Later, Phocas was overthrown by the son of the then Exarch of Carthage, Heraclius.[3] Heraclius started active warfare and personally lead his army into the battle, but the situation deteriorated and the Byzantine empire lost all its Near East possessions along Egypt. Despite several counter-offensives into Mesopotamia, Heraclius was unable to stop his Persian enemies from laying siege to his capital where from Chalcedon they were able to launch their attack. From 14–15 May 626, riots in Constantinople against John Seismos occurred because he wanted to cancel the bread rations of the scholae or imperial guards and raise the cost of bread from 3 to 8 follis.