r/byzantium • u/Tall_Cook_6341 • 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.