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Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

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til<br />

KHUSRU PARVIZ AND HERACLIUS 525<br />

e prestige <strong>of</strong> Rome to no small extent, for<br />

everywhere<br />

:eraclius<br />

destroyed cities and villages, including Urumia, '<br />

the birthplace <strong>of</strong> Zoroaster, and put out the sacred fires.<br />

The Su7prise <strong>of</strong> the Army <strong>of</strong> Shahr-Baraz, a.d. 624.—<br />

In A.D. 624 Khusru attempted to take the<br />

<strong>of</strong>fensive, and<br />

sent an army to detain the Emperor in<br />

Albania, but the<br />

force was inadequate and Heraclius once again marched<br />

south into Armenia. There he was threatened by three<br />

separate <strong>Persia</strong>n armies, and to ensure an engagement<br />

before they united, he retreated, with the result that<br />

he beat <strong>of</strong>f two <strong>of</strong> these forces and then attacked and<br />

completely defeated the third. He concluded this<br />

campaign by surprising Shahr-Baraz, whose army he<br />

almost annihilated and whose camp he captured. The<br />

winter was spent at Salban, identified with the modern<br />

town <strong>of</strong> Van.<br />

The Defeat <strong>of</strong> Shahr-Baraz on the Saras^ a.d. 625.—<br />

The fourth campaign was opened by a descent upon<br />

Arzanene and the recovery <strong>of</strong> Amida and Martyropolis,<br />

after which Heraclius marched westwards to the Euphrates,<br />

which he found his old opponent Shahr-Baraz<br />

holding<br />

in force. But the Emperor crossed by a ford and marched<br />

into Cilicia, where he was once again in touch with the<br />

sea. Shahr-Baraz followed, and a stubborn but indecisive<br />

battle was fought on the Saras. During the following<br />

night the <strong>Persia</strong>n general retreated. The valour <strong>of</strong> the<br />

is Emperor said to have drawn from Shahr-Baraz the<br />

following remark<br />

"<br />

: Dost thou see the Emperor, how<br />

boldly he engages in the battle, against what a multitude<br />

he contends alone, and how, like an anvil, he cares not<br />

for the blows showered upon him.?"^ Truly a notable<br />

to have extorted from a valiant foe ! The follow-<br />

eulogy<br />

ing winter was spent by Heraclius in Cappadocia.<br />

The Siege <strong>of</strong> Constantinople and the Defeat <strong>of</strong> Shahin,<br />

A.D. 626.—The following year Khusru, seriously alarmed<br />

at the turn in the tide <strong>of</strong> war, made a supreme effort.<br />

He effected an alliance with the Khan <strong>of</strong> the Avars and<br />

then formed two great armies, one <strong>of</strong> which was destined<br />

to oppose Heraclius, while the other was to co-operate<br />

.1 Theophanes, p. 263 A.

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