Sergius (Byzantine general)

He is first mentioned in 543 when he was appointed duke of Tripolitania (dux militis Tripolitanae provinciae) and raised to the rank of vir spectabilis; the sources state that he was still young at this time.

[1] He was visited in Leptis Magna, the seat of Tripolitania, by the Moorish tribe of the Laguatan, who sought the usual payment and assurances of peace.

[2] After his uncle's death, Sergius was appointed governor of Africa by the emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565), and he was granted civil and military powers.

[3] According to Procopius, his appointment as prefect of Africa was a disaster, as Sergius was more concerned about flaunting his money and power than actually managing the province.

In a letter to Justinian, Antalas stated that he would cease hostilities if Sergius was dismissed and another general was sent, but the emperor did not comply with the request.

According to what the sources reveal, at this point, the African army was so small that Father Paul of Hadrumetum was denied 80 men to recover his city.

Upon learning that Antalas and Stotzas were near El Kef (near the border with Numidia), Areobindus sent the aforementioned John to deal with them and wrote to Sergius requesting reinforcements.

[4] At the imperial court in Constantinople, Sergius won the appreciation of empress Theodora (r. 527–548), which freed him from any accusation of the mismanagement of Africa.