Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

3.5 The seventh century: Might and decline of Sasanian power 117
Soon after Heraclius succeeded to the throne, he was confronted with
serious Persian advances into Byzantine territory. The troops of Xusrō II
crossed the Euphrates, once more invaded Syria, raided the countryside
and conquered numerous cities, above all Antioch (611). 214 At about the
same time Sasanian troops marched via Cilicia into Cappadocia and reconquered
Caesarea, which had been in the meantime liberated by the
Romans. Towards the end of the year 612 the situation was more than
problematic for the Romans. Apart from the important city of Caesarea,
most of Syria was in Sasanian hands, as a consequence of which links and
communications with the provinces of Palestine and Egypt were severely
impaired. Heraclius therefore had to do everything he could to prevent a
split of his empire and the loss of the economically important province of
Egypt.
Accordingly, the year 613 was marked by Heraclius’ desperate attempts
to stop the Persian advance. He sent Philippicus to Armenia in order that
he would threaten Sasanian territory from there, while he himself marched
south in order to re-conquer Syria. Neither of the two projects was successful
and the Roman troops had to withdraw in light of the superiority of the
Persian forces. Heraclius returned to Constantinople while the Sasanians
continued their expansive policy unchecked. Before the end of 613 they took
several Syrian and Palestinian coastal cities, and among these Damascus fell
without any opposition. In May of the following year the Persians captured
the holy city of Jerusalem after a short siege. 215 The churches were set on
fire, murder and plunder swept the city for three days. The Holy Cross
was taken to Ktēsiphōn, 216 an act that received much attention by the Arab
author Tabarī (33) and that caused a spirit of desperation and indignation
throughout the Christian world.
During the following period the Persians conquered all of Syria and
Palestine, and in 615 Sasanian troops once more reached Chalcedon in
Asia Minor and the gates of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine
Empire. 217 Heraclius’ renewed attempts to make peace failed yet again. As
the Romans were also attacked from the north, the situation became more
and more threatening. The Slavs and Avars were raiding Greece and the
Balkan provinces. When in 617 the latter reached Constantinople, the capital
was attacked from two sides. 218 The emperor tried to conclude a peace
with the Avars but was as unsuccessful as he had been with the Sasanians
before. At this point (end of 616) the Persians embarked on an Egyptian
214 Morony 1987: 87–95 and Russell 2001: 41–71. 215 Cf. below, pp. 230-1.
216 Cf. Whitby and Whitby 1989: 156–7 on Chron. Pasch. a. 614 and Mango 1985: 91–117.
217 On this advance see Foss 1975: 721–47 (= 1990: i). 218 Cf. Woods 1996: 259–79.