He was the first catepan appointed after Argyros left Italy in 1058. He had been preceded in 1060 by a merarches, but the latter's offensive against the Normans had peaked before his arrival and he adopted a defensive posture.
He was the initial catepan appointed after Argyros departed Italy in 1058. He succeeded a merarches, who had initiated an aggressive campaign against the Normans before his arrival and subsequently shifted to a defensive strategy.