Returning from Cilicia, Ioannes II sent a detachment to punish the people of Ikonion

Summary:
Ioannes II, after a three-year expedition, returned via Cilicia to Constantinople. As he went, he sent a detachment to punish the people of Ikonion, who had taken advantage of his absence by attacking Byzantine possessions. This raid was successful 
Dates:
1139 
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • After a three-year (i.e. two-year) absence, he returned via Cilicia to Constantinople; as he passed, he sent a detachment to punish the Turks of Ikonion, who had exploited his absence by attacking the Byzantines; his raid was successful (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 31.21-27
  • Part of the report on the campaign refers to problems in river-crossings, especially of the Sangaris, which was in spate; the Turks had stolen areas of Bithynia and Bebryx (?) in Ioannes' absence, but he now punished them many times over (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XI.81-90
  • As he crossed Anatolia he realised that Masud 17001 had profited by his absence to attack Byzantine Bithynia; he made a gesture to punish him, so that the Sangarios would be able to discuss his achievements with the Euphrates and Tigris (:) Italikos 266.30-267.16
Mas'ud, sultan of Ikonion (Masud 17001)
  • He had profited from the absence of Ioannes 2 to make inroads into Byzantine Bithynia; as Ioannes returned, he was punished for this presumption (:) Italikos 267.2-16