Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

44 2 A chronological survey
the emperor expended Roman power and consumed resources during his
numerous military campaigns.
During the sixth century the confrontation between Romans and
Persians took place on a worldwide scale. 159 Not only the border areas
but also the Avars, Turks, Chazars and Arabs were included in the struggle.
Moreover, Roman activities in the Western empire as well as growing Sasanian
difficulties in the East had an impact on the fighting between the two.
Only when Maurice and Xusrō II joined forces towards the end of the century
did tensions cease, and an agreement was reached. Corresponding to
the good personal relationship between Maurice and Xusrō II Parvēz, who
saw himself as the son of the Byzantine emperor, 160 the relations between
the two sides remained friendly. However, this phase is not well documented.
Xusrō II probably used the time in order to consolidate his rule,
to revive the economy and to fill the royal treasury. When confrontations
resumed at the beginning of the seventh century the Persians once more
proved to be strong and very serious opponents for the Romans.
2.5 the seventh century: might and
decline of sasanian power
After Maurice’s downfall and assassination by the rebel Phocas (602–10) in
602 the good relationship between Persians and Romans changed abruptly.
Theodosius, supposedly Maurice’s son, approached Xusrō II for help. The
king was prepared to avenge Maurice’s murder; he received Theodosius
with open arms at his court and proclaimed him the legitimate ruler of the
Byzantine Empire. 161 When he also imprisoned the envoys sent by Phocas to
announce his take-over of the Byzantine throne, the two powers re-entered
the state of war. Initially, Xusrō II must have perceived this situation not as
fighting a war against the Romans but rather as dealing with a tyrant. The
parallels with the events of 590/1 are obvious. According to the Byzantine
historian Theophylact Simocatta, in the king’s eyes Phocas’ usurpation
of the throne was a justified reason for war. 162 This war represents the
last great Roman–Sasanian confrontation, which – after the pinnacle of
159 Higgins 1941: 279–315.
160 Theoph. Simoc. v.3.11; Theoph. Chron. A. M. 6081 (p. 266, 13, ed. de Boor) and Tabarī, tr. Nöldeke,
275; Bosworth 305 (994).
161 Tabarī, tr. Nöldeke 290; Bosworth 317 (1002).
162 Theoph. Simoc. viii.15.7; however, the historian also remarks that the king used the events in
Byzantium as a pretext in order to open war against the West once more; cf. Garsoïan 1983: 578.