Foreign and military affairs thumb|right|Histamenon of Michael IV. In terms of military affairs, Michael's reign began poorly. The Arabs sacked Myra, the Serbs threw off Byzantine authority and the Pechenegs raided almost at will up to the gates of Thessalonica. The situation was soon stabilised: on the eastern frontier, Arab pirates were either captured or killed; the Byzantines captured the Muslim fortress of Perkri, on the eastern shore of Lake Van; Edessa was relieved after a long siege and eventually ceded to the empire in 1037.Treadgold, pg. 586–87Finlay, pg. 486 thumb|The Byzantine army under George Maniakes lands in Sicily and defeats the Arabs. On the western front, Michael and John ordered the general George Maniakes to conquer the Emirate of Sicily. In 1038 Maniakes landed in southern Italy and soon captured Messina. He then defeated the scattered Arab forces and captured towns in the west and south of the island. By 1040 he had stormed and taken Syracuse. He almost succeeded in driving the Arabs from the island, but Maniakes then fell out with his Lombard allies, while his Norman mercenaries, unhappy with their pay, abandoned the Byzantine general and raised a revolt on the Italian mainland, resulting in the temporary loss of Bari. Maniakes was about to strike against them when he was recalled by John the Eunuch on suspicion of conspiracy.Treadgold, pg. 588 After Maniakes's recall, most of the Sicilian conquests were lost and an expedition against the Normans suffered several defeats, although Bari was eventually recaptured.Treadgold, pg. 587–89Norwich, pg. 285–86 thumb|Peter Delyan is proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria. In the north, Pecheneg pressure had initially forced the Serbs to seek the protection of the Byzantine Empire and acknowledge Byzantine authority. In 1040 the Serbs again revolted, as did the Bulgarians. This uprising was partly caused by the heavy taxation in coin (and not, as before, in kind) imposed on Bulgaria by John's policies. It also aimed at the restoration of the Bulgarian state under the leadership of Peter Delyan. The rebels seized Belgrade, proclaimed Delyan Emperor of Bulgaria and then quickly took Scupi. Michael IV made things worse by removing from command the doux of Dyrrhachium, who had been marching against Peter Delyan, accusing him of a conspiracy. His troops, largely Bulgarian, joined the revolt and Delyan laid siege to Thessalonica. Dyrrhachium had been lost and Delyan defeated the Strategos of Hellas. Most of the theme of Nicopolis had risen up against Michael, disgusted with the greed of John the Eunuch.Treadgold, pg. 587–89Finlay, pg. 490–91 thumb|The Bulgarian rebels under Alusian are defeated at the 2nd battle of Thessalonica. At this point, Michael's epilepsy left him half paralysed and he developed a severe case of dropsy, which caused his legs to become gangrenous. When he announced that he intended to lead the imperial army against the Bulgarians, his advisors were aghast. In 1041 Michael set off towards Macedonia with an army of 40,000 men, assisted by Norse mercenaries, including the future King Harald III of Norway. Gathering his forces at Mosynopolis the Emperor waited for the Bulgarian army. The military position of the Byzantines was aided by internal dissension among the Bulgarians. Michael advanced, relieving Thessalonica then bringing the Bulgarians to battle, defeating them and capturing Delyan. Michael pushed his army aggressively into Bulgaria. The largest remaining Bulgarian contingent was at Prilapon in a fortified camp commanded by Manuel Ivats. The Byzantines stormed the camp, scattered the Bulgarians and captured Ivats. The rigours of the campaign brought Michael close to death, but he was able to return to Constantinople in triumph.Norwich, pg. 286, 289Treadgold, pg. 587 thumb|Alusian invites Peter Delyan to a banquet only to betray and blind him.
foreign and military affairs thumb|right|histamenon of michael iv in terms of military affairs michael's reign began poorly the arabs sacked myra the serbs threw off byzantine authority and the pechenegs raided almost at will up to the gates of thessalonica the situation was soon stabilised on the eastern frontier arab pirates were either captured or killed; the byzantines captured the muslim fortress of perkri on the eastern shore of lake van; edessa was relieved after a long siege and eventually ceded to the empire in 1037treadgold pg 586–87finlay pg 486 thumb|the byzantine army under george maniakes lands in sicily and defeats the arabs on the western front michael and john ordered the general george maniakes to conquer the emirate of sicily in 1038 maniakes landed in southern italy and soon captured messina he then defeated the scattered arab forces and captured towns in the west and south of the island by 1040 he had stormed and taken syracuse he almost succeeded in driving the arabs from the island but maniakes then fell out with his lombard allies while his norman mercenaries unhappy with their pay abandoned the byzantine general and raised a revolt on the italian mainland resulting in the temporary loss of bari maniakes was about to strike against them when he was recalled by john the eunuch on suspicion of conspiracytreadgold pg 588 after maniakes's recall most of the sicilian conquests were lost and an expedition against the normans suffered several defeats although bari was eventually recapturedtreadgold pg 587–89norwich pg 285–86 thumb|peter delyan is proclaimed emperor of bulgaria in the north pecheneg pressure had initially forced the serbs to seek the protection of the byzantine empire and acknowledge byzantine authority in 1040 the serbs again revolted as did the bulgarians this uprising was partly caused by the heavy taxation in coin (and not as before in kind) imposed on bulgaria by john's policies it also aimed at the restoration of the bulgarian state under the leadership of peter delyan the rebels seized belgrade proclaimed delyan emperor of bulgaria and then quickly took scupi michael iv made things worse by removing from command the doux of dyrrhachium who had been marching against peter delyan accusing him of a conspiracy his troops largely bulgarian joined the revolt and delyan laid siege to thessalonica dyrrhachium had been lost and delyan defeated the strategos of hellas most of the theme of nicopolis had risen up against michael disgusted with the greed of john the eunuchtreadgold pg 587–89finlay pg 490–91 thumb|the bulgarian rebels under alusian are defeated at the 2nd battle of thessalonica at this point michael's epilepsy left him half paralysed and he developed a severe case of dropsy which caused his legs to become gangrenous when he announced that he intended to lead the imperial army against the bulgarians his advisors were aghast in 1041 michael set off towards macedonia with an army of 40000 men assisted by norse mercenaries including the future king harald iii of norway gathering his forces at mosynopolis the emperor waited for the bulgarian army the military position of the byzantines was aided by internal dissension among the bulgarians michael advanced relieving thessalonica then bringing the bulgarians to battle defeating them and capturing delyan michael pushed his army aggressively into bulgaria the largest remaining bulgarian contingent was at prilapon in a fortified camp commanded by manuel ivats the byzantines stormed the camp scattered the bulgarians and captured ivats the rigours of the campaign brought michael close to death but he was able to return to constantinople in triumphnorwich pg 286 289treadgold pg 587 thumb|alusian invites peter delyan to a banquet only to betray and blind him