Alexios I besieged Dristra, breaching the walls, but unable to capture the citadels; he abandoned the siege

Summary:
Alexios made a conventional attack on Dristra with siege engines, breached the wall and entered the city with his whole army. But he did not capture the two citadels. Tatous, the Pecheneg ruler of Dristra, had foreseen the attack on his city and gone off to enlist Cuman support. He had told his relations, who remained to defend Dristra, to fortify a dominant ridge outside the city, which would make Alexios' siege very difficult. Alexios was forced to withdraw to a fortified camp near the Danube, where he discussed whether to attack the Pecheneg army 
Dates:
1086 March 
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • He entered Dristra through the breach in the wall, but was eventually forced to give up the siege of the two citadels, which remained in the hands of the Pecheneg relations of Tatous 101 (:) Anna Komnene 209.92-210.11
  • Having restored order to his army, which had suddenly been attacked by Pechenegs, he marched upon Dristra which he besieged, making a breach in the walls (:) Anna Komnene 209.85-92
  • Having failed to capture the whole of Dristra, he withdrew to a fortified camp near the Danube, where he debated whether to attack the Pechenegs (:) Anna Komnene 210.9-11
Tatous/Tatrys, Pecheneg leader at Dristra (Tatous 101)
  • He went to summon aid from the Cumans, telling his people, when Alexios 1 attacked Dristra, to fortify a dominant ridge to theaten the attackers; Alexios, though breaching the wall, could not capture the citadels and was forced to withdraw (:) Anna Komnene 209.90-210.9