 Emperor Michael II caught wind of the matter and ordered that general Constantine end the marriage and cut off Euphemius' nose.Euphemius rose up, killed Constantine and then occupied Syracuse; he in turn was defeated and driven out to North Africa.There, Euphemius requested the help of Ziyadat Allah, the Aghlabid Emir of Tunisia, in regaining the island; an Islamic army of Arabs, Berbers, Cretan Saracens and Persians was sent.