From The Annals of Niketas Choniates

Expatiating on the former tome, he resorted to discrepant elaboration and rhetorical embellishments which he then epitomized, and thus once again making the doctrine enticing, he publicly posted a second tome. since he happened to be residing then in Damalis at the palace complex called Skoutarion to benefit from its mild climate and gain relief from the crowds of people while receiving thorough medical care, by imperial command the assembly of bishops and all those who were honored because of their learning sailed thither.

Once the affairs of the palace were being managed by Andronikos's sons and supporters according to his will and pleasure, he finally departed from Damalis [April 1182]. As he was crossing over the straits, he cheerfully recited under his breath the verse from David, “Return to thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee. For he has delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.”

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From The Alexiad by Anna Komnene: on the rebellion of Nikephoros Melissenos in 1080

While these events occurred, a rumour spread that Melissenos was near Damalis with a strong force, already proclaimed emperor and clothed in the purple. At the time the Komnenoi were not inclined to believe it, but Melissenos who had heard of their activities quickly sent ambassadors to them with letters. The envoys arrived and handed them over. They read something like this: “God has brought me safe and unharmed with my army as far as Damalis…”

Botaneiates realized that the rebel army of the Komnenoi was very numerous, extremely diverse, and was already closing in on the gates of the city; he was also aware that Nikephoros Melissenos was near Damalis with an army no less powerful and with equal pretensions to the throne. His position was desperate. It was impossible to resist on two fronts. Botaneiates’ spirit had been chilled by old age; however brave he had been in his youth, he only breathed freely now as long as the walls protected him, and he was becoming more and more frightened, thinking seriously about abdicating. This terrified all his supporters and threw them into a state of confusion. Everything pointed to a total collapse.

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On the raids of the forces of Solymas [Sulayman ibn Qutlumush]

As my account has already explained, the godless Turks were in sight, living in the Propontis area, and Solymas, who commanded all the east, was actually encamped in the vicinity of Nicaea. (His sultanate was located there, though we would call it his palace.) The whole countryside of Bithynia and Thynia was unceasingly exposed to Solymas’ foragers; marauding parties on horseback and on foot were raiding as far as the town now called Damalis on the Bosphorus itself; they carried off much booty and all but tried to leap over the very sea. The Byzantines saw them living absolutely unafraid and unmolested in the little villages on the coast and in sacred buildings. The sight filled them with horror. They had no idea what to do.

The emperor, aware of this, found it hard to decide what plan to adopt. However, after considering many schemes, with frequent changes and experiments, he chose the best and as far as he could, put it into practice. He appointed commanders of units of ten men from the men who had been hurriedly conscripted – Romans and some recruits who came originally from Khoma – and made them embark on small ships, the lightly armed holding bows and shields only, the others who were able-bodied equipped with helmets, shields and spears. They were ordered to make their way secretly at night round the headlands offshore and then, if they were sure the enemy did not greatly outnumber them, to leap from their ships and raid the Turks; they were then to re-embark and return to base at once. These men, he knew, were absolutely ignorant of warfare, so he warned them to instruct their rowers to make no noise with their oars; they were told, too, to beware of barbarians lurking in rocky inlets.

…By various means he had driven the Turks from Damalis and the coastal districts near it; at the same time he had won their friendship with gifts; he had forced them to accept a treaty of peace. He set the frontier with them at the River Drakon, and made them promise never to cross over it and to stop with immediate effect any incursion into Bithynia.

From The History of John Kinnamos

When Conrad heard this and learned simultaneously what late misfortune had befallen the Germans, he boarded a wretched skiff which was pulled up someplace on the seashore there, crossed the strait of Damalis, and quickly reached the opposite shore, because a certain barbaric heedlessness drove the man. For in prosperity the barbarian is likely to be exalted and boast beyond measure, but in disaster he is downcast more than is suitable and is immoderately humbled. As the emperor was minded to humiliate him still further, he acted as follows. Sending some Romans to the rear of the Germans’ army, he corrupted with money some, reputed innumerable, to withhold their allegiance to Conrad.

So matters went there. When the Sicilian fleet came grips with Chouroup, most of it was overcome, but forty of their ships avoided peril and reached Byzantion. After they had come to land there, they achieved nothing worthy of account. When they had striven to set fire to the wharves around the region of Damalis across [from Constantinople], they shamefully departed, having lost many of their own men. Nor did those who fled danger entirely escape. For encountering the ships which convoyed the public revenue from Crete, many of them became the spoil of battle.