Katakylas 1 was the commander (komes) of the Opsikion theme at the time of the rebellion of Thomas the Slav (Thomas 7); of the thematic heads in Anatolia, only he and the strategos of the Armeniakoi, Olbianos 3, remained loyal to the emperor Michael II (Michael 10): Theoph. Cont. II 11 (p. 53) (τοῦ τὸ Ὀψίκιον Κατάκυλα στρατηγοῦντος), Zon. XV 22. 35 (ἄνευ μέντοι τοῦ θέματος τοῦ Ὀψικίου, οὗ ὁ Κατάκυλας ἐστρατήγει), Genesius II 2 (Κατάκυλα τοῦ Ὀψικίου ... στρατηγοῦντος). The revolt began in 821. When Thomas 7 began to threaten Constantinople, Katakylas 1 and Olbianos 3 assembled what forces they could from Asia to defend the city: Theoph. Cont. II 14 (p. 57) (late 821). They were both present in Constantinople during the siege by Thomas 7 and led sallies against him: Theoph. Cont. II 16 (p. 64). With their own troops (μετὰ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἀκμῆτας ταγμάτων) they joined Michael 10 and his army and inflicted a decisive defeat on Thomas 7, ending the rebellion, near Constantinople: Theoph. Cont. II 18 (p. 67). He was one of the heroes of that time (along with Olbianos 3 and Christophoros 51); he was a patrikios and a cousin of Michael 10 (Κατακύλας αὐτοῦ Μιχαὴλ βασιλέως ἐξάδελφος καὶ πατρίκιος): Genesius II 3.

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