according to theophanes, heraclius of edessa sided with leo i against his magister militum aspar in 471. the conflict ended with the deaths of both aspar and his son ardabur by order of leo. in 474, heraclius served as "magister militum per thracias"(master of the soldiers of thrace) when he was captured in battle by theodoric strabo, a goth chieftain formerly loyal to aspar. he was executed by theodoric despite the payment of a ransom for him by zeno.