Editing Manuel I Komnenos (section)

===Expedition against Konya===
In 1146 Manuel assembled his army at the military base [[Lopadion]] and set out on a [[punitive expedition]] against [[Mesud I|Mas'ud]], the Sultan of [[Sultanate of Rum|Rûm]], who had been repeatedly violating the frontiers of the Empire in western [[Anatolia]] and [[Cilicia]].<ref name="Tread640">W. Treadgold, ''A History of the Byzantine State and Society'', 640</ref> There was no attempt at a systematic conquest of territory, but Manuel's army defeated the Turks at [[Afyonkarahisar|Acroënus]], before capturing and destroying the fortified town of [[Philomelion]], removing its remaining Christian population.<ref name="Tread640"/> The Byzantine forces reached Masud's capital, [[Konya]] (Iconium), and ravaged the area around the city, but could not assault its walls. Among Manuel's motives for mounting this [[Razzia (military)|razzia]] there included a wish to be seen in the West as actively espousing the crusading ideal; [[John Kinnamos|Kinnamos]] also attributed to Manuel a desire to show off his martial prowess to his new bride.<ref>J. Cinnamus, ''Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus'', 47<br/>* P. Magdalino, ''The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos'', 42</ref> While on this campaign Manuel received a letter from [[Louis VII of France]] announcing his intention of leading an army to the relief of the crusader states.<ref>Magdalino, ''The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos'', p. 42</ref>