Theophanes also reports that he rebelled along with "some of his fellow tourmarchai", indicating a wider dissatisfaction among the provincial commanders. As Alexander Vasiliev remarked, Sicily had already shown tendencies against the imperial government before, such as the revolts of Basil Onomagoulos in 718 and Elpidius in 781–2. According to Vasiliev, the ambitious commander simply used an opportune moment, when the Byzantine government was weakened by the recent rebellion of Thomas the Slav and by its preoccupation with the contemporary Muslim conquest of Crete, to seize power.
Theophanes' report of rebellions among tourmarchai suggests widespread dissatisfaction with the imperial government in Sicily.  Vasiliev highlights previous instances of Sicilian resistance against the Byzantine government, including the revolts of Basil Onomagoulos and Elpidius. He argues that Alexander seized power by exploiting a weakened Byzantine government following the rebellion of Thomas the Slav and its focus on the Muslim conquest of Crete.