Heraclius
Heraclius (Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens)
Dates:
- c.575: birth
- 5 October 610: recognized as emperor
- 11 January 641: natural death
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 of the emperor Heraclius defeating Khusrau II (Louvre)
Main deeds:
- 608: Revolts against Phocas
- 609 Captures Thessalonica
- 610, 3 October: Captures Constantinople, overthrows Phocas (is recognized two days later), inherits wars against the Sasanian Empire and the Avars
- 612: The Sasanian general Shahr-Baraz (fighting for king Khusrau II) captures Antioch
- 613: Shahr-Baraz takes Damascas
- 614: Shahr-Baraz takes Jerusalem and takes away the True Cross
- 614: Monetary reform
- Army reforms; the army is reorganized into smaller, self-suppicient units; Anatolia divided into themes
- 622, 5 April (Easter Monday): Heraclius sets out against the Persians; regroups the army in Cilicia
- 622, Autumn: defeats Shahr-Baraz
- 622/623: the army winters in Trebizonde
- 623: Invasion of Armenia and march to Ctesiphon
- 624, Winter: Invasion of Albania
- 624/625: Winter near Lake Van
- 625: Fighting in Amida, Samosata, Adana; victory over Shahr-Baraz; Khazar allianze
- 625/626: Winter in Trebizonde
- 626: Constantinople besieged by the Avars
- 627: March on Dastagird, near Ctesiphon
- 627, 12 December: Victory at Nineveh
- 628, January: Sack of Dastagird; winter in Tauris (Tabriz)
- 628: Peace with Persia; the Holy Cross is returned
- 628, 14 September: Triumphal return to Constantinople
- 634: First encounters with the Muslim armies
- 636, 20 August: Battle of the Yarmuk - the Byzantines defeated by the Muslims
- 641: Natural death
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