Campaign already begun by Romanos IV Diogenes against Turks

Summary:
Romanos IV began his campaign against the Turks amazingly quickly, two months after accession. He showed little inclination for the luxuries of office. In this time he discussed his expedition with the military commanders present at Constantinople, prepared embassies and looked for ways to prevent enemy attacks, spending little time in the palace. He collected troops from the West and from Cappadocia, and summoned the Scythians too (Pechenegs and Uzes?), but left before their arrival. Psellos tried to delay him, pointing out the need for more preparation, but failed. The desire for military glory prevailed. As a result his army was both small and ill-equipped 
Dates:
1068 March 
Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Eudokia 1)
  • Romanos 4 had two objectives [in campaigning], to shut off the barbarians’ access and bestow safety as far as possible on his subjects, and to win some prestige for himself and not be subservient in everything to her, but hold absolute rule himself (:) Zonaras 18.11.6
  • Because (Romanos 4) Diogenes was a man of action, proven in warfare and unrivalled in strength, she put him in charge of the realm, so that the barbarian onslaught might to a degree be checked when he exerted his strength against them (:) Zonaras 18.10.8
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He restrained Romanos 4, saying he must first discuss the army, draw up registers, bring in foreign aid and then elect for war in a state of readiness; but those accustomed to contradict him, apart from a few, ruined things, then as now (:) οἱ δέ γε εἰωθότες παρὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γλῶσσαν λαλεῖν ... καὶ τότε καὶ νῦν τὰ πράγματα διεφθάρκασιν Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 12.1-7
  • Romanos 4 put on his armour in the palace, took shield and spear and expected to block the enemy's onslaught and thrust the spear into their flanks; at this the rest gave a war-cry and applauded, but Psellos scowled guessing the likely outcome (:) ἐγὼ δὲ ἐσκυθρώπαζον τῶν μελλόντων ὁπόσον εἰκὸς στοχαζόμενος Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 12.8-14
Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (Romanos 4)
  • Discussed with the military commanders present (at Constantinople) about expeditions, prepared embassies, looked for ways to prevent the enemy attacks, and did not spend long in the palace, leaving for the east coast of the Sea of Marmara (two months after his accession:μετὰ διττὴν σεληναίαν περίοδον) τῶν παρατυχόντων στρατιωτῶν τοῖς ἐπισημοτέροις συνομιλεῖν Attaleiates: History 102.1-8 / 77.13-19
  • Convinced by the sky-high glory to be won on campaign, his wish for revenge prevailed over the pleasures and luxuries of Constantinople, and he left on an expedition to the East (two months after his accession:μετὰ διττὴν σεληναίαν περίοδον) ὁ ζῆλος τῆς ἐκδικίας νενίκηκε Attaleiates: History 102.8-13 / 77.19-78.1
  • Received the worthiest soldiers, talked to the most sensible and experienced among them, prepared embassies trying to prevent the enemy from advancing, and after two months crossed the Sea of Marmara, causing surprise at the speed of his preparations (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 124.16-23
  • Surprised everybody who thought that preparations for an expedition would take at least three months and, shortly after his accession, collected troops from the West and from Cappadocia, and summoned the Scythians too, but left before their arrival (two months after his accession:μετὰ διττὴν σεληναίαν περίοδον) μετὰ τῶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείῳ μόνων αὐλῇ τῆς ὁδοῦ σπουδαίως ἐφήψατο Attaleiates: History 102.13-20 / 78.1-7
  • Since the eastern parts were in a bad way, some already despaired of and others coming to that, he announced an expedition and pitched the imperial tent in the eastern sector, across the straits from Byzantium (:) Zonaras 18.11.5
  • Having set out from the palace he crossed in full panoply to the east, leading an army insufficient for war, while that which he did lead was afflicted by lack of arms, horses and things essential to it (:) Zonaras 18.11.7
  • As he had not yet made any noble contribution to rule he reserved himself for a suitable moment; for this reason and also to save the state, he proclaimed war against the Turks (:) ἐταμιεύετο τὸν καιρόν Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 11.9-11
  • He grew angry with the Turks, made an expedition against them and crushed their morale, covering the ground with their bodies and making seas with their blood, showing the greatness of Byzantine courage and their strength in war (:) ... θυμὸν ἀναλαβὼν κατὰ τῶν ἐκ τῆς Ἄγαρ ... ἔδειξεν οἵαν Αὔσονες τρέφουσιν εὐαδρίαν, ὁποίους τοὺς βραχίονας ἔχουσιν ἐν πολέμοις Manasses, Chronicle 6396-6401
  • He grew angry with the Turks, made an expedition against them and crushed their morale, covering the ground with their bodies and making seas with their blood, showing the greatness of Byzantine courage and their strength in war ... θυμὸν ἀναλαβὼν κατὰ τῶν ἐκ τῆς Ἄγαρ ... ἔδειξεν οἵαν Αὔσονες τρέφουσιν εὐαδρίαν, ὁποίους τοὺς βραχίονας ἔχουσιν ἐν πολέμοις Manasses, Chronicle 6396-6401