The Battle of Sebasteia (1070) was part of the ByzantineâÂÂSeljuk wars.
In 1070, the Byzantine emperor, Romanos IV Diogenes, appointed the Proedros, Manuel Komnenos, the nephew of the former emperor, Isaac I Komnenos, as a general to the Byzantine armies in Anatolia against the Seljuks. Initially, Manuel achieved some success, having thwarted a Seljuk attack against Iconium with a counterattack. While he was withdrawing to the city of Hierapolis, he learned that a group of Seljuks under Arisighi was raiding Byzantine territory.
Arisighi was the brother-in-law of the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan, and had openly revolted against him. Alp Arslan had defeated him and forced him to retreat with his men into Cappadocia. There, he encountered the Byzantine force led by Manuel close to the city of Sebasteia. Manuel rushed his small force to repel the Seljuks. Following an initial battle close to Sebasteia, the Turks staged a feigned retreat. After approaching the deserted enemy camp, the Byzantines were ambushed, and many of their troops were killed. Manuel Komnenos was also captured.
During his captivity, Manuel managed to convince Arisighi to join the Byzantines, which he did, as Alp Arslan had dispatched a force under Afshin to chase him. Both of them set off for Constantinople, and the Seljuk defector was honoured by the Byzantine emperor with gifts and titles. He converted to Christianity and was named Chrysoskoulos. According to Turkish researcher Selcuk Akyildiz: "This was the first time a Seljuk dignitary had sought refuge in Byzantium".
Afshin pursued Manuel and Chrysoskoulos, sacking multiple settlements along the way, but was unable to reach them. When he arrived at Chrysopolis, he demanded for Chrysoskoulos and his men to be given to him, but the Byzantines refused, causing Afshin to plunder more Byzantine lands in retaliation. Afshin eventually retreated to Khlat and informed Alp Arslan about Chrysoskoulos' defection.