Byzantine Battles: Battle of Hades

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Battle of Hades (Battle of Petroe)	year: 1057 20 August 1057
Victory of the mutineers of the army under Isaac Komnenos	★ ★ ★ ★ ★

enemy: (Civil War)	location: Location Petroe or Hades, to the north of Nicaea, (modern Iznik in Eastern Asia Minor)	accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type: Pitched Battle	war: Military Revolts	modern country: Turkey

	▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Michael VI Stratiotikos)	▼ The Enemies
Commander:	Proedros Theodore	Isaac Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos
Forces:	Unknown	Unknown
Losses:	Heavy	Light

Background story:

Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos was a veteran soldier, but from the early beginning of his short reign, his actions alienated the top military commanders.
His decision to restore the rank of general Nikephoros Bryennios but not his estates or fortune confiscated by the empress Theodora, and insulting Bryennios to his face when he complained, proved to be his undoing. Bryennios began plotting to overthrow the emperor but he was arrested and blinded.
Bryennios' capture precipitated the military nobility to rally around the reluctant Isaac Komnenos and proclaimed him emperor on 8 June 1057.
Emperor Michael sent against the rebels an army under the command of Theodore, an eunuch. The imperial army moved against Nicaea which had been captured by Isaac Komnenos.

The Battle:

Patriarch Kiroularios in Skylitzes manuscript

On August 20, 1057, Isaac Komnenos drew out his forces and arranged them for battle at a plain called, Polemon or Hades, near Nicaea. General Kekaumenos commanded the left wing, Romanos Skleros the right, and Komnenos positioned himself in the center. On the imperial side, the Bulgarian Prince Aaron was stationed on the left wing, Basil Tarchaneiotes was positioned on the right, and the center was commanded by Theodore the Eunuch.
The imperial left wing under Prince Aaron completely routed the rebel right wing. Pursuing their troops to the rebel camp, he proceeded to capture Romanos Skleros. The right wing though was routed by Kekaumenos, who reached the enemy’s camp and destroyed the tents. Isaac Komnenos managed to hold the center firm, long enough for Kekaumenos to join him and press in on Theodore. Eventually, the imperial center began to give way and the imperial troops began fleeing the field.

Aftermath:

Soon after the battle, a riot in favor of Isaac broke out in Constantinople. The patriarch Michael Keroularios convinced Michael VI to abdicate, and Isaac entered the City and became officially emperor.