The Battle of Kapetron (1048)

In 1048 Ibrahim Inal, Tughril Beg's half-brother, led a large force into Byzantine Armenia. Byzantium's local troops had been disbanded and part of its professional army sent to the Balkans, so Emperor Constantine IX ordered his generals to wait and to ask the Georgian ruler Liparit for help.

The delay let the Seljuks range widely, and the rich trading town of Artze was sacked. When the Georgians arrived, the allies gave battle on the plain of Kapetron, today's Pasinler (Hasankale). In a night battle the Byzantine wings drove the Seljuks back, but in the centre Ibrahim Inal captured Liparit.

Ibrahim Inal returned to the Seljuk capital Rayy with great plunder. Embassies were exchanged, Liparit was released, and diplomatic relations between the Seljuk and Byzantine courts began. Kapetron was the first major sign that the road to Anatolia was opening for the Seljuks; Manzikert came 23 years later.