Ioannes II praised his son, Manuel (I), for bravery but thrashed him for rashness

Summary:
Battles around Neokaisareia were intense. In one, Manuel (I), unrecognised by his father, led an inspirational charge, making the rest of the army fight beyond their strength. When Ioannes discovered his identity, he praised him fulsomely in public for bravery, but thrashed him hard in private for rashness 
Dates:
1140 
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • Fighting near Neokaisareia, he did not recognise Manuel 1, who led a charge so well that the army fought beyond its strength; Ioannes, seeing who he was, praised him in public for bravery, but thrashed him hard in private for rashness (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 35.28-38
  • Criticised his son Manuel 1 for youthful daring at a dangerous moment, yet inwardly he was amazed and admired him, openly calling him ‘saviour of the Byzantine army’ when not yet 18, and seeing that courage is not limited by age (:) ῥύστην τε αὐτὸν δημοσίᾳ τοῦ ῾Ρωμαίων ἀπεκάλει στρατοῦ Kinnamos 21.20-22.1
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • He led a charge near Neokaisareia so well that the army fought beyond its strength; Ioannes 2, who had not recognised him, once he knew who he was, praised him in public for bravery, but thrashed him hard in private for rashness (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 35.28-38
  • One of the holy purple-born tetrarchy of the children of Ioannes 2, the most junior, in age but not in honour, cub of a great lion: he put the Turks to flight with just a shout (:) ἀλκίμου σκύμνε λέοντος Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XIX.138-150
  • His military training came to a head in the famous charge he led near Neokaisareia, rallying the army when it seemed beaten, showing enough military ardour to justify his choice as emperor (:) Italikos 286.10-288.15
  • Before he was 18, at crisis of battle near Neokaisareia, he attacked the Turks successfully without the knowledge of his father Ioannes 2, encouraging the Byzantines and provoking mixed reactions of pride and reproof from Ioannes (:) ὀκτωκαίδεκα οὔπω γεγονὼς ἔτη Kinnamos 21.14-22.2