on 5 october 610, heraclius succeeded phocas as the emperor. niketas was rewarded with the social rank of patrician and the military position of "comes excubitorum", commander of the excubitors. he seems to have remained in control of egypt and took part in the defense against the invasion of khosrau ii of the sassanid empire. egypt was lost to khosrau in 618 but niketas survived. niketas was then appointed exarch of the exarchate of africa. his term started in 619 and lasted to his death in 628/629.