Heraclius the Elder Heraclius the Elder ( ; ) ( died 610 ) was an East Roman ( Byzantine ) general and the father of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius ( r . 610 – 641 ) . Of Armenian origin , the elder Heraclius distinguished himself in the wars against the Sassanid Persians in the 580s . Circa 600 , he was appointed as the Exarch of Africa . In 608 , he rebelled with his son against the usurper Phocas ( r . 602 – 610 ) . Using Africa as a base , the younger Heraclius managed to overthrow Phocas , beginning the Heraclian dynasty , which would rule Byzantium for a century . Heraclius the Elder died soon after receiving news of his son ' s accession . Origin . Heraclius was of Armenian origin . His origin is deduced by a passage of Theophylact Simocatta which considers him a native of Byzantine Armenia . The passage reports " And so Philippicus had learned during his journey that Priscus had been accredited as general by the emperor ( Maurice ) ; on reaching Tarsus he composed messages to Heraclius which indicated that , after leaving the army , he should return to his own city when he came to Armenia , and surrender the army to Narses , the commander of the city of Constantina " . Heraclius ' own city is not specifically mentioned . Mary and Michael Whitby suggest that Heraclius was at the time the " magister militum per Armeniam " . If so , " his city " was Theodosiopolis ( modern Erzurum ) , the headquarters of the Roman forces in Armenia . As the chief military stronghold along the northeastern border of the empire , Theodosiopolis held a highly important strategic location and was fiercely contested in wars between the Byzantines and Persians . Emperors Anastasius I and Justinian I both refortified the city and built new defenses during their reigns . Nothing is known of the specific ancestry of Heraclius the Elder , but this has not prevented modern historians from speculating on the matter . Cyril Mango has supported a theory which suggests that he was a namesake descendant of Heraclius of Edessa , a 5th - century Roman general . A passage from Sebeos ' " History " has been understood to suggest an Arsacid origin of Heraclius . This theory was strongly supported by Cyril Toumanoff , while considered likely by Alexander Vasiliev and Irfan Shahîd . John of Nikiû and Constantine Manasses seem to consider his son , Heraclius the Younger , to be a Cappadocian , which might indicate his place of birth rather than actual ancestry . Family . The " Historia syntomos " of Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople mentions a single brother of Heraclius the Elder , named Gregoras , who was the father of Nicetas . Theophanes the Confessor mentions Epiphania as the mother of Emperor Heraclius , thus wife of Heraclius the Elder . Heraclius the Elder is mentioned as the father of Emperor Heraclius in several sources , including Theophylact , John of Nikiû , Nikephoros I , Theophanes , Agapius the historian , the " Suda " , Georgios Kedrenos , Joannes Zonaras , Michael the Syrian , the " Chronicle of 1234 " and Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos . In contrast , there is no source mentioning him in the same sentence as the siblings of Emperor Heraclius . That he was their father can be safely assumed though . The best attested sibling of Heraclius the Younger was arguably Theodore . Maria , sister of Heraclius the Younger , is mentioned by Nikephoros I and identified as mother of Martina , whom Heraclius the Younger would go on to marry . It should be noted however that both Kedrenos and Michael the Syrian consider Martina to have been a daughter of an unnamed brother of Heraclius the Younger , thus casting some doubt on the precise relation . Finally , Theophanes briefly mentions another Gregoras as a brother of Heraclius the Younger on the occasion of the former ' s death at Heliopolis ( modern Baalbek ) c . 652 / 653 . This is the only mention of this sibling . Theophanes however might have misunderstood the relation between Gregoras and the emperor . Career . Under Philippicus . Heraclius the Elder is first mentioned in 586 as a general serving under Philippicus during the Roman – Persian War of 572 – 591 . Heraclius commanded the center of the Byzantine army at the Battle of Solachon in spring 586 . Following the battle , he was sent on a scouting mission to confirm the rumour of the arrival of Persian reinforcements . The Byzantine force went on to invade Arzanene . Philippicus besieged Chlomaron , the chief city of the area . At this point Jovius and Maruthas , two local leaders , defected to the Byzantines . They promised to help locate the ideal positions for building impregnable forts that would control the passage through the Taurus Mountains and Hakkâri , allowing the Byzantines to control the routes that connected Arzanene with Persarmenia and Lower Mesopotamia . Philippicus assigned Heraclius , noted at this point as his second - in - command ( " hypostrategos " ) , to follow the guides to the strong points indicated . Twenty men accompanied Heraclius in the mission . They left without their armour . Their party soon encountered Kardarigan leading a new Persian army . Theophylact notes that " Kardarigan was marching against the Romans , having enrolled throngs , who were not soldiers but men inexperienced in martial clamour ; he had in addition assembled a herd of baggage animals and camels , and was moving forwards . " Nevertheless , Kardarigan attempted to attack Heraclius ' ill - equipped unit , and Heraclius had to escape by moving from ridge to ridge . By night , he sent a messenger to warn Philippicus of the approaching threat . Philippicus ' forces fled in disorder back into Roman territory . He managed to reach Amida and then set about restoring the old forts on Mount Izala . There , possibly due to illness , he handed over command of his army to Heraclius . Theophylact narrates : " He [ Philippicus ] gave part of the army to Heraclius , since he was himself overwhelmed by pain and unable to fight . Heraclius marshaled his soldiery and camped opposite the foothills of Izala , or rather the banks of the river Tigris . Accordingly Heraclius left Thamanon [ a location on the eastern banks of the Tigris ] , advanced towards the southern parts of Media , and ravaged the whole of that area . He even traversed the Tigris and urged the army forward , burning everything of importance in that part of Media . Then he re - entered the Roman state , circled past Theodosiopolis , and once again rejoined the men with Philippicus " . Theophylact indicates Philipiccus and Heraclius wintered together at Theodosiopolis . In spring 587 , Philippicus was again ill , and unable to campaign in person . He assigned two thirds of his army to Heraclius and the remainder to generals Theodore and Andreas , and sent them to raid Persian territory . Heraclius besieged an unnamed strong fort , relentlessly using his siege engine s day and night until it fell . After installing a garrison in the captured fort , Theophanes the Confessor reports that Heraclius proceeded to join general Theodore at the siege of Beioudaes , but this seems to be an error . Theophanes seems to have misunderstood the relevant passage of Theophylact which has Theodore and Andreas joining at that siege . In late 587 , Philippicus planned to return to Constantinople , leaving Heraclius in charge of the army for the winter season . Heraclius took measures to restore discipline to the troops . According to Theophylact , " Heraclius inflicted penalties for desertion on the vagrants from the Roman force ; and those who had bidden farewell to labour , and who were aimlessly wandering hither and thither , were converted to good sense by punishments . " In early 588 , Emperor Maurice ( r . 582 – 602 ) replaced Philippicus with Priscus . Philippicus wrote to Heraclius , ordering him to leave the army in the care of Narses and return to Armenia . But the same letters notified the soldiers of an imperial decree which reduced their pay by one - quarter . This led to a mutiny of the troops , who refused to follow Priscus ' orders . The mutiny was only ended when the order was rescinded and Philippicus re - appointed as commander of the eastern army . Under Comentiolus . Heraclius resurfaces a year later , under the command of Comentiolus , in the Battle of Sisarbanon ( autumn 589 ) , in the vicinity of Nisibis . According to the account of Theophylact , Comentiolus supposedly fled towards Theodosiopolis ( modern Ra ' s al - ' Ayn ) while the battle was still ongoing . Heraclius took charge of the remaining troops and led them to victory . Theophylact however lived and wrote during the reign of Heraclius the Younger , and is strongly biased in favour of his father . His account is thus suspect of exaggerating or even inventing Comentiolus ' cowardice with the aim of glorifying Heraclius . The contemporary Evagrius Scholasticus for instance credits Comentiolus with being in the thick of combat , and does not mention Heraclius the Elder at all . Armenian revolt . Heraclius is mentioned again c . 595 as " magister militum per Armeniam " , probably succeeding John Mystacon . The history of Sebeos provides the main account of his term . He was sent by Maurice to face Armenian rebels led by Samuel Vahewuni and Atat Khorkhoruni . Heraclius was assisted by Hamazasp Mamikonian . " " Then [ the emperor ] ordered the general Heraclius who was located in the country of Armenia to take his troops and go against [ the rebels ] in battle . . . . Then [ the rebels ] looted whatever they found , taking a great deal of booty , and departed to the secure Korduats ' country . They wanted to have the stronghold there . Now the Byzantine forces with general Heraclius and Hamazasp Mamikonean pursued them . [ The rebels ] approached the stronghold , crossing by bridge the river called Jermay ( which is styled Daniel ' s bridge ) . They cut down the bridge and fortified themselves in a pass where they held the site of the bridge . [ The Byzantines ] were on the [ opposite ] riverbank wondering what to do . Because they were unable to find a ford , they wanted to depart . But unexpectedly , a traveling priest strayed into their midst . They seized him and said : " If you do not show us the river ' s ford , we will kill you . " [ The traveller ] took the forces and showed them the ford [ at a place ] below where they were . All the troops crossed the river . Some of them held [ watch over ] the stronghold , others the bridgehead . [ Some ] held the mouth of the valley , others entered the stronghold and battled with them . The devastation was enormous , and [ the rebels ] were worn out . " " Killed in the battle were Nerses , Vstam , and Samuel , who killed quite a few [ warriors ] around them in fight . But Sargis and Varaz Nerseh were arrested along with some others . They were taken to the city of Karin and later beheaded . When they were about to be beheaded , Varaz Nerseh said to Sargis : " Let ' s cast lots to see whom they kill first . " But Sargis replied : " I am an old , blame - worthy man . I beg you , grant me this little respite , that I not see your death . " So they beheaded him first . Now T ' eodoros Trpatuni fled to the court of the Iranian king ( Khosrau II ) , for refuge . But [ the king ] ordered him bound and delivered into the hands of his enemies to be put to death . And [ the king ] visited severe misfortunes upon him . Heraclius seems to have been replaced by Suren . His service in Armenia was brief , but arguably reinforced his ties to the country . Exarch of Africa . Heraclius is next mentioned in 608 as Patrician and Exarch of Africa . According to Patriarch Nikephoros , Heraclius had been appointed to the position by Maurice , thus prior to the latter ' s deposition and death in 602 . He might have replaced Innocentius , a temporary exarch appointed between 598 and 600 . The appointment suggests that Heraclius enjoyed the favor of Maurice and would have reason to remain loyal to him . Heraclius and his African court notably lamented the death and execution of Maurice and posthumously praised the fallen emperor . The exarchs of Africa were effectively Governor - Generals with both civilian and military powers . Their seat of power was Carthage . Historians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries ascribed much significance to this appointment , even suggesting it would require prominent ties of Heraclius to Africa or the wider Western Roman Empire . Later historians pointed however that this appointment was part of a wider pattern . In the 6th century , several prominent Byzantine military commanders had started their careers in the eastern regions of the Empire , often in the vicinity of Upper Mesopotamia . Then they were transferred to North Africa at some point in their respective careers . There is therefore no indication that this rotation from the eastern to the western provinces was unusual . Charles Diehl regarded early 7th - century Byzantine Africa to have undergone an economic and demographic decline , being under constant threat by hostile Berbers . Later historians have had to revise this pictures in light of archaeological evidence , however : the Exarchate was among the most affluent areas of the Byzantine Empire , though of lesser wealth and significance than Egypt . It seems to have seen much less warfare than the Balkans , Mesopotamia and the Caucasus did in that era , thus allowing its residents a safer way of life . There is evidence of ongoing trade between Byzantine Africa and Frankish Gaul during the 7th century . Agriculture was thriving , particularly in the vicinity of the Medjerda River . The production of grain , olive oil and wine kept the local population well - fed and probably supplied their maritime trade . Fishing seems to have been another thriving field . The local elite seems to have invested in the building of churches . The main testaments to their existence and activities are examples of funerary art , particularly mosaic s . Heraclius seems to have established ties with this elite . His son , Heraclius the Younger , married his first wife Eudokia during the 7th century . Her father was Rogas , a landowner in the Exarchate . Revolt against Phocas . In 608 , the Exarchate of Africa under Heraclius the Elder revolted against Emperor Phocas . The subsequent campaign against Phocas was portrayed by Byzantine historians as avenging the death of Maurice , which might have been part of the motivation of this revolt . The other part however would be what Walter Emil Kaegi termed " cold political calculations " : Carthage was at a safe distance from Constantinople and Phocas could not easily launch an attack against it . The relative wealth of the Exarchate of Africa could well enough finance a revolt . Phocas ' regime arguably needed the grain and revenues from Africa , while the Exarchate sustained itself with relative ease . Meanwhile , the Persiah shah Khosrau II had secured control of Dara and was mobilizing his troops for a large - scale invasion into Byzantine territories . News of this campaign could have well reached Heraclius . With Phocas facing two separate military fronts , the emperor would be unable to concentrate the majority of his troops on either one of them , encouraging Heraclius of his chances to succeed in this confrontation . After their revolt , Heraclius the Elder and Heraclius the Younger were proclaimed joint consuls . There is no indication in the sources on how this was achieved , i . e . whether Heraclius was self - appointed or officially proclaimed by the Senate of Carthage , " whose members had no legal right to designate a Roman consul " . Nevertheless , the significance of the proclamation was evident . No private individuals had been proclaimed consuls since the reign of Justinian I ( 527 – 565 ) . Since then it was merely another title exclusively used by the Byzantine Emperors . By this proclamation Heraclius was arguably making a first step towards becoming emperor himself , while legitimizing his connection to the long history of Rome . The mints of Carthage and later Alexandria produced coins depicting Heraclius and his namesake son wearing consular robes . John of Antioch and the Patriarch Nikephoros both report that Heraclius the Elder maintained correspondence with Priscus , the Count of the Excubitors and former commander of the army . By that time Priscus was the son - in - law of Phocas but reportedly held a grudge against the emperor . He allegedly promised Heraclius support in case of a rebellion and confirmed it once the rebellion had started . The story is somewhat suspect . While there was major dissension in Constantinople and Priscus did in time defect to Heraclius , there is nothing to suggest that Priscus helped incite the revolt . Patriarch Nikephoros reports that Heraclius the Elder held council with his brother Gregoras before proclaiming his revolt , possibly indicating that Gregoras was acting as his advisor . He also reports that Gregoras hoped to promote his own son Nicetas to the throne , although this is considered unlikely at best by modern historians . The situation in 609 – 610 was quickly becoming dire for Phocas and his loyalists . Their defense against the Sassanid Empire had failed . There were Persian forces in Mesopotamia , Armenia , Syria and the Anatolian provinces . Rebel Byzantine forces held Africa and Egypt . Slavs were occupying northern Illyricum . In Thessalonica and various towns of Anatolia and Syria , the Blues and Greens were settling their differences with open conflict . In areas of Syria , the Jews were revolting and lynching Christians . Even in Constantinople , the crowds taunted Phocas for his love of liquor , implying alcoholism . In 610 , the Persian general Shahrbaraz was approaching Antioch . But the Persian front was not the immediate threat : the rebels of Africa were . Having secured control of Egypt , they proceeded to invade Syria and Cyprus while a large fleet under Heraclius the Younger set sail for Constantinople . Supporters from Sicily , Crete and Thessalonica were joining his campaign . The rebels reached Constantinople in October 610 . The only forces available to Phocas to defend the city were the Excubitors of his bodyguard and the irregular forces of the Blues and Greens , the city ' s racing factions . Priscus , the commander of the Excubitors , chose the moment to reveal his allegiance to Heraclius . The Greens also changed sides . Constantinople fell with relative ease . Heraclius the Younger became the new emperor . Phocas was executed , along with several of his kinsmen and loyalists . According to John of Nikiu , Heraclius the Elder rejoiced at the news of his son rising to the throne , but died soon afterwards . Assessment . While Heraclius the Elder was a prominent general of his time , his military achievements were rather modest . The Byzantine historians covering his career were arguably attempting to magnify their importance to give Heraclius the Younger an exalted ancestry .