Ioannes II besieged & captured Kastamon & other nearby towns

Summary:
With the west at peace, Iohannes II decided to attack the Danishmendids who held Kastamon. He marched there through Bithynia and Paphlagonia, besieged the city with scaling ladders and siege-engines and captured it, with little bloodshed. Its ruler (Gumushtegin Ghazi), in despair, was forced into exile. Ioannes captured other places, and crossed the Halys. All these feats were achieved while he was ill 
Dates:
1132 
Gümüshtegin Ghazi, second ruler of Danishmend dynasty (Gumushtegin 101)
  • His city of Kastamon was besiged by Ioannes 2 with scaling ladders and siege-machines, and eventually captured; he despaired, and was forced into exile (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 18.74-76
  • He left Kastamon and successfully pleaded for his life, throwing himself in front of the horse of Ioannes 2; the people of the town followed him, celebrating Ioannes (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte III.78-99, VI.14-16
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • With the west at peace, Ioannes decided to attack the Danishmendids of Kastamon, marching there through Bithynia and Paphlagonia; after a siege with scaling ladders and siege-engines he took it, forcing Gumushtegin 101 into exile (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 18.70-76
  • Moved to Asia to capture Kastamon, from which the Turks were harrying neighbouring imperial territory; overawed them by his preparations and captured it (:) Kinnamos 13.9-15
  • Sent an embassy to Ikonion and persuaded Masud 17001 to make an alliance with him against the Danishmend amir Muhammad 17001 (:) Kinnamos 14.13-15
  • He attacked Kastamon with siege-engines and scaling ladders, and captured it almost without bloodshed; he then went on to take Alamos, Alazos and Balzon, crossing the river Halys (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte III.42-46
  • He spared Gumushtegin 101 when he came out of the city and threw himself in front of his horse; the people of Kastamon followed their leader, celebrating the emperor (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte III.78-99
  • He had been ill during the campaign, since he was repeatedly praised for its success in spite of his sickness (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte IV.68, 174-190