Career
Kontostephanos first appears in 1080, during the imperial campaign against the rebel Nikephoros Melissenos. He is next attested, holding the rank of protonobelissimos, at the 1094 synod of Blachernae. By 1105, Kontostephanos had become a senior admiral (doux) in the Byzantine fleet.
With the anticipated Norman invasion of Bohemond drawing near, Kontostephanos was named megas doux (commander-in-chief of the imperial fleet), succeeding Landulf, and sent to Dyrrhachium to intercept lieutenant
Although his forces could have taken the city by storm, Kontostephanos allowed himself to be involved in negotiations with Emma, which she dragged on until Norman reinforcements arrived. Defeated in battle by the newly arrived Norman troops, Kontostephanos and his fleet were forced to withdraw to the Albanian coast.
Making Aulon his base, he began patrolling the Strait of Otranto. At the news that Bohemond"s army was preparing to cross the sea, however, most of the army panicked and fled to Himara, while Kontostephanos was unable to reimpose order.
After Bohemond"s successful landing, the Byzantine emperor charged Kontostephanos with intercepting the Norman supply convoys, but here too he failed.
After receiving letters from Landulf detailing Kontostephanos"s incompetence, Alexios finally dismissed him in summer 1108 and replaced him with Marianos Maurokatakalon.
