Manuel postponed punitive action against Kilic Arslan, in favour of building & of acquiring Amaseia

Summary:
 
Dates:
1175 
Kilic Arslan II, Seljuk sultan of Ikonion (Kilic Arslan 52)
  • Had an army threatening Amaseia: the city surrendered to him when Michael 17005 was too slow to accept its defection (:) Kinnamos 296.4-15
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • Angry at Kilic Arslan 52’'s intransigence, he wanted to attack; but the spring campaigning season was over, he had planned to build cities, and Amaseia wanted to defect to him, which would be easier before the outbreak of open war (Spring was over:ὅ τε γὰρ τοῦ ἦρος ἐξῆκεν ἤδη καιρός) Kinnamos 293.1-8
  • Since it was a bad time for war with Kilic Arslan 52, he sent Michael 17005 to Paphlagonia with part of an army, to be completed from Pontic cities round Trebizond and Oinaion; he should go on to Amaseia (:) Kinnamos 293.8-15
Michael Gabras, doux of Sirmium (Michael 17005)
  • When he reached Amaseia he was invited inside; when he showed reluctance he was sent hostages and given the citadel, as there was a rival army of Kilic Arslan 52 close by; but he feared treachery and remained outside (:) Kinnamos 296.2-11
  • As it was a bad time for open warfare, he was sent by Manuel 1 to Paphlagonia with part of an army, to be completed from Pontic cities round Trebizond and Oinaion; he should go on to Amaseia, which was expected to defect to Manuel (:) Kinnamos 293.8-15
  • His delaying caused fears of an attack on Amaseia by the army of Kilic Arslan 52, and led to the voluntary betrayal of the city to that army; he marched back to Byzantium with no regard for the Byzantines in the citadel and elsewhere (:) Kinnamos 296.11-18