'' Katakalon Kekaumenos was born in
Koloneia, and although apparently a member of the noble
Katakalon family, according to
John Skylitzes he was not of aristocratic origin. He first distinguished himself in the
Sicilian campaign of
George Maniakes. There, Kekaumenos, with the rank of
protospatharios, commanded a contingent from the
Armeniac Theme and led the successful defence of
Messina against an
Arab attack in 1040. In 1042, Emperor
Michael V (r. 1041–1042) charged him with quelling an uprising in
Constantinople. In the next year, he defeated the
Rus' raid against the imperial capital, and was named
vestes and
archon of the
Danubian cities. In the late 1040s, he had been promoted to the post of
stratelates of the East. In 1049 he participated in the campaign against the
Pechenegs, who
had revolted against the emperor, as second-in-command to the militarily inexperienced
rhaiktor Nikephoros. During this campaign, he was seriously injured. In circa 1055, he was raised to
magistros and appointed to the prestigious and powerful post of
doux of Antioch. In turn, Kekaumenos actively supported the uprising of Isaac Komnenos in 1057, and was rewarded with the title of
kouropalates. ==Portrayal in the sources and literary activity==