Petroe, Battle of
Years: 1057 - 1057
The Battle of Petroe, also known as the Battle of Hades, is fought on August 20, 1057 between the Byzantine imperial forces of Theodore, the Domestic of the Schools of the East, and the rebellious general Isaac I Komnenos, commander of the Byzantine field army in Anatolia.
Komnenos had rebelled against Michael VI Stratiotikos (r. 1056–1057) and won over the allegiance of many leading generals, including Nikephoros Bryennios and Nikephoros III Botaneiates.
After Komnenos is proclaimed emperor, the two armies clash at Petroe, near the city of Nicaea.
Although the right wing of the army of Komnenos is routed, the left wing of Komnenos’s army, led by Katakalon Kekaumenos, routs the imperial right, reaches and enters their camp, and destroys the tents.
Komnenos himself holds firm in the center, causing the imperial army to break and run, leaving the way open to Constantinople.
