Ioannes II captured Sozopolis & forts near Attaleia, returning to Constantinople

Summary:
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 
Dates:
1120 
Dekanos, military commander at Sozopolis (Dekanos 17001)
  • Was involved in feint attack which led to capture of Sozopolis: in association with Ioannes 20164 (:) Kinnamos 6.18-7.2
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • Easily captured Sozopolis, despite its strong position (:) Kinnamos 6.5-7.11
  • 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 inaccessible and well defended (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 12.6-13.16
  • Using Ioannes 20164 and his cavalry, he habituated the Turkish horsemen of Sozopolis to chasing off Roman assaults; one day the pursuit was long, ambushes were set, Sozopolis was captured and the Turkish cavalry left isolated (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 13.17-36
  • After capturing Sozopolis by a trick, he went on to take Hierakoryphetis and many other places which had before belonged to the Romans, but had submitted to the Turks (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 13.36-38
  • He won Sozopolis and other cities for Byzantium, also capturing a large number of Turks (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte III.35-36
  • The capture of Sozopolis was later to be counted as one of Ioannes' significant victories (:) νίκη Σωζοπολῖτις Prodromos, Historische Gedichte IV.271, V.24
Ioannes Paktiares, protonobelissimos and doux (Ioannes 20164)
  • Was involved in feint attacks which led to capture of Sozopolis: in association with Dekanos 17001 (:) Kinnamos 6.18-7.2
  • He was told by Ioannes 2 to make many cavalry attacks on Sozopolis to have the Turkish cavalry pursue them; one day the pursuit was long, ambushes were set, Sozopolis was captured and the Turkish cavalry left isolated (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 13.17-36