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Ioannes Kegen was a Pecheneg military commander who served under khan Tyrach in 1048, whose quarrel led to the Pecheneg revolt of 1048-1053. Kegen and his followers took refuge in Paristrion and appealed to Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos for help. He appeal was warmly accepted, resulting in his being named patrician, converting to Christianity and his tribe recognized as foederati. Kegen’s was to protect a sector of the empire from invasion, but continued to harass Tyrach. Tyrach responded by a massive invasion of Byzantium, but, once defeated, was allowed keep his army to aid in defending the empire against Seljuk incursions. Tyrach instead turned to rebellion and was arrested. Kegen was sent to replace him, but upon rumors of insurrection, he was also arrested. The emperor again turned to Tyrach to lead the Pecheneg, but instead rebelled and was defeated at a decisive battle at Adrianople in 1050. Kegen was sent by the emperor as an emissary to the Pecheneg, but was killed as a traitor.
Tyrach, Pecheneg chieftain in 1048, also known as Tirakh or Tirek, whose quarrel with his military commander Ioannes Kegen led to the Pecheneg revolt of 1048–1053. Kegen and his followers relocated to Paristrion. With the blessing of emperor Constantine IX Manomachos, Kegen was to protect a sector of the empire from invasion, but continued to harass Tyrach. Tyrach responded by a massive invasion of Byzantium, but, once defeated, was allowed keep his army to aid in defending the empire against Seljuk incursions. Tyrach instead turned to rebellion and was arrested. Kegen was sent to replace him, but upon rumors of insurrection, he was also arrested. The emperor again turned to Tyrach to lead the Pecheneg, but instead rebelled and was defeated at a decisive battle at Adrianople in 1050 where he presumably died.
Aaron was a younger son of the last Tsar of the First Bulgarian Empire, Ivan Vladislav. After the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria he entered Byzantine service along with his brothers, and held a series of higher military commands in the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire during the 1040s and 1050s, rising from patrikios to protoproedros in the process. In this capacity, he fought in the first battles against the invading Seljuq Turks, as well as, unsuccessfully, against the uprising in 1057 of his brother-in-law Isaac I Komnenos. The Aaronios noble family was named after him, and included his descendants, as well as the descendants of his siblings.
The Battle of Zygos Pass took place between the Byzantine Empire and the Pechenegs. To combat the Pecheneg revolt, Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX sent an army under the command of Basil the Synkellos, Nikephoros Botaneiates, and the Doux of Bulgaria, to guard the Danube. Whilst marching to their station, the Pechenegs ambushed and destroyed the Byzantine army. Surviving troops, led by Nikephoros, escaped. They traveled for 12 days to Adrianople, while under constant Pecheneg attacks. Botaneiates first gained notoriety after his actions during the battle. Resulting in a promotion to magistros. As a consequence of the Byzantine defeat at this battle, Emperor Constantine IX was forced to sue for peace.
References
- 1 2 3 Kaldellis 2017, p. 199.
- ↑ Wortley 2010, pp. 438–439.
- ↑ Kaldellis & Krallis 2012, pp. 59, 61.
- 1 2 3 Kaldellis 2017, p. 200.