Retreat of the Byzantine forces from Neokaisareia

Summary:
Ioannes II feared that his nephew, after deserting, would reveal to the enemy all about the weakness of his position. He therefore withdrew, his rearguard harried by the Turks. Once they reached the coast, the retreat became easier. He arrived at Constantinople shortly after the end of the year 
Dates:
1140 second half 
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • He despaired of success if the enemy knew his true problems, and so retreated to the coast, harried by the Turks in the rear, then more easily along the coast to the capital, which he reached at the end of the year (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 36.66-37.73
  • (After a lacuna) a rare setback occurred at Neokaisareia where he was beaten off by bad weather and stout Turkish defence, but then he marched into neighbouring Turkish territory, winning booty and freeing Byzantine prisoners (At the winter solstice:ἀμφὶ τροπὰς ἤδη χειμερινάς) Kinnamos 21.6-12