Toxaras was a mason in Skopentzana during the reign of Maleinos II. He was a heavyset man with a thick black beard just beginging to go grey. When the garrison of the city was recalled by Maleinos to reinforce his army during the civil war he fought with his grand domestikos Stylianos, Toxaras had the idea to form a city militia to defend it from possible attack by barbarians. He approached the city's eparch Zautzes who gave him permission to do so and appointed him its commander.