eugyppius

In early Byzantium, the two rival clubs (or demes) are the Blues and the Greens. As soon as Justinian is deposed, the Blues rise up and install the genreal Leontius as emperor in his place.

Leontius rules for three years. Barely has he taken control than Carthage finally falls to the Arabs. Leontius tries to retake it in 697, and succeeds! But his forces are repulsed by the Arabs again in 698, and this time the loss is permanent.

It only deepens the political chaos of the eastern empire. The soldiers involved in the failed effort to retake Carthage mutiny. They declare their commander, Apsimar, emperor.

The fleet then sails back to Constantinople to oust Leontius and install Apsimar. (In the meantime, Apsimar has decided he would like to be called Tiberius, a name associated with the Heraclius dynasty.)

Leontius, you'll remember, was the imperial candidate favoured by the Blues. The Greens, it seems, support Tiberius Apsimar. Eventually Tiberius manages to break into the city. He has Leontius mutilated and sent to a monastery.

After many BAP-worthy adventures in exile, Justinian II suddenly bursts back onto the scene in AD 705. Apparently his nose and tongue have healed, or nobody cares about that anymore. He's made friends with the Bulgar Khan, a man named Trevel.

And he's at the head of a substantial army composed of Bulgars and Slavs. It's now "Tiberius" Apsimar's turn to be deposed. He seals up Constantinople, but Justinian and a few frens creep in through an aqueduct.