Open Political Science, 2018; 1: 136–142 Research Article Open Access Marcin Böhm* The Military Policy of Isaac Komnenos at the time of battle of Petroe (1057) https://doi.org/10.1515/openps-2018-0011 received December 8, 2018; accepted December 12, 2018. Abstract: Isaac Komnenos (1007-1060) was the son of Manuel Eroticos Komnenos (955/960-c.1020), one of the associates of Basil II. Thanks to his education, Isaac later joined the imperial army (around 1042). He held the post of stratopedarches of the East and the ranks of magistros. At Easter 1057, the delegation of many military commanders presented itself before the emperor. This delegation was led by Isaac, and along with Katakalon Kekaumenos he tried to convince Michael VI to give them both the title of proedros, but the new emperor rejected their demands. They did not receive the money they counted on the part of the emperor, and he insulted them. This, in turn, became the causative factor of the rebellion, which culminated at the battle of Petroe. The attitudes and actions of Isaac Komnenos at the beginning of the rebellion cannot be unequivocally assessed. It is also difficult to say that it was his skills that were decisive for the success during the battle of Petroe, since he had a moment of breakdown, during which he wanted to leave his army and hide behind the walls of nearby Nicaea. He had a cunctator attitude and faith in the good omens. These qualities also do not reflect well on him. Keywords: Byzantium; Isaac I Komnenos; Battle at Hades; Constantinople; Michael VI Bringas. 1 Introduction The eleventh century in the history of Byzantium was a period of the greatest triumphs of this Empire’s rulers, as well as a violent collapse of state structures, which followed the end of the Macedonian dynasty. This imperial family, whose most prominent representative was Basil II Bulgarslayer (976-1025), led to a balance in political competition between the court of Constantinople, who was supported by the aristocracy settled in the capital, and the army in which the group of magnates, most of Asia Minor origin, carried out their interests and ambitions. When there were no direct followers of Basil II, both political parties turned against each other and it seemed that the election of the Michael VI Bringas (1056- 1057), supported by the imperial eunuchs, would give power to the Constantinopolitan nobles for good. It was a wrong assumption. In the camp of the military party, a new leader of this milieu, Isaac Komnenos (1007-1060), emerged (Mokhov 2012, 120: 52-53). Isaac was the son of Manuel Eroticos Komnenos (955/960-c.1020), one of the associates of Basil II (Mokhov 2012, 120:53). At the end of his life, Manuel became ill and, expecting his death, he commanded his sons to protect of this Emperor. The latter took great care of their education by placing them in the Monastery of the Stoudios, where they learned military crafts and were brought up in the virtue of faith (Nicephore Bryennios Histoire 1975, I, 1: 74-77,Varzos 1984, v. A:39). Thanks to his education, Isaac later joined the imperial army (around 1042), where he quickly advanced. He held the post of stratopedarches of the East and the ranks of magistros (Ioannis Skylitzae 1973, 1:479). Isaac was dismissed from his position by Empress Theodora in 1054 and replaced by her eunuch confidant, the proedros Theodore(Ioannis Skylitzae 1973, 1:479). This was one of the first factors that put our hero in opposition to Constantinople. After the death of Empress Theodora, the last representative of the Macedonian dynasty, Isaac hoped that he would regain his position in the army. At Easter 1057, the delegation of many military commanders presented itself before the emperor. This delegation was led by Isaac and included the magistros Katakalon Kekaumenos, the vestarches Michael Bourtzes, Constantine Doukas and his brother John Doukas. Isaac along with Katakalon Kekaumenos tried to convince Michael VI to give them both the title of proedros, but the new emperor rejected their demands (Ioannis Skylitzae 1973, 2:483, Mokhov 2012, 120: 54, Nezu 2006, 42: 53). In addition, they did not receive the money they counted *Corresponding author: Marcin Böhm, Institute of History, University of Opole, 45-040 Opole,Poland, E-mail: mabohm@wp.pl Open Access. © 2018 Marcin Böhm, published by De Gruyter. s 4.0 License. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.