On Sicily, the Saracen Apochaps and his brother Apolaphar Mouchoumet strove for mastery. The former made an alliance with the African Oumer and the latter with the Roman Leon Opos, whose Longobard troops defeated Oumer. When Maniakes approached Sicily, the two brothers put their differences aside to oppose him. Upon this, Leon retreated, leaving Oumer free to ravage the island. Maniakes later defeated the brothers' armies