Romanos IV encouraged his men not to give in and as an experienced soldier he fought bravely for a long time against the Turks at Mantzikert. He was exhausted and encircled but was not captured easily, killing many of the enemy. He was recognised and surrounded, struck on the hand by a sword, and when his horse was hit he dismounted and continued fighting on foot, as Psellos had heard. The army scattered, some fleeing but most being captured or killed. That night Romanos slept on the ground, dishonoured and in pain, suffering from endless and unbearable thoughts and troubles