Editing 1264 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; [[Battle of Makryplagi]]: [[Constantine Palaiologos (half-brother of Michael VIII)]] resumes operations against the [[Principality of Achaea]]. He advances up in northern [[Elis]], and sets up his camp at a location called "St. Nicholas of Mesiskli". Prince [[William of Villehardouin]] with his own troops marches to meet him and arrays his men ready for battle. The Byzantine vanguard under [[Michael Kantakouzenos (died 1264)|Michael Kantakouzenos]], ride forth from the Byzantine lines, but the force is ambushed and Michael is killed by the Achaeans. Constantine retreats and goes on to lay siege to the fortress of [[Tegea|Nikli]]. There, Turkish mercenaries (some 1,000 horsemen), confront him and demand that he pay them their arrears of 6 months. Constantine refuses, whereupon the Turkish troops desert to William. He decides to raise the siege and departs for [[Constantinople]]. He leaves [[Alexios Philes]] with a force and marches towards [[Messenia]], where he occupies the passes, situated near [[Gardiki Castle, Arcadia|Gardiki Castle]]. William, reinforced by the Turkish contingent, marches to Messenia to attack the Byzantines, despite their holding strong positions on the high ground. The first two attacks are beaten off, but during the third attack, the Byzantines flee in panic. Alexios, along with many Greek nobles, is captured.<ref>Bartusis, Mark C. (1997). ''The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society, 1204–1453'', p. 50. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. {{ISBN|0-8122-1620-2}}.</ref>