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Heraclius
Coin of Heraclius. Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens (Greece). Photo Marco Prins.
Heraclius (Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens)
 Heraclius:  emperor of the East-Roman (Byzantine) empire (610-642).

Dates:

  • c.575: birth
  • 5 October 610: recognized as emperor
  • 11 January 641: natural death
Successor of: Phocas

Relatives:

  • father: Heraclius, exarch of Carthage
  • second wife: Martina
  • son from first marriage: Constantine III, father of Constans II Pogonatus
  • son from second marriage: Heraclonas
Byzantine icon, showing emperor Heraclius defeating Khusrau II. Louvre, Paris (France). Photo Marco Prins.
Byzantine icon of the emperor Heraclius defeating Khusrau II (Louvre)
 Main deeds:
  • 608: Revolts against Phocas
  • 610: Overthrows Phocas, inherits wars against the Sasanian Empire and the Avars
  • 614: the Sasanian king Khusrau II captures Jerusalem and takes away the Holy Cross
  • 614: Monetary reform
  • Army reforms; the army is reorganized into smaller, self-suppicient units
  • 626: Constantinople besieged by the Avars?
  • Successful war against the Persians
  • 628: Peace with Persia; the Holy Cross is returned 
  • 634: First encounters with the Muslim armies
  • 641: Natural death
Succeeded by: Constantine III and Heraclonas (joint emperors in 641); and Constans II Pogonatus (641-668)
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