Heraclius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heraclius |
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| Emperor of the Romans | |||||||||
Solidus of Emperor Heraclius (aged 35-38). Constantinople mint. Struck 610-613. Helmeted and cuirassed facing bust, holding cross.
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| Emperor of the Byzantine Empire | |||||||||
| Reign | October 5, 610 – February 11, 641 | ||||||||
| Coronation | October 5, 610 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Phocas | ||||||||
| Successor | Constantine III Heraklonas |
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| Co-emperors | Constantine III (613-641) Heraklonas (638-641) |
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| Born | c. 575 Cappadocia, present-day Turkey |
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| Died | February 11, 641 (aged 65 or 66) Constantinople, Byzantine Empire |
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| Spouse | Eudokia Martina |
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| Issue | Constantine III Heraklonas John Athalarichos (illegitimate) Martinos |
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| Dynasty | Heraclian Dynasty | ||||||||
| Father | Heraclius the Elder | ||||||||
| Mother | Epiphania | ||||||||
Heraclius (Latin: Flavius Heraclius Augustus, Greek: Φλάβιος Ἡράκλειος, Flavios Iraklios; c. 575 – February 11, 641) was the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 610 to 641. He was responsible for introducing Greek as the Byzantine Empire's official language. 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 usurper 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 king Khosrow II was overthrown and executed by his son Kavadh 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 experienced a new event, the Muslim conquests. Emerging from the Arabian Peninsula, the Muslims quickly conquered the Sasanian Empire. In 634 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 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 unity was rejected by all sides of the dispute.
Origins
Heraclius was the eldest son of Heraclius the Elder and Epiphania, of a family of possible Armenian origin from Cappadocia, with speculative Arsacid descent. Beyond that, there is little specific information known about his ancestry. His father was a key general during Emperor Maurice's war with Bahram Chobin, usurper of the Sasanian Empire, during 590. After the war, Maurice appointed Heraclius the Elder to the position of Exarch of Africa.
Legacy
Looking back at the reign of Heraclius, scholars have credited him with many accomplishments. He enlarged the Empire, and his reorganization of the government and military were great successes. His attempts at religious harmony failed, but he succeeded in returning the True Cross, one of the holiest Christian relics, to Jerusalem.
Images for kids
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Gold solidus of Heraclius and his father in consular robes, struck during their revolt against Phocas
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Heraclius in 613–616 (aged 38–41).
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enamel]] over gilt copper).
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Heraclius (center) venerating the icon of Mary before campaigning against the Persians. Scene from the 12th century Manasses Chronicle.
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Saint Helena]]
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Solidus showing Heraclius (middle, with the large beard) in his later reign flanked by his sons Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas
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An early 7th century drawing of Job and his family, likely represented as Heraclius (left), his second wife Martina, his sister Epiphania, and his daughter Eudoxia, on a 5th century biblical manuscript
 | Hypatia |
 | Agnodice |
 | Aglaonice |
 | Mary the Jewess |
