Editing Phocas (section)

===Usurpation===
In autumn 602, the Thracian army rebelled against Maurice, largely due to exhaustion and outrage over orders to continue campaigning north of the [[Danube]] in winter, as well as previous cuts in wages. The army initially sent a delegation, which included Phocas, to general [[Peter (curopalates)|Peter]] and demanded a dismissal within the Roman borders. But when Maurice reiterated his command, the troops made Phocas their leader and marched to Constantinople. They insisted that Maurice abdicate and offered to proclaim as successors [[Theodosius (son of Maurice)|Theodosius]], son of Maurice, or his father-in-law [[Germanus (patricius)|Germanus]]. As Maurice tried to arrest Germanus, riots broke out in Constantinople. That night, on 22 November 602, Maurice and his family fled on a warship to [[Bithynia]], sending Theodosius on a mission to ask for Persian King [[Khusrow II]]'s help. According to [[Theophylact Simocatta]] ({{circa|630}}), Germanus initially made an attempt for the throne, but when rebuffed by the Green [[Chariot racing#Byzantine racing faction|circus faction]], he paid homage to Phocas, who had emerged as the heavy favorite.{{sfn|Whitby|Whitby|1986|pp=218–224}}{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2021|pp=16–18}}

On 23 November 602, Phocas was crowned by the patriarch [[Cyriacus II of Constantinople|Cyriacus]] in the church of [[St John the Baptist]] at the [[Bakırköy#History|Hebdomon]]. He entered Constantinople in a [[Adventus (ceremony)|ceremonial procession]] two days later, on 25 November, while being unanimously acclaimed.<ref>''[[Chronicon Paschale]]'' [[iarchive:chronicon-p/page/142/mode/1up|602.]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Phocas {{!}} Emperor, Biography, History, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phocas|access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

Maurice and his sons were soon captured and executed. There were, however, stories that Theodosius [[Theodosius (son of Maurice)#Theory of survival and pseudo-Theodosius|managed to escape]] to Persia. Maurice's wife [[Constantina (empress)|Constantina]] and daughters were put in the monastery of Nea Metanoia. They were executed around 605, when Constantina and Germanus were found conspiring after hearing rumors of Theodosius' survival.{{sfn|Garland|1999}}