Leontios was born in
Isauria. A professional soldier from an early age, he rose swiftly through the ranks and was appointed
strategos (military governor) of the Anatolic
theme during the reign of Emperor
Constantine IV.
In
686 Leontios was chosen by
Justinian II to lead the Byzantine army against the
Arabs in
Georgia and
Armenia. Ruthless even by the standards of the day, Leontios carried the war further into
Azerbaijan and
Albania. His successes eventually forced the negotiation of a treaty between Byzantium and the Arabic
Caliph Abd al-Malik with substantial Arabic concessions and tributes to the Byzantine Emperor.
Leontios was less successful when war against the Arabs was renewed in
692. Leading a substantial Byzantine army, he was defeated at the
Battle of Sebastopolis when a large
Slavic contingent deserted and left his remaining forces exposed. Furious at the loss of the army, the Emperor Justinian imprisoned Leontius for two years.