Not long after returning to the capital from Laodikeia, he set out again on campaign, to protect Roman territory and harden his army - important motivations. He attacked Sozopolis in Pamphylia, which was an extremely inaccessible fortress and well defended. Using (Ioannes) Paktiares and Dekanos, his cavalry commanders, he habituated the Turkish horsemen of Sozopolis to chasing off Byzantine assaults. One day the pursuit was greatly extended, ambushes were set, Sozopolis was captured and the Turkish cavalry left isolated. From Sozopolis he went on to take Hierakoryphetis and many other places near Attaleia which had before belonged to the Byzantines, but had submitted to the Turks