Andronikos was the son of the pansebastos sebastos Isaac Kontostephanos,[1] who served for most of the reign of Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118), culminating in his unsuccessful service as admiral (thalassokrator) against the Normans in 1107/8.
[6] Amdronikos began his service as a military officer under Alexios I's son and successor, John II Komnenos (r. 1118–43).
In 1144, he commanded the campaign against Raymond of Antioch alongside his brother John, the general Prosouch, and the admiral Demetrios Branas, who led the fleet.
The Byzantines rapidly recaptured the Cilician fortresses taken by Raymond, and advanced to the very outskirts of Antioch itself, which they plundered.
The latter withdrew quickly behind the walls of Antioch, and Raymond managed to return to his city only after nightfall.