Phostis Apokavkos

Phostis Apokavkos was a farmer from Raban province in the Empire of Videssos, and a member of the provincial militia. The militia farmers had to be ready to be called to war, but were exempt from paying taxes. Apokavkos' fortunes took a turn for the worse when his liege lord Phostis Mankaphas (for whom the farmer was named, ironically) rebelled against the Avtokrator Strobilos Sphrantzes. The rebellion failed and the Mankaphas estates were broken up, the militia was abolished, and the farmers' tax-exempt status ended. Unable to pay the excessive rates, Apokavkos left for Videssos the city. Knowing only the trades of farming and fighting, and too proud to be a beggar, Apokavkos began to support himself by thievery. On one occasion, he picked the pocket of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, the leader of the newly arrived "Ronam" mercenaries of Videssos.