Jump to content

Heraclius

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Heraclius
Emperor of the Romans
Solidus of Emperor Heraclius (aged 35–38). Minted in Constantinople. Struck 610–613.
Byzantine emperor
Reign5 October 610 –
11 February 641
PredecessorPhocas
SuccessorConstantine III
Heraclonas
Co-emperorsConstantine III (613–641)
Heraclonas (638–641)
Bornc. 575[1][2]
Cappadocia, Eastern Roman Empire
Died11 February 641 (aged 65)
Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire
SpouseEudokia
Martina
IssueConstantine III
Heraclonas
John Athalarichos (illegitimate)
Martinus
David Tiberius
Full name
Flavius Heraclius
Regnal name
Latin: Imperator Caesar Flavius Heraclius Augustus
Greek: Αὐτοκράτωρ καῖσαρ Φλάβιος Ἡράκλειος αὐγουστος
DynastyHeraclian Dynasty
FatherHeraclius the Elder
MotherEpiphania
ReligionChalcedonian Christianity

Heraclius[A 1] (Greek: Ἡράκλειος Hērákleios; c. 575 – 11 February 641), was Eastern Roman emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, led a revolt against Phocas, an unpopular emperor. Later in Heraclius' reign officialy used "Basileus" partially replacing the traditional "Imperator, Caesar and Augustus". He placed Greek as the official languange of the Eastern Roman Empire in place of Latin and even promoting Greek Culture but nevertheless had kept much of ancient roman traditions.

Heraclius's rule was marked by a number of military campaigns. The year Heraclius came to power, the empire was threatened on many sides. Heraclius immediately took charge of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628. The first fights of the campaign ended in defeat for the Byzantines; the Persian army fought their way to the Bosphorus but Constantinople was protected by unbreakable walls and a strong navy, and Heraclius was able to avoid total defeat. Soon after, he started changes to rebuild and strengthen the military. Heraclius drove the Persians out of Asia Minor and pushed deep into their territory, defeating them clearly in 627 at the Battle of Nineveh. The Persian king Khosrow II was overthrown and executed by his son Kavad II, who soon sued [en] for a peace treaty, agreeing to withdraw from all occupied territory. This way diplomatic relations were restored.

Loss of control

[change | change source]

However, Heraclius soon lost many of his newly regained lands to the Rashidun Caliphate. Newly appearing from the Arabian Peninsula, the Muslims quickly won the Sasanian Empire by force. In 636, the Muslims marched into Roman Syria, defeating Heraclius's brother Theodore. Within a short period of time, the Arabs conquered Mesopotamia, Armenia and Egypt. Heraclius responded with changes which let his successors fight the Arabs and avoid total destruction.

Entering diplomatic relations

[change | change source]

Heraclius entered diplomatic relations with the Croats and Serbs in the Balkans. He tried to repair the schism in the Christian church in regard to the Monophysites, by promoting a compromise doctrine called Monothelitism. The Church of the East (commonly called Nestorian) was also involved in the process.[3] Eventually this project of togetherness was rejected by all sides of the argument.

  1. Sometimes numbered as Heraclius I.

References

[change | change source]

Further reading

[change | change source]

Other websites

[change | change source]
Heraclius
Born: ca. 575 Died: 11 February 641
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Phocas
Byzantine emperor
610–641
with Constantine III Heraclius from 613
Succeeded by
Constantine III and Heraclonas
Political offices
Preceded by
Phocas, 603, then lapsed
Roman consul
608
with Heraclius the Elder
Succeeded by
Lapsed, then
Heraclius Constantine in 613