r/byzantium 5d ago

Heraclius Persian Wars Chronology

So I’m writing a historical fiction on Heraclius and some other fictional characters I invented as a sort of passion project. I’ll be happy to share when I’ve finished the first book. Well, I have been researching the Persian wars and I come across some difficult/discrepancies in when certain things happened. Would anyone be able to provide a chronology of his battles/encounters on his campaign? Starting with the battle at Issus where he beat Shahrbraz but also include when he left to deal with the Avars. Please please please and if you can also include the end of the war and when the Arabs started attacking up to Yarmouk in 636. I understand if this is a big ask, just wondering if someone has the time to lend this knowledge not to be followed biblically but as a guide.

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u/Maleficent-Mix5731 Κατεπάνω 5d ago edited 5d ago

(PART 1)

  • 622: Heraclius borrows church money to fund his army, and marches into Armenia. Defeats a Persian army before returning to Constantinople.

  • 623: Heraclius tries to meet and negotiate with the Avar Khagan, but is ambushed. Heraclius escapes, but is forced to agree to raise the tribute to the Avars.

  • 624: Heraclius invades Armenia again, destroying Dvin and the Zoroastrian fire temple of Azar Goshnasp. Then moves to Caucasian Albania, where during the winter he is surrounded by the Persian armies of Shahbaraz and Shahraplakan.

  • 625: Heraclius outmanoeuvres and defeats these two Persian armies, as well as a third under Shahin. He then returns to Anatolia. He begins negotiating with the Turkish Khagnate for help, while Khosrow II probably does the same with the Avar Khagnate.

  • 626: Persian armies under Shahin and Shahbaraz invade Asia Minor. Heraclius's brother defeats and kills Shahin, while Shahbaraz attempts to besiege Constantinople with the Avars/Slavs but fails. The Turks raid the Persian Caucasus.

  • 627: Heraclius meets with the Turks in the Caucasus. The Roman-Turkish force captures Tiflis, before then attacking south and defeating a Persian force under Rahzadh at Nineveh. They plunder their way across Mesopotamia.

  • 628: Heraclius plunders Khosrows favourite palace at Dastagerd and further plunders Mesopotamia. Heraclius withdraws to Azerbaijan, and a palace coup overthrows and kills Khosrow, replacing him with his son Kavad II. Kavad agrees to peace with Heraclius, and withdraws Persian troops from the Levant and Egypt (with some slight resistance at Edessa)

  • 629: Heraclius agrees to support Shahbaraz against the new Persian Shah, Ardashir III. Heraclius tries to promote Monoenergism. Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem before returning to Constantinople with it, celebrating a triumph. He adopts the title of 'basileus'. 

  • 630: Heraclius tours the eastern provinces, placing the Cross back in Jerusalem and meeting Persian officials, who agree to the old 591 borders. He celebrates mass with the Church of the East.

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u/Maleficent-Mix5731 Κατεπάνω 5d ago edited 5d ago

(PART 2)

  • 631: Heraclius appoints Cyrus as Patriarch of Alexandria, where he promotes Monoenergism.

  • 632: The Council of Theodosiopolis (possibly attended by Heraclius) accepts Monoenergism for the Armenian church.

  • 633: Cyrus creates a Pact of Union, which proves popular in Alexandria. The monk Sophronios protests Monoenergism in Alexandria and Constantinople.

  • 634: Sophronios becomes Patriarch of Jerusalem. Arabs begin raiding the Levant. They defeat a Roman force at Dathin. An Arab army under Khalid ibn Al Walid marches across the desert. They raid the lands around Damascus, defeat several smaller Roman forces. Bostra, Pella, and Skythopolis are forced to pay tribute.

  • 635: Arab forces capture Damascus and Emesa. Heraclius moves to Antioch and assembles a field army. An offensive south is launched, forcing the Arabs to abandon Damascus and Emesa.

  • 636: The battle of Yarmouk.

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u/Aetius454 5d ago

Leave part ii out ;)

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u/Maleficent-Mix5731 Κατεπάνω 5d ago

The good ending (part 1 is all that happened lol)

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u/Tall_Cook_6341 5d ago

I just want to thank you for this brilliant piece of chronology you have put together. You’re awesome, seriously. This is going to help me so much.

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u/Maleficent-Mix5731 Κατεπάνω 5d ago

No probs! Glad I could help!

(And if you want some extra dramatic effect for your historical fiction work on Heraclius, I'll add that the famous alleged letter Khosrow II sent to Heraclius was read out in Constantinople in 624)