Solidus of Emperor Heraclius (aged 35–38). Constantinople mint. Struck 610–613.
Byzantine emperor
Reign
5 October 610 – 11 February 641
Predecessor
Phocas
Successor
Constantine III Heraclonas
Co-emperors
Constantine III (613–641) Heraclonas (638–641)
Born
c. 575[1][2] Cappadocia, Byzantine Empire
Died
11 February 641 (aged 65) Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Spouse
Eudokia Martina
Issue
Eudoxia Epiphania Constantine III Heraclonas John Athalarichos (illegitimate) Martinus David Tiberius Theodosius Augustina Anastasia Fabius
Regnal name
Latin: Imperator Caesar Flavius Heraclius Augustus Greek: Αὐτοκράτωρ καῖσαρ Φλάβιος Ἡράκλειος αὐγουστος[a]
Dynasty
Heraclian
Father
Heraclius the Elder
Mother
Epiphania
Religion
Chalcedonian Christianity
Heraclian dynasty
Chronology
Heraclius
610–641
with Constantine III (Heraclius)
613–641
Constantine III
641
with Heraclonas
641
Heraclonas
641
with Tiberius (David)
641
with Constans II
641
Constans II
641–668
with Constantine IV
654–668
with Heraclius
659–668
with Tiberius
659–668
Constantine IV
668–685
with Heraclius
668–681
with Tiberius
668–681
Justinian II
685–695
705–711
with Tiberius
706–711
Succession
Preceded by Justinian dynasty and Phocas
Followed by Twenty Years' Anarchy
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Heraclius (Greek: Ἡράκλειος, translit. Hērákleios; c. 575 – 11 February 641) was Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the Exarch of Africa, led a revolt against the unpopular emperor Phocas.
Heraclius's reign was marked by several military campaigns. The year Heraclius came to power, the empire was threatened on multiple frontiers. Heraclius immediately took charge of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628. The first battles of the campaign ended in defeat for the Byzantines; the Persian army fought their way to the Bosphorus but Constantinople was protected by impenetrable walls and a strong navy, and Heraclius was able to avoid total defeat. Soon after, he initiated reforms to rebuild and strengthen the military. Heraclius drove the Persians out of Asia Minor and pushed deep into their territory, defeating them decisively in 627 at the Battle of Nineveh. The Persian Shah Khosrow II was overthrown and executed by his son Kavad II, who soon sued for a peace treaty, agreeing to withdraw from all occupied territory. This way peaceful relations were restored to the two deeply strained empires.
Heraclius soon lost many of his newly regained lands to the Rashidun Caliphate. Emerging from the Arabian Peninsula, the Muslims quickly conquered the Sasanian Empire. In 636, the Muslims marched into Roman Syria, defeating Heraclius's brother Theodore. Within a short period of time, the Arabs conquered Mesopotamia, Armenia and Egypt. Heraclius responded with reforms which allowed his successors to combat the Arabs and avoid total destruction.
Heraclius entered diplomatic relations with the Croats and Serbs in the Balkans. He tried to repair the schism in the Christian church in regard to the Monophysites, by promoting a compromise doctrine called monothelitism. The Church of the East (commonly called Nestorian) was also involved in the process.[4] Eventually, this project of unity was rejected by all sides of the dispute.
^Treadgold 1997, p. 308.
^Kazhdan 1991b, p. 916.
^Lingenthal 1857, pp. 33–34.
^Seleznev 2012.
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several military campaigns. The year Heraclius came to power, the empire was threatened on multiple frontiers. Heraclius immediately took charge of the Byzantine–Sasanian...
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Heraclius the Elder (Greek: Ἡράκλειος, Herákleios; died 610) was a Byzantine general and the father of Byzantine emperor Heraclius (r. 610–641). Generally...
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conquer Palestine and Egypt. Meanwhile, Heraclius prepared for a counterattack and rebuilt his army. In 622, Heraclius finally launched his offensive. After...
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Constantine was a son of Emperor Heraclius, while his mother Gregoria was a daughter of Nicetas, a first cousin of Heraclius. Heraclius died an February 641 and...
deposed, Heraclius acceded to the shah's pressure. He converted to Islam assuming the title of Nazar Alī Khān in 1676. In reward, Heraclius was confirmed...
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his seventh oration. Julian relates how Heraclius delivered an allegorical fable before him, in which Heraclius took upon himself the part of Jupiter,...
June 1786) was a Georgian princess royal (batonishvili), a daughter of Heraclius II, King of Kartli and Kakheti. She was the mother of Solomon II of Imereti...
victory. Heraclius met them at Tigranakert and routed the forces of Shahraplakan and Shahin one after the other. After this victory, Heraclius crossed...
(6th-century–627), Byzantine statesman and general, active in the reign of Heraclius Bonus (Sirmium), a Byzantine general, active in the reign of Justin II...
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to Heraclius when the future emperor still resided in the Exarchate. The Exarch at the time was her father-in-law Heraclius the Elder. Heraclius had...
captured and the stolen relics. In March 629, Heraclius triumphantly returned the True Cross to Jerusalem. Heraclius had promised the Jews pardon for their revolt...
benefactor and protector of his people. The title of all Emperors preceding Heraclius was officially "Augustus", although other titles such as Dominus were...
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