 John Malalas considered Illus an uncle of Zeno.However, we first read of him in Zeno's reign, at a time during which he was hostile to Zeno.Basiliscus, brother of the dowager empress Verina, the widow of Leo, had expelled Zeno from Constantinople in 475 and sent an army in pursuit of him under Illus and his brother Trocundus into Isauria, where Zeno had taken refuge.