Queen Tamar's attitude towards the emperors of Byzantine, ruled by Angelos, were somewhat hostile; closely related to the Komnenoi,[1][2] she could not forget that the last Komnenos emperor of Byzantine Andronikos I Komnenos was dethroned and killed by the Angelos in 1185, while his son Manuel was blinded and may have died from this mutilation.

[3] A Georgian army under the command of Alexios and David Komnenos attacked Byzantine from the east in late March or early April 1204.

The local commander doux Nikephoros Palaiologos, did not put up an effective defence against the more powerful Georgian force.

According to Georgian sources, newly incorporated territories were given to Alexios and David Komnenos, where they established a pro-Georgian state that would be known as Empire of Trebizond.

[6] The following year, David Komnenos commanded the Georgian troops in a successful campaign that resulted in the conquest of territory between Trebizond and Heraclea Pontica, namely of: Oinaion, Limnia, Amisos, Sinope, Cerasus, Cotyora, Amastria, Heraclea and all the lands of Paphlagonia and Pontus.