Ioannes Axouch (with Basileios Tzintziloukes) travelled to Constantinople from Mamistra with great speed. There he found Manuel's brother Isaakios still ignorant of events, and imprisoned him by a trick in the Pantokrator monastery. Isaakios soon understood what was happening, and was furious, but powerless. He supported his rights, based on the principle of primogeniture, claiming to be the rightful emperor. But his advantages in age and location, being in the palace with its resources of money and vestments, had been neutralised, though he was still a threat. William of Tyre wrote of secret orders sent to a mystikos, who was able to imprison Isaakios, although in this version he had heard of Ioannes II's death and seized the palace. Manuel also sent decrees condemning some of his own closest adherents for treason, to confuse Isaakios. After dealing with him, Axouch had Manuel acclaimed by the citizens of the capital. He also gave the clergy of Hagia Sophia a chrysobull promising an annual donation of 200 pounds of silver; he was said to be carrying a second chrysobull for the clergy offering 200 pounds of gold, in case the situation was difficult. Axouch decided that silver was enough. He then prepared for Manuel's arrival