Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

cH.xui KHUSRU PARVIZ AND HERACLIUS 517
the summer of a.d. 579, which met with no organized
opposition and were able to destroy the crops and inflict
much damage In a.d. 580 he collected a fleet at
Circesium with the apparent intention of following in the
footsteps of Julian, especially as he thought that he had
won over the Saracens to his side. However, these desert
tribesmen proved treacherous, and their chief Adarman
with a large force threatened Callinicus, thereby compelling
the Byzantine general, whose line of communications
was in danger, to forgo his ambitious project and
to march against Adarman, whom he defeated. In a.d.
581 Maurice gained a signal victory over a Persian army
which was attacking Constantia ;
but instead of following
up his success he hastened to Constantinople, where the
dying Emperor Tiberius appointed him his successor to
the purple.
After the departure of Maurice from the seat of war,
the Persians upon the whole had the upper hand, although
they were once defeated by Philippicus, the brother-inlaw
of Maurice. Heraclius, father of the future Emperor
of the same name, appeared on the scene, but as only one
portion of the troops was under his command, he was
unable to effect anything of importance. In a.d. 588
there was a serious mutiny in the Roman Army, but a
Persian force which drove the invaders out of Arzanene
was
ultimately beaten near
Martyropolis. In the following
year this important fortress was captured by Roman
treachery, and Philippicus, being defeated in his attempt
to retake it, was recalled. Comentiolus succeeded to his
post, with Heraclius as his second in command, and
decided to invade Mesopotamia. In a battle near Nisibis
he was worsted and fled ; but Heraclius restored the
day, and in the end won a signal victory, killing the
Persian general and seizing his camp.
The Invasion and 'Defeat of the Turks ^ circa a.d. 588. —
While the war in Mesopotamia was being waged year
after year in a wholly indecisive manner, Persia was
threatened by an invasion of the Turks, who probably
saw their opportunity in the unpopularity of Hormisdas
and his entanglement in the war with Rome. But