Heraclius

Heraclius
Emperor of the Romans
Solidus of Emperor Heraclius (aged 35–38). Minted in Constantinople. Struck 610–613.
Byzantine emperor
Reign	5 October 610 – 11 February 641
Predecessor	Phocas
Successor	Constantine III Heraclonas
Co-emperors	Constantine III (613–641) Heraclonas (638–641)
Born	c. 575 Cappadocia, Eastern Roman Empire
Died	11 February 641 (aged 65) Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire
Spouse	Eudokia Martina
Issue	Constantine 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
Dynasty	Heraclian Dynasty
Father	Heraclius the Elder
Mother	Epiphania
Religion	Chalcedonian Christianity

Heraclius (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.

Rule

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 for a peace treaty, agreeing to withdraw from all occupied territory. This way diplomatic relations were restored.

Loss of control

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

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. Eventually this project of togetherness was rejected by all sides of the argument.

References

Sources

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Further reading

• Davies, Norman (1996). Europe: A History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-820171-0.
• El-Cheikh, Nadia Maria (2004). Byzantium viewed by the Arabs. Harvard CMES. ISBN 0-932885-30-6.
• Hovorun, Cyril (2008). Will, Action and Freedom: Christological Controversies in the Seventh Century. Leiden-Boston: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-16666-0.
• Kazhdan, Alexander P. (1991). "Herakleios". Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press. pp. 916–917. ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
• Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. The Church in history. Vol. 2. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 978-0-88141-055-6.
• Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
• Tarasov, Oleg (2004). Icon and Devotion: Sacred Spaces in Imperial Russia. Reaktion Books. ISBN 1-86189-118-0.

Other websites

• "Heraclius" at De Imperatoribus Romanis (Archive) – online encyclopedia of Roman Emperors

Heraclius Heraclian Dynasty 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