Battle of Levounion

Timeline

1. 1091Plain of Levounion · ThraceAlexios I concealed the Byzantine main force and Cuman cavalry behind the hills of Levounion, using feigned maneuvers to draw the Pecheneg camp away from its defensive position into the open plain, setting up an encirclement and annihilation.
2. 1091Levounion · ThraceThe Varangian Guard struck the Pecheneg camp head-on while Cuman cavalry outflanked them and Byzantine heavy cavalry and archers pressed the attack; the Pecheneg army was encircled on the plain and shattered after a devastating blow.
3. 1091–1092Thrace · ThraceThe empire carried out mass executions of Pecheneg captives and drove the remnant tribes out of the Balkans. The victory freed Alexios to address the threat in Asia Minor and prepare diplomatic contacts with the crusaders.