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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 8233646, member: 110226&quot;]It cannot be said, with credulity, that Phocas was a benign emperor.&nbsp; His murder of Maurice Tiberius in 602 AD was the best way to start his rule.&nbsp; A general atmosphere simmering of terror prevailed, and fear of purges put the army in a state of unrest.&nbsp; News that the Sassanian king Khosrow was planning an invasion to avenge the death of Maurice Tiberius (at least that was the excuse) set the stage for a revolt in the west, specifically northern Africa and Egypt.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is from that region, remote from Constantinople, and the main source of wheat, as it was centuries before, that Heraclius the Elder and his son imitated the revolt in 608 AD, when Heraclius the Elder declared both himself and his son consuls, thereby laying claim to the crown of the empire.&nbsp; The revolt gained widespread support throughout Egypt and the central Mediterranean.&nbsp; The forces of the rebels attacked by land and sea, from North Africa. By 610 Heraclius the Younger entered Constantinople, executed Phocas, establishing the Heraclian Dynasty.</p><p><br /></p><p>Before the execution of Phocas, he and Heraclius had this exchange:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Is it thus,” asked Heraclius, “that you have governed the Empire?”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Will you,” replied Phocas, ”govern it any better?” (Norwich, 282)</p><p><br /></p><p>The elder Heraclius died shortly after the conclusion of the revolt, with Heraclius the Younger succeeding as emperor. In 613 his son, Heraclius Constantine, ascended to rule with his father as co-emperor.</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin that I am posting came from Harlan Berk back in the late 80&#039;s.&nbsp; It is a follis from Alexandretta, a city located in what is now southeastern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast, founded by Alexander III in 333 BC to replace the Phoenician port of Myriandus as the entry point for the Syrian Gates.</p><p><br /></p><p>Revolt of The Heraclii, AD 608-610</p><p>AE follis</p><p>Alexandretta</p><p>Obverse: OMN ERACLIO CONSULII, facing busts of Heraclius on left and his father, the Exarch Heraclius, on right, both bearded, bare-headed, and wearing consular robes, cross between their heads.</p><p>Reverse: Large M between ANNO and numerals representing the indictional year; above cross with A beneath; AΛEXANΔ in exergue.</p><p>MIB 16a. Sear 722. Berk 534. DO 16</p><p><br /></p><p>10.62 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1447955[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your coins of revolt, revolution, or anything else of a revolting nature!</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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