In 1027 AD, the ruler of Aleppo, Salih ibn Mirdas, was able to defeat doux of Antioch, Michael Spondyles who was inexperienced in warfare.
[1][2] Al-Rawadifi also managed to convince the doux of the necessity of building the Citadel of Maniqa to increase the control of the Byzantines in the region.
The doux of Antioch was persuaded by al-Rawadifi's suggestion, and decided to build the castle from Byzantine financing, according to the historian John Skylitzes, and put 1,000 Roman soldiers to protect it.
As the construction of the fortress was completed, al-Rawadifi sent news to the judge of Tripoli and the Fatimid commander of the region to attack the Byzantine garrison.
[5] In 1031 AD, Niketas attempted to take control of Maniqa, but the army of al-Rawadifi managed to burn the siege equipment at night, forcing the Byzantines to withdraw.