Heraclius
Heraclius, Emperor of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, reorganized the Byzantine imperial administration and the imperial armies and strengthened the Empire in the process. During his reign, pivotal changes took place in the Balkans and the Middle East.
At about the age of 35, Heraclius was sent to Constantinople by his father, the governor of the Roman province of Africa, to deal with the crisis precipitated by the incompetent emperor Phocas. Upon his arrival he deposed Phocas, thus inheriting an Empire in shambles.
Over the next two decades, Heraclius succeeded in driving out the Slavs, Persians, and Turkic Avars that had occupied Byzantine territory. His brilliance on the battlefield was matched by political shrewdness. Although his notable personal devotion to Christianity helped his reputation, his attempts to heal the divisions among Christian sects failed.
In 634, Muslim Arabs swept into Syria, and Heraclius, too weary from years of fighting, did not take personal command of the military. The Byzantines were defeated, and both Syria and Egypt fell to Arab forces. Heraclius died a few years later, possibly from prostate troubles.
Important Dates
Died: Feb. 11, 641
On the Web
Heraclius
Informative, well-hyperlinked bio at Wikipedia.Heraclius
Brief bio of the "Carthaginian Emperor" by Roberto Naranjo at eHistory.Heraclius (October 5, 610 - February 641 A.D.)
Substantive bio by R. Scott Moore at De Imperatoribus Romanis.
In Print
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Biographical
Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium
by Walter E. KaegiThe Reign of Heraclius (610-641: Crisis and Confrontation
(Groningen Studies in Cultural Change)
edited by G. J. Reinink and Bernard H. Stolte
General Historical
Background
A Short History of Byzantium
by John Julius Norwich; also available in paperback
Related Resources
Byzantine Studies
A multilevel index of useful and interesting sites related to general Byzantine studies, Art and Architecture, Music, and more about the Eastern Roman Empire.
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