when heraclius died on 111 february 641, he declared in his will that constantine iii and heraklonas would co-rule the empire under the regency of martina. the byzantine senate accepted constantine iii and heraklonas as co-emperors, but rejected martina as empress-regent. on april 20/24 or may 26 641, constantine died of an advanced case of tuberculosis, although some supporters of constantine alleged that martina had him poisoned, leaving heraklonas as the sole ruler. under the regency of martina. in august 641, valentinus, a general who had been loyal to constantine before his death, led his troops to chalcedon to force martina to elevate constans ii to co-emperor. a mob rose up in the city, demanding that pyrrhus must crown constans ii as emperor, and then abdicate, to be replaced by his steward paul ii. martina, now in a truly desperate situation, offered the military further donatives, recalled philagrius from africa, and offered valentinus the title of count of the excubitors.