He recruited the majority of its members from among the sturdy and warlike Isaurians.

Isaurians are tough as nails.

Isaurians were not much better than barbarians; Arabs might or might not be, depending on where they came from.

Belisarius took advantage of it and brought the 3,000 Isaurians, who had landed at Ostia, along with a large amount of supplies, safely to Rome.

Longinus was one of several Isaurians who occupied offices in the imperial civil and military administration, especially under emperor Zeno, who was an Isaurian himself.

In the same year, anti-Isaurian riots broke out in the Hippodrome, and Anastasius exiled Longinus and several other Isaurians, including general Longinus of Cardala.