῆς κοσμικῆς κτίσεως) Skylitzes Continuatus 115.6-17
  • When everyone publicly reviled him for not going out against the barbarians because of meanness, he departed from the city and encamped near Choirobakchoi, taking with him not more than 150 men, so it is said, and attending to assembling an army (:) Zonaras 18.9.7
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • When the western Mysians and the Triballoi formed an alliance, the Roman empire faced great danger: Konstantinos 10 first of all hurried out against them, but then, when Psellos dragged him back, he returned to the palace (:) εἶτα δῆτα ἐμοῦ μονονοὺ ταῖς χερσὶν ἐπισπάσαντος Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 23.1-6