Editing Romanos IV Diogenes (section)

===Campaign of 1069===
[[File:Romanus IV.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Copper ''[[follis]]'' of Romanos&nbsp;IV. The obverse shows [[Christ Pantokrator]], while the reverse depicts a cross quartered with the letters ϹΒΡΔ for the motto {{lang|grc|Σταυρὲ σου βοήθει Ρωμανόν δεσπότην}} ("Thy Cross aid the Lord Romanos").<ref>Soloviev 1935, pp. 156–158</ref>]]
Plans for the following year's campaigning were initially thrown into chaos by a rebellion by one of Romanos' [[Norman people|Norman]] [[mercenaries]], [[Robert Crispin]], who led a contingent of Frankish troops in the pay of the empire. Possibly due to Romanos not paying them on time,<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35">Finlay 1854, p. 35</ref> they began plundering the countryside near where they were stationed at [[Edessa]], and attacking the imperial tax collectors. Although Crispin was captured and exiled to [[Abydos (Hellespont)|Abydos]], the Franks continued to ravage the [[Armeniac Theme]] for some time.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/>  In the meantime, the land around Caesarea was again overrun by the Turks, forcing Romanos to spend precious time and energy in expelling the Turks from Cappadocia.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/> Desperate to begin his campaign proper, he ordered the execution of all prisoners, even a Seljuk chieftain who offered to pay an immense ransom for his life.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/> Having brought a measure of peace to the province, Romanos marched towards the [[Euphrates]] via [[Melitene]], and crossed the river at [[Romanopolis]], hoping to take [[Akhlat]] on [[Lake Van]] and thus protect the Armenian frontier.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/>

Romanos placed himself at the head of a substantial body of troops and began his march towards Akhlat, leaving the bulk of the army under the command of [[Philaretos Brachamios]] with orders to defend the Mesopotamian frontier.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/>  Philaretos was soon defeated by the Turks, whose sack of [[Konya|Iconium]]<ref name="Kazhdan 1991, p. 1807"/> forced Romanos to abandon his plans and return to Sebaste. He sent orders to the [[Dux]] of Antioch to secure the passes at [[Mopsuestia]], while he attempted to run down the Turks at [[Heraclea Cybistra|Heracleia]].<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/>  The Turks were soon hemmed in<!--not a mistake--> in the mountains of [[Cilicia]], but they managed to escape to Aleppo after abandoning their plunder. Romanos once again returned to Constantinople without the great victory he was hoping for.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 35"/>