Siege of Sozopolis

The siege of Sozopolis saw the Byzantine conquest of the Seljuk Turk-held town of Sozopolis in 1120, improving Byzantine communications with the city of Attaleia.

After re-conquering the city of Laodicea from a Seljuk Turkish garrison of 700 men in 1119, the Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos continued his campaigns against the Turks in 1120 after a brief stay in Constantinople.^[1] The 1120 campaign target was the town of Sozopolis in Pisidia, which controlled the lines of communication to Attaleia.^[2]

Sozopolis was protected by an armed garrison and steep hills.^[1][2] A large-scale siege attack was thus impossible.^[2] The town could only be attacked by small forces.^[2] John was initially at a loss how to proceed but later came up with a plan.^[1][2] He ordered a force of missile-armed cavalry under Paktiarios and Dekanos to attack the town gates and shoot at the Turkish soldiers manning the walls.^[1][2] The Turks took the bait and poured out of the gate.^[1] The Byzantine force then executed a planned retreat, drawing the Turks far out beyond the town.^[1][2] The rest of the Byzantine army had lain hidden in the thick undergrowth and assaulted the undefended town after the Turks had passed them.^[1] The fleeing Byzantines turned about and faced the pursuing Turks.^[1][2] The Turks were trapped between the Byzantine cavalry to their front and the army to their back and were largely killed or captured, with a handful making it out of the encirclement.^[1]

Next, the fortress of Hierakokoryphitis capitulated to John without a fight, along with many other towns and fortifications near Attaleia, after which John returned to Constantinople.^[3]

The combat at Sozopolis demonstrated the discipline of the Byzantine troops, who could feign flight without panicking.^[2] The Byzantine cavalry could fight effectively with both missile and close-combat weapons.^[2] John showed himself a competent general, carrying out a complex tactical maneuver at the very beginning of his reign.^[4]