Editing Romanos IV Diogenes (section)

==Affairs at Constantinople==
Romanos was detained at Constantinople<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 345"/> in 1070, while he dealt with many outstanding administrative issues, including the imminent fall of [[Bari]] into [[Norman people|Norman]] hands. They had been besieging it since 1068, but it had taken Romanos two years to respond.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 45">Finlay 1854, p. 45</ref>  He ordered a relief fleet to set sail, containing sufficient provisions and troops to enable them to hold out for much longer. The fleet was intercepted, however, and defeated by a Norman squadron under the command of [[Roger I of Sicily|Roger]], the younger brother of [[Robert Guiscard]],<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 45"/> forcing the final remaining outpost of Byzantine authority in Italy to surrender on 15 April 1071.<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 355">Norwich 1993, p. 355</ref>

Meanwhile, Romanos was undertaking a number of unpopular reforms at home.<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 345"/>  He reduced a great deal of unnecessary public expenditure on court ceremonials and beautifying the capital.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 42">Finlay 1854, p. 42</ref>  He reduced the public salaries paid to much of the court nobility, as well as reducing the profits of tradesmen. His preoccupation with the military had also made him unpopular with the provincial governors and the military hierarchy, as he was determined to ensure they could not abuse their positions, especially through corrupt practices.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 42">Finlay 1854, p. 42</ref>  He incurred the displeasure of the mercenaries by enforcing much needed discipline. Romanos was also deeply unpopular with the common people, as he neglected to entertain them with games at the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|hippodrome]], nor did he alleviate the burdens of the peasants in the provinces.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 42">Finlay 1854, p. 42</ref>

Nevertheless, he did not forget his principal target, the Turks. Being unable to go on campaign himself,<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 345"/> he entrusted the imperial army to one of his generals, [[Manuel Komnenos (kouropalates)|Manuel Komnenos]], nephew of the former emperor [[Isaac&nbsp;I]], and elder brother to the future emperor [[Alexios I Komnenos|Alexios]].<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 36">Finlay 1854, p. 36</ref> He managed to engage the Turks in battle, but was defeated and taken prisoner by a Turkish general named [[Khroudj]]. Manuel convinced Khroudj to go to Constantinople and see Romanos in person to conclude an alliance, which was soon completed.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 36"/> This act motivated the Seljuk Sultan [[Alp Arslan]] to attack the Byzantine Empire, besieging and capturing the important Byzantine fortresses of [[Manzikert]] and [[Erciş|Archesh]].<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 347">Norwich 1993, p. 347</ref>  Romanos, in return, offered to officially exchange Manzikert and Archesh for [[Hierapolis Bambyce|Hieropolis]] in [[Syria]], which Romanos had taken three years previously.<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 347"/>