Book about Byzantium in 7th cent.

[kataphraktoi]

Perusing thru my uni library I came across a book about Byzantium's 7th cent. Best thing about it was Heraclius' Persian campaigns.

Anyone reading it will not believe how such a general could be omitted from the ranks of some of the best generals in history. Granted I am biased, but justified.
Stupidity on the part of military "experts" who omit Heraclius because of the Arabs commit the cardinal sin of associating one relevant event to the other. What did the Muslim Arabs have to the war? Nothing in the duration of war but after it. It is the duration of the war that is the focus not after it.

This is my late night rant. I hope I will finish it when my eyesight blurs out in tiredness.

Author:
A.N. Strathos

Byzantium in the Seventh Century Book I 602-634

Heraclius tidbits:

Surrounded by 3 armies in the mountainous Zagros range and defeated all armies to extricate itself- only Hannnibal, Caesar and Alexander could do that - why not Heraclius who did?

Heraclius campaigned deep in Persia while maintaing long lines of communication against Persian armies still loose. eg. Army of Shahbaraz, he who conquered Cilicia, Syria, Roman Palestina, Armenia, Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Led from the front at all times especially in Mard U Mard (one on one combat before commencement of fighting)

Drove deep into Persian hearlland and chase Chosroe like a piggy tailed school being chased by the big bad wolf. Burnt the fellas seasonal capital Dastagard.

[biguth dickuth]

Interesting info Kataphraktoi. I knew that Heraklius was a good general but don't really know much about the battles he fought. It would be nice if you found the time to post some extracts of the book. Thanks anyway!

[kataphraktoi]

Pg. 155

The Persians were surprised by the invasion and particularly by the speed of the advance. Chosroes as we have already pointed out, did not envisage the Byzantines invading Persia. In June he decided to recall Shahbaraz. But it was four months between the decision being made and Shahbaraz's arrival...........

Chosroes picked 40,000 men in haste and placed himself at their head, occupied position in Atropatene Media (Azerbaijan and North western Iran) from which to defend it. Heraclius crossed the Araxes, probably close to the town of Jolfa and entered the "Land of Fire', where there were many Fire Altars. He advanced burning the towns and villages.....

He marched straight on to the town of Ganzac...Shortly before it he encountered the Persian advance guard which he dispersed, killing the general in command of it. His lightning advance was irresistible.

The news of the size of the Byzantine army and dispersal of the Persian vanguard terrified Chosroes, who abandoned his army and took flight. When the Emperor had dispersed the Persian army, he entered Ganzac, a large and rich city, capital of Atropatene Media where he rested his army. He was informed Chosroes had feld to Therbaimes burning all crops and pasture of the district to hinder feeding the BYzantine troops. This was the usual Persian tactic when their enemies were advancing through the plain. He was also told that there was a great Fire Temple......Therbaimes was captured and set on fire together with the Temple..........

The pursuit of Chosroes was merciless and lasted a considerable time. At one moment they cut him off in the mountainous regions of South Media, but he finally succeeded in escaping towards Mesopotamia where he mustered a new Persian army and awaited Shahbaraz's arrival. There is very little information extant about this chase. Only the eastern chroniclers say that Ecbatana was captured.............

Next time, I'll type out the part about the three armies.

[Leet Eriksson]

Hey kataphraktoi long time no see!

Great articles, can't wait for the upcoming one, keep up the good work!

[biguth dickuth]

Thanks a lot Kataphraktoi!
Can't wait for more...whenever you find time, of course!

[kataphraktoi]

Hey Faisal!! Long time no see either.

p159 - 163

Chosroes realising the peril, mustered three armies to face the Byzantine onslaught.

One of these was commanded by Shahbaraz, another by Sahin, while the third consisting of raw recruits was on this account supplemented of crack troops bearing names of Persian Kings, the Chosroygetes and the Perozites. Sarahblangas (the royal leopard) a very active and conceited general, was put in command.

Sarahblangas occupied a line stretching from the eastern shore of Lake Sevan to the Phaitakaran frontier, to be in a position to prevent the Byzantine invading Azerbaijan. He was hoping to ambush them.

When the mountain passes began to open up, Heraclius determined to start operations and it was then that he realised how unwise he had been to shut himself up in Albania (Chechyna area).

It was hard for him to descend on the eastern side of Phaitarakan, where the passes, while it was still harder to come down the western shore of Lake Sevan and by way of Armenia.

A huge mass of plateau, like a mountain island, stretches from the Caucasus foothills to the extensive plain in Mesopotamia. These plateaux are at different levels and intersected by very deep gorges, through which run-winding rivers full of rushing water. There are numerous side streams and even more torrents. Volcanic cones rise above the plateaux, the largest of which is Ararat, more than 5000 metres high......

Armenia has seldom being conquered by an enemy coming from the North, while almost every attempt to do so from the South has failed.

But this direction, too, was beginning to be ruled out for Heraclius by Shahbaraz approaching along the western shores of Lake Sevan.

Heraclius who had been reinforced by the allies and Lazi, Abasgi and Iberian mercenaries, fully apreciated the situation and marched south-east in an attempt to outflank Sarahblangas and capture the central road leading to Siounia.

Sarahblangas thought that the Byzantines were marching against Sahin's army and tried to overtake him through the mountain passes. But he became involved in the trackless passes and had to slow down his march.
Meanwhile Heraclius was in difficulties, because his allies refused to follow him to Azerbaijan. This resulted in the Byzantines losing valuable time while another Persian army was arriving.

Shahbaraz, obeying Chosroes' instant orders, after crossing the provinces of Ararat and Uti, reached the scene of operations. Thus he appeared behind the Byzantines while Sarahblangas was approaching on their flank.

Heraclius then thought that the only solution was to attack Sarahblangas whiose troops were tired after their exhausting journey. But Sarahblangas refused to fight, awaiting the arrical of the other two Persian armies.
Heraclius attacked them day and night and weakened the Persian morale. The Persians slowed down their march which enabled Heraclius to outflank them. He thus succeeded in infiltrating between the two armies.
He now was informed a third army under Sahin was drawing near.....

The Persians then marched against the Byzantines and Heraclius succeeded in drawing them onto a field of battle chosen by himself, which ended in a Byzantine victory during which Sarahblangas was wounded.

Towards the end of the fight, Sahin arrived and encamped ar the town of Tigranokert, near the present Tarnaout to the rear of the Byzantines. Heraclius immediately made a fierce onslaught on Sahin's army. This army which was small, suffered heavy losses. The Persians' camp and equipment...fell into Byzantine hands.....

Shahbaraz gathered together the remnants of both Sahin and Sarahblangas' armies and contemplated a fresh attack.....

By following the inner roads, Shahbaraz succeeded in forestalling Heraclius in this region. He spread his troops over the area of Aliovid, while he and 6000 picked horsemen stopped at Arces where they laid an ambush for Heraclius. Arces was a stronghold...

The Emperor heard of the ambush and selecting 20000 soldiers marched along the Patnos-Arces road against Shahbaraz. The Byzantine vanguard reached the village of Ali or Salvani....

There at three in the morning, the took the Persian guard by surprise and killed all but one man who rushed to inform Shahbaraz. The latter woke up and became angry as he did not believe the news and ordered the bearer to be put in irons. Meanwhile the Byzantines rushed headlong to attack the town. Shahbaraz then arose and "mounted his horse naked and barefoot" and made haste his escape.

The Persians put up a heroic resistance and fought fanatically from the roors of theirt houses, onto which they had climbed. Heralcius set the town on fire. Many were killed while others were either burnt alive or surrendered....

Shahbaraz's harem was also taken prisoner by the ByZAntines. Surprise was complete......

The surprise and semi-destruction of the Persian forces took place at the end of November and beginning of December, 625.