against the border of the Byzantine empire to proceed without reprisal, and instead focused upon consolidation. Very little is known of his domestic policy, except that he had the port of Neorion in Constantinople cleared, which allegedly led to a four-month outbreak of plague. The Umayyads, emboldened by Leontius perceived weakness, invaded the Exarchate of Africa in 696, capturing Carthage in 697. Leontius sent the patrikios John to retake the city. John was able to seize Carthage after a surprise attack on its harbor. However, Umayyad reinforcements soon retook the city, forcing John to retreat to Crete and regroup. A group of officers, fearing the Emperor's punishment for their failure, revolted and proclaimed Apsimar, a droungarios (mid-level commander) of the Cibyrrhaeots, emperor. Apsimar took the regnal name Tiberius, gathered a fleet and allied himself with the Green faction, before sailing for Constantinople, which was enduring the bubonic plague. After several months of siege, the city surrendered to Tiberius, in 698. Tiberius captured Leontius, and had his nose slit before imprisoning him in the Monastery of Dalmatou. Leontius stayed in the monastery under guard until Justinian retook the throne with the assistance of the Bulgar king Tervel in 705. Justinian then had both Leontius and Tiberius dragged to the Hippodrome and publicly humiliated, before being taken away and beheaded. The execution took place on 15 February 706 according to the Chronicon Altinate. The body of Leontius was thrown into the sea alongside Tiberius, but was later recovered and buried in a church on the island of Prote. See also List of Byzantine emperors Notes References Citations Bibliography Web sources External links 7th-century Byzantine emperors 660s births 706 deaths Executed Byzantine people 8th-century executions by the Byzantine Empire Byzantine prisoners and detainees Twenty Years' Anarchy 8th-century Byzantine people 690s in the Byzantine Empire 700s in the Byzantine Empire Byzantine governors of Hellas Governors of the Anatolic Theme Patricii Executed monarchs People executed by decapitation