Andravida during William's absence had been left…
1262 CE
Andravida during William's absence had been left in the charge of John of Katavas, a man known for his bravery but now old and suffering from gout.
The general outline of the subsequent events is confirmed from the report of the Venetian historian Marino Sanudo, but the only detailed account available is the narrative of the Chronicle of the Morea, whose accuracy has been questioned.
According to the Chronicle, upon learning of the approach of the imperial army, Katavas takes the three hundred or three hundred and twelve men available and marches out to meet the imperial forces, whose numbers are variously given in the Chronicle as fifteen, eighteen, or twenty thousand.
It is certain that these figures are greatly inflated, and the imperial army must have numbered a few thousand at most.
Either way, it considerably outnumbers the Latin force.
The Greeks are confident of their own strength, and are reportedly dancing and singing.
At a narrow defile at Prinitza (near Ancient Olympia), Katavas attacks the imperial army and inflicts a resounding defeat upon it: many soldiers in the service of the Empire are killed, while the remainder scatter and seek refuge in the surrounding woods.
The sebastokrator Constantine himself barely escapes with his life, and flees with the remainder of his troops to the safety of Mystras.
Katavas, having won a major victory, prudently refuses to pursue the survivors and returns to Andravida.