The major battle of Tzibrelitzemani: Manuel's first moves

Summary:
The sultan Mas'ud, reinforced by many Turks from areas once ruled by the amir Gumushtegin Ghazi, plucked up courage to attack Manuel I as he went homewards over rough terrain at Tzibrelitzemani. Some Byzantines were in difficulties before Manuel arrived. Like a Latin trying to impress his new bride Bertha/Eirene, he decided to fight in person, in battles fiercer than he had faced in approaching Ikonion. He stationed two ambushes in nearby ravines, with relatives (including his sisters' husbands) in one and Nikolaos Angelos, commanding two units, in the other. He told them not to fight till they saw him attacking. Leaving the ambushes, he was unwillingly persuaded by his brother Isaakios and Ioannes Axouchos to wait incognito, with his imperial armour concealed, for Turkish attacks on the foragers. He had Poupakes reconnoitre and then decoy towards him more and more Turks. He pursued them with Isaakios, Axouch and Poupakes, his companions becoming ever more reluctant. When his brother Isaakios despaired as his horse was exhausted, and begged him to think of his wife and children, Manuel rebuked him for mistrust and rode on bravely 
Dates:
1146: 
wife of Isaakios the sebastokrator (Eirene Diplosynadene?) (Anonyma 17005)
  • Was used in a desperate plea by Isaakios 103 to his brother Manuel 1 (:) τὸν ἀδελφὸν παρεκάλει γυναικός τε καὶ παίδων πέρι τῶν ἑαυτοῦ Kinnamos 49.12
brothers-in-law of Manuel I (Anonymi 17002)
  • Were placed in the first of the emperor Manuel 1'’s ambushes at the battle of Tzibrelitzemani (:) οἱ ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς αὐτοῦ ξυνοικοῦντες Kinnamos 47.10-14
children of Isaakios the sebastokrator (son of Ioannes II) (Anonymi 17003)
  • Were used in a desperate plea by Isaakios 103 to his brother Manuel 1 (:) τὸν ἀδελφὸν παρεκάλει γυναικός τε καὶ παίδων πέρι τῶν ἑαυτοῦ Kinnamos 49.12
Eirene (Bertha of Sulzbach), first wife of Manuel I (Eirene 66)
  • She, as the new bride of the emperor Manuel 1, inspired him (like a Latin) to his exploits at Tzibrelitzemani (:) Kinnamos 47.6-17
Gümüshtegin Ghazi, second ruler of Danishmend dynasty (Gumushtegin 101)
  • Reinforcements for Masud 17001 in defence of Ikonion came from areas to the east where he used to rule (:) ἔνθα Τανισμὰν ἦρχεν ἐκεῖνος Kinnamos 46.20-23
Ioannes Axouch, megas domestikos (Ioannes 293)
  • At Tzibrelitzemani, with the emperor’s brother Isaakios 103, he persuaded a bold and unwilling Manuel 1 to wait incognito for the Turkish attacks on the foragers, using Poupakes 17001 to reconnoitre; then all four attacked (:) Kinnamos 47.17-48.9
Isaakios Komnenos, son of Ioannes II (Isaakios 103)
  • At Tzibrelitzemani, with Ioannes 293 (Axouchos) he persuaded a bold and unwilling Manuel 1 to wait incognito for the Turkish attacks on the foragers, using Poupakes 17001 to reconnoitre; then all four attacked (:) Kinnamos 47.17-48.9
  • Kept with his brother Manuel 1 for a time, but when his horse was exhausted he despaired of his life, and asked Manuel to think of his wife and children; Manuel rebuked him for lack of faith in him and promised to return (:) τήν τε σωτηρίαν ἤδη ἀπογνοὺς πολλὰ τὸν ἀδελφὸν παρεκάλει γυναικός τε καὶ παίδων πέρι τῶν ἑαυτοῦ Kinnamos 49.8-22
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • To impress (like a Latin) his new bride Eirene 66, he decided to fight himself, with relatives (including Anonymi 17002) in one ambush and Nikolaos 17001 (Angelos) in another, telling them to wait till they saw him attacking (:) ἀνδρὶ γὰρ Λατίνῳ ἄρτι γυναῖκα εἰσοικισαμένῳ μὴ οὐχὶ ἀριστέα φανῆναι αἰσχύνην οὐχὶ τυχοῦσαν ἐπάγεται Kinnamos 47.6-17
  • Leaving the ambushes, he had Poupakes 17001 reconnoitre and then decoy towards him more and more Turks; pursued them with his brother Isaakios 103, Ioannes 293 (Axouches) and Poupakes, with his companions ever more reluctant (:) Kinnamos 48.2-49.8
  • Was unwillingly persuaded by his brother Isaakios 103 and Ioannes 293 (Axouchos) to wait incognito, with his weapons concealed, and wait for the Turkish attacks on the foragers (:) Kinnamos 47.17-23
  • As he withdrew from Ikonion, he found that the enemy had occupied the wooded areas and laid ambushes; he fought his way with difficulty through bigger battles than before, and reached Constantinople (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 53.54-57
Mas'ud, sultan of Ikonion (Masud 17001)
  • Reinforced by many Turks from areas once ruled by the amir Danishmend 101, he plucked up courage to attack on rough terrain at Tzibrelitzemani, where the Byzantines were in difficulties before the emperor Manuel 1 arrived (:) Kinnamos 46.23-47.5
Nikolaos Angelos, military commander (Nikolaos 17001)
  • Was put in command of two regiments in the second of the emperor Manuel 1'’s ambushes at the battle of Tzibrelitzemani, with orders to wait till he saw Manuel charging the enemy (:) Kinnamos 47.14-16
Poupakes, Turk in service of Manuel I (Poupakes 17001)
  • At Tzibrelitzemani, when sent forward by the emperor Manuel 1 to find Turks, he counted only 8; led Manuel forward, with his brother Isaakios 103 and Ioannes 293 (Axouchos), and eventually decoyed the Turks (now 18) into fighting them (:) Kinnamos 48.2-9