Priscus

Priscus (Priskos, Πρῖσκος, died 613) was a leading general of the Byzantine Empire during the reigns of Emperors Maurice, Phocas, and Herakleios. Priscus comes across as an effective and capable military leader, although contemporary sources are markedly biased in his favor. Under Maurice, he distinguished himself in the campaigns against the Avars and their Slavic allies in the Balkans. Absent from Constantinople at the time of Maurice's overthrow and murder by Phocas, he was one of the few of Maurice's senior aides who were able to survive unharmed into the new regime, remaining in high office and even marrying the new emperor's daughter. Priscus, however, also negotiated with and assisted Herakleios in the overthrow of Phocas, and was entrusted with command against the Persians in 611–612. After the failure of this campaign, he was dismissed and tonsured. He died shortly after.

Priscus in Thessalonica
General Priscus' need for additional troops against the Avars and Slavs siphoned off manpower from Thessalonica and other provincial Greek cities. With the departure of all professional troops to the primary theater of war, only semi-regular militias remained behind to defend the homeland.