PHO'CAS, emperor of Constantinople (602-10), was a Cappadocian by birth, and was for some time groom to Priscus, one of the celebrated generals of time emperor Manricius (q.v.) His brutal courage gained him a treat reputation among the soldiers, and though only a centurion at the time of the revolt against 3fau•icius, he was elevated to the throne by the soldiers. To secure himself, be caused Manricius to be murdered, along with his five sons and his principal adherents; and then, by a treaty disgraceful to the empire, got rid of the Avers. But his troubles were just commencing, for Elitism II. (q.v.), shah of Persia, hearing of the death of his friend and benefactor, Mauricius, an event which freed him from the obligation of amity with the eastern empire, took up arms to revenge his friend's murder, and to recover for Persia all the territories previ ously under her sway. The war was fiercely carried on for 24 years, during, the first 18 of which the Persian army was uniformly successful, and the Byzantines were almost driven out of Asia. See Knusnu II. and IlErtAcmus. Phocas remained in capiial to overawe his turbulent subjects, conscious of his unfitness to command the twiny; and abandoned himself to his animal appetites, tyrannizing over the people with out the least regard to justice, and putting to death whomsoever he thought dangerous,
.smong others Natses, the celebrated gen. in the former Persian war. Constantino, the -widow of Manricius, encited against the tyrant two formidable insurrections, the latter in 607, but both were speedily quelled, and the ex-empress with her daughters were beheaded on the same spot where her husband and sons had been slain. Her principal adherents, some of whom were among the highest officers of state, suffered death under the most horrible tortures. These cruelties and the successes of the Persians had well nigh ruined Phocas's power and influence. But he gave the coup de grace to it himself by insulting his favorite and son-in-law, Crispus, who had remonstrated with him on his conduct. Crispus revenged himself by forming a conspiracy against him, e.long with Heraclius, exarch of Africa, the result of which was the overthrow of the tyrant, who was taken prisoner (Oct. 3, 610). After being insulted and tortured he was beheaded, and his body dragged through the streets by the mob.