ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə ðə bˈɪzɐntˌiːn hɪstˈoːɹiən nˈaɪktəz tʃˈoʊnɪˌeɪts, kˈɑːnɹæd bˈɛnɪfˌɪɾᵻd fɹʌmðə faɪnˈænʃəl səpˈoːɹt ʌvðɪ ˈɛmpɚɹɚ mænwˈɛl aɪ kəmnˈiːnoʊz ænd wʌz pɹɪpˈɛɹd tə sˈɛnd hɪz kˈæptɪv tə kˌɑːnstɐntɪnˈoʊpəl æz ɐ hˈɑːstɪdʒ, bˌʌt mænwˈɛl fˈaɪnəli ɹᵻfjˈuːzd ðə sədʒˈɛstʃən.
According to the Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates, Conrad benefited from the financial support of the Emperor Manuel I Komnenos and was prepared to send his captive to Constantinople as a hostage, but Manuel finally refused the suggestion.