Gennadius, an imperial general, had assumed the…

Gennadius, an imperial general, had assumed the position of Exarch of Africa in 647 after the death of Gregory the Patrician at the hands of the Arabs.

Although the emperor had not appointed him to the position, he had managed to ensure the Arab withdrawal from Byzantine North Africa by promising them an annual tribute of three hundred and thirty thousand nomismata.

Like his predecessors, he acknowledges the authority of Constans, and transports to Constantinople the annual excess revenue raised from the province.

He nevertheless administers Africa without interference from the imperial court, supported by the African bishops who are resolutely Chalcedonian.

This situation had persisted until 663 when Constans moved the imperial court to Syracuse in Sicily, and demanded an increase in tribute from Africa.

Attempting to maintain tributary status with Constantinople and Damascus strains the resources of the Exarchate and causes unrest among the population.

Gennadius in 664 refuses to send to Constans the additional revenue the emperor demands, and expels the emperor’s representative.

This sees an uprising in Africa, where the garrison of troops joins in 665 with the local citizens, led by Eleutherios the Younger, to expel Gennadius.