Isaac the Armenian was Exarch of Ravenna under the Emperor Heraclius from 625-637, and thereafter Western Roman Emperor in his own right until 651. Hailing from the Kamsakaran clan of Armenia, he gained a reputation for being an able general and administrator during the war with Persia, and was made Exarch in 625 to replace the upstart Eleutherius. By 651 the West was at peace and was returning to prosperity. Isaac felt secure enough to negotiate with the new Eastern Emperor, Constans II, who recognised the West's independence in return for Isaac's promise to tolerate Islam.