Manuel showed great personal bravery in winning a confused battle on the Tara

Summary:
 
Dates:
1150 
Alexios Giphardos (Alexios 17006)
  • One of the Byzantine generals on the Tara, he was overtaken by Manuel 1 in a difficult position and was then accused by him of cowardice and ignorance, not justified by the terrain and snow (:) Kinnamos 108.20-109.11
standard-bearer in Byzantine army in 1150 (Anonymus 17034)
  • Was to lead the vanguard but his horse was exhausted, so the emperor Manuel 1 seized the standard unarmed and took his place on a hill-top (:) σημειοφόρος Kinnamos 107.20-108.1
Serbian soldier with eye wound (Anonymus 17035)
  • Seriously wounded by the emperor Manuel 1, he attacked him with his sword when he returned; but Manuel kicked him over, remembering a wound near an eye, to recognise him after the battle (:) Kinnamos 110.11-112.18
Bakchinos, (Hungarian?) military commander (Bakchinos 17001)
  • After a long fight with Manuel 1, he struck him with his sword, driving the chain mail into the flesh of his jaw without piercing it; then his arm was disabled by Manuel and he was turned over to Ioannes 17007 (Doukas) (:) Kinnamos 111.20-112.7
  • Showed his hair to surrender, then, beginning to curry favour, tried with Ioannes 17007 (Doukas) and Ioannes 17008 (Kantakouzenos) to stop Manuel fighting on (:) Kinnamos 112.8-11
  • Attacked by Ioannes 17008 (Kantakouzenos) and Ioannes 17007 (Doukas), he was speared in the back but his armour held; he put Ioannes 17008 in grave danger, but was diverted by the arrival of emperor Manuel 1, and began almost a single combat with him (:) Kinnamos 110.23-112.01
Boultzinos (Vlcin?), prominent Serbian captive (Boultzinos 17001)
  • Was captured by the Byzantines on the Tara: in association with Gourdeses 17001 (:) Kinnamos 108.15-17
Gourdeses (Grdesa?), prominent Serb (Gourdeses 17001)
  • Was captured by the Byzantines on the Tara: in association with Boultzinos 17001 (:) Kinnamos 108.15-17
Ioannes Doukas, who fought with Manuel I on the river Tara (Ioannes 452)
  • Attacked with Manuel 1; followed Ioannes 17008 (Kantakouzenos) in the assault on Bakchinos 17001 and probably received Bakchinos when wounded by Manuel; later restrained Manuel with Ioannes and Bakchinos (:) ἐξαδέλφῳ Kinnamos 109.20-112.08
Ioannes Kantakouzenos, husband of Maria Komnene (Ioannes 17008)
  • Advanced with the emperor Manuel 1, who told him to slow the enemy, so that Manuel’'s tired horse could catch up; speared Bakchinos 17001 in the back, but his armour held; was saved from death by Manuel, losing 2 fingers of one hand (:) Kinnamos 109.20-112.13
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • Inspired the Byzantines to drive the Dalmato-Paionians (Serb-Hungarians) into rough country, killing many and capturing Gourdeses 17001 and Boultzinos 17001; he overtook the generals Alexios 17006 and Michael 17002 in a dangerous spot (:) Kinnamos 108.5-109.4
  • The plan to lure the enemy with unarmed foragers hiding picked troops was suddenly changed; the standard-bearer (Anonymus 17034) leading the vanguard was delayed by his exhausted horse, so he took his place on a hill-top, unarmed (:) Kinnamos 106.15-108.1
  • Advanced with Ioannes 17007 (Doukas) and Ioannes 17008 (Kantakouzenos), recognisable by his armour and physique; laid 15 enemy low with one spear-thrust, 40 altogether, killing fugitives; kicked Anonymus 17035 to the ground (:) λέγεται ὅτι μιᾷ δόρατος προσβολῇ πεντεκαίδεκα τῶν πολεμίων εἰς γῆν ἔβαλλεν Kinnamos 109.19-110.17
  • Overtook and attacked the generals for cowardice and ignorance, not excused by the terrain and snow; then he took the lead himself, despite the dangers, wishing to capture Ouresis 17001 of Serbia or the Paionian (Hungarian) leader (:) Kinnamos 109.5-18
  • As his horse was exhausted, he sent Ioannes 17008 (Kantakouzenos) to attack and slow the enemy; Ioannes succeeded, but was left in mortal danger; Manuel attacked to divert the enemy from him, fighting almost in single combat with Bakchinos 17001 (:) Kinnamos 110.18-112.01
  • After a long fight with Bakchinos 17001 he received a blow from his sword, driving the chain mail into the flesh of his jaw without piercing it; but then he disabled Bakchinos’ arm, and turned him over to Ioannes 17007 (Doukas) (:) Kinnamos 111.20-112.7
  • Was discouraged from continuing to fight by Ioannes 17007 (Doukas), Ioannes 17008 (Kantakouzenos) and Bakchinos 17001; took 40 prisoners back to camp, and recognised Anonymus 17035 (:) Kinnamos 112.17-18
  • Anxious scouts reported a large army, which he judged was the main Paionian (Hungarian) force, predicting to Chouroup 17001 that the Serbs would attack; he planned to trick them into believing that the Byzantines were disarmed and camped (:) Kinnamos 105.16-106.14
Michael Branas, strategos of Cilicia (Michael 17002)
  • One of the Byzantine generals on the Tara, he was overtaken by Manuel 1 in a difficult position and was then accused by him of cowardice and ignorance, not justified by the terrain and snow (:) Kinnamos 108.20-109.11