Abaskiron Abaskiron ( ) was a Byzantine topoteretes and / or tribune , active in the Diocese of Egypt during the 6th century . He and his family rebelled against the Byzantine emperor Maurice ( r . 582 – 602 ) . The main source about him is John of Nikiû . Biography . Abaskiron was reportedly a native of Aykilah ( Zawiya ) , a town in the vicinity of Alexandria in Egypt . He was born to a wealthy family , the eldest of three brothers . His younger brothers were Menas and Iacobus ( Jacob , James ) . He also had a son , Isaac . Abaskiron is first mentioned as a scribe . He might have been a scholastic ( schoolman ) and / or grammarian . John , the praefectus augustalis ( Augustal Prefect , governor of Egypt ) appointed Abaskiron , Menas , Iacobus and Isaac as overseers over areas of Egypt . They used their position to perform unauthorized attacks on the local representatives of the Blue faction of Chariot racing , going as far as sacking the towns of Bana and Bousir . They set fire on the Thermae of Bousir . The local prefect of Bousir managed to escape to Constantinople , reporting the situation to Emperor Maurice ( r . 582 – 602 ) . Maurice directed John to dismiss Abaskiron and his family from service . They reacted by openly rebelling against Maurice . They led armed followers in seizing the grain ships heading to Alexandria , resulting in a famine within the capital of Egypt . The population of Alexandria rose against John , blaming him for the famine . His life was reportedly rescued by loyal members of the Coptic Church . John was briefly replaced by Paul , but then was reinstated and tasked with ending the rebellion . The activities of the rebels extended throughout Egypt . They continued to seize grain ships and confiscate imperial revenues with Isaac managing to form a naval fleet and raid Cyprus . His ships patrolled the Egyptian coast and attacked all ships still in imperial service . Eulogius of Alexandria ( term 581 - 607 ) was send to negotiate with the insurgents , to no real effect . John finally moved against them , alongside the general Theodore . By then , Abaskiron and his family controlled most of Lower Egypt . Theodore deduced that supporters of the rebellion were partly motivated by the recent arrest and imprisonment of two highly respected figures : Cosmas , son of Samuel and Banon , son of Ammon . He arranged for the release of the duo . Cosmas and Banon joined the Byzantine army in search of the Egyptian insurgents . The rival forces set camp on opposing sides of the Nile River . According to historian Edith L . Butcher , Cosmas and Banon " addressed the insurgents from across the river , entreating them to return to their allegiance , assuring them that the Roman Empire was not yet enfeebled or conquered , and that their ultimate success was impossible . " This encouraged many of Abaskiron ' s supporters to defect towards Theodore ' s camp . Butcher also states that : " The three brothers were left alone with their immediate adherents , but they boldly endeavoured to stand their ground , and met the attack of the Byzantine army with desperate courage . They fought till night fell , and then fled from the field to Abu San . " When Theodore managed to set fire to the rebel camp , more of Abaskiron ' s followers deserted . " Here [ in Abu San ] they made a brief halt , but with daylight discovered that they were pursued by the Byzantine army . The gallant little band retreated fighting towards Alexandria , but they were at length overpowered , and all three brothers , with Isaac , were taken prisoners " . After being captured , Abaskiron and his brothers " were placed on camels and paraded about the streets of Alexandria , that all men might know the revolt had come to an end . Then they were thrown into prison ; but the prefect , John , stood their friend as much as he dared , and no further steps were taken against them till long afterwards , by a new prefect , who succeeded John . " They were eventually executed under the orders of Constantine . " This man cut off the heads of the three brothers , and sent Isaac into exile . The same prefect , probably acting under orders from the Emperor , who had evidently , neither forgotten nor forgiven the revolt , though he had not dared to use harshness at the time , confiscated the goods of the chief men who had taken part in it , and delivered the towns of Aykelah and Abu San to the flames . "