Heraclius

**Heraclius** (; c. 575 – 11 February 641), was Eastern Roman 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 Phocas, an unpopular emperor. Later in Heraclius' reign officially used "Basileus" partially replacing the traditional "Imperator, Caesar and Augustus". He placed Greek as the official languange of the Eastern Roman Empire in place of Latin and even promoting Greek Culture but nevertheless had kept much of ancient roman traditions.

## Rule

Heraclius's rule was marked by a number of military campaigns. The year Heraclius came to power, the empire was threatened on many sides. Heraclius immediately took charge of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628. The first fights of the campaign ended in defeat for the Byzantines; the Persian army fought their way to the Bosphorus but Constantinople was protected by unbreakable walls and a strong navy, and Heraclius was able to avoid total defeat. Soon after, he started changes to rebuild and strengthen the military. Heraclius drove the Persians out of Asia Minor and pushed deep into their territory, defeating them clearly in 627 at the Battle of Nineveh. The Persian king Khosrow II was overthrown and executed by his son Kavad II, who soon  for a peace treaty, agreeing to withdraw from all occupied territory. This way diplomatic relations were restored.

## Loss of control

However, Heraclius soon lost many of his newly regained lands to the Rashidun Caliphate. Newly appearing from the Arabian Peninsula, the Muslims quickly won the Sasanian Empire by force. 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 changes which let his successors fight the Arabs and avoid total destruction.

## Entering diplomatic relations

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. Eventually this project of togetherness was rejected by all sides of the argument.

## Other websites

- "Heraclius" at _De Imperatoribus Romanis_ (Archive) – online encyclopedia of Roman Emperors

## Infobox (royalty)

- **name**: Heraclius
- **image**: Heraclius solidus.jpg
- **caption**: _Solidus (coin), Solidus_ of Emperor Heraclius (aged 35–38). Mint (money), Minted in Constantinople. Struck 610–613.
- **succession**: List of Byzantine emperors, Byzantine emperor
- **reign**: 5 October 610 –
11 February 641
- **predecessor**: Phocas
- **successor**: Constantine III (Byzantine emperor), Constantine III
Heraclonas
- **spouse**: Fabia Eudokia, Eudokia
Martina (empress), Martina
- **issue**: Constantine III (Byzantine emperor), Constantine III
Heraclonas
John Athalarichos (illegitimate)
Martinus (son of Heraclius), Martinus
David Tiberius
- **dynasty**: Heraclian Dynasty
- **father**: Heraclius the Elder
- **mother**: Epiphania
- **religion**: Chalcedonian Christianity
- **birth date**: 575
- **birth place**: Cappadocia, Eastern Roman Empire
- **death date**: 11 February 641 (aged 65)
- **death place**: Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire
- **title**: List of Byzantine emperors, Emperor of the Romans
- **regent**: Constantine III (Byzantine emperor), Constantine III (613–641)
Heraclonas (638–641)
- **full name**: Flavius Heraclius
- **regnal name**: Medieval Latin, Latin: Imperator Caesar Flavius Heraclius Augustus
 Medieval Greek, Greek: Αὐτοκράτωρ καῖσαρ Φλάβιος Ἡράκλειος αὐγουστος