Battle of Nineveh (627)

The Battle of Nineveh ( ) was the

climactic battle of the Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602
628. The Byzantine victory later resulted in civil war in
Persia and for a period of time restored the empire to its
ancient boundaries in the Middle East. This resurgence
of power and prestige was not to last, however, as within
a matter of a few years, an Arab Caliphate emerged from
Arabia and once again brought the empire to the brink of
destruction.

Prelude
Maneuvers before and after the Battle of Nineveh

When Emperor Maurice was murdered by the usurper

Phocas, Khosrau II declared war, ostensibly to avenge his
benefactors death. While the Persians proved largely successful during the rst stages of the war, conquering much
of the Levant, Egypt, and even Anatolia, the ascendancy
of Heraclius eventually led to the Persians downfall. Heraclius campaigns altered the balance, forcing the Persians
on the defensive and allowing for the Byzantines to regain momentum. Allied with the Avars, the Persians attempted to take Constantinople, but were defeated there.

On 1 December, Heraclius crossed the Great Zab

River and camped near the ruins of the capital of the
former Assyrian Empire of Nineveh in Persian ruled
Assyria/Assuristan. This was a movement from south
to north, contrary to the expectation of a southward advance. However, this can be seen as a way to avoid being trapped by the Persian army in case of a defeat.[7]
Rhahzadh approached Nineveh from a dierent position.
While the Siege of Constantinople was taking place, Her- News that 3,000 Persian reinforcements were approachaclius allied with what Byzantine sources called the Khaz- ing reached Heraclius, forcing him to act.[7] He gave
ars under Ziebel, who are identied with the Western Tur- the appearance of retreating from Persia by crossing the
kic Khaganate of the Gktrks led by Tong Yabghu,[3] Tigris.[8]
plying him with wondrous gifts and a promise of the
reward of the porphyrogenita Eudoxia Epiphania. The
Caucasus-based Turks responded by sending 40,000 of
3 Field
their men to ravage the Persian empire in 626 to start the
Third Perso-Turkic War.[4] Joint Byzantine and Gktrks
Heraclius had found a plain west of the Great Zab some
operations were focused on besieging Tiis.[5]
distance from the ruins of Nineveh.[9] This allowed the
Byzantines to take advantage of their strengths in lances
and hand-to-hand combat. Furthermore, the fog reduced
2 Invasion of Mesopotamia
the Persian advantage in missile troops and allowed the
Byzantines to charge without great losses from missile
In mid-September 627, leaving Ziebel to continue the barrages.[8] Walter Kaegi believes that this battle took
siege of Tiis, Heraclius invaded the Persian heartland, place near Karamlays Creek.[10]
this time with between 25,000 and 50,000 troops and
40,000 Gktrks. The Gktrks, however, quickly deserted him because of the strange winter conditions.[1]
Heraclius was tailed by Rhahzadh's army of 12,000,[2] but 4 The battle
managed to evade Rhahzadh and invaded the heartland
of the Persian Empire, in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq).[1] Rhahzadh deployed his forces into three masses and
Heraclius acquired food and fodder from the country- attacked.[11] Heraclius feigned retreat to lead the Persians
side, so Rhahzadh, following through countryside already to the plains before reversing his troops to the surprise
stripped, could not easily nd provisions. This resulted in of the Persians.[8] After eight hours of ghting, the Persians suddenly retreated to nearby foothills, but it was not
harm to Rhahzadhs animals.[6][7]
1

a rout.[12][13] 6,000 Persians fell.[2][14]

[2] Kaegi 2003, p. 167

Nikephoros' Brief History tells that Rhahzadh challenged

Heraclius to personal combat. Heraclius accepted and
killed Rhahzadh in a single thrust; two other challengers
fought and also lost.[2][12] In any case, Rhahzadh died
sometime in the battle.[2]

[3] Kaegi 2003, p. 143

The 3,000 Persian reinforcements arrived too late for the

battle. [2][15]

REFERENCES

[4] Norwich 1997, p. 92

[5] Kaegi 2003, p. 144
[6] Kaegi 2003, pp. 159
[7] Kaegi 2003, pp. 160
[8] Kaegi 2003, pp. 161

Aftermath

[9] Kaegi 2003, pp. 162

[10] Kaegi 2003, pp. 163
[11] Kaegi 2003, pp. 161162
[12] Norwich 1997, p. 93
[13] Kaegi 2003, p. 163
[14] Kaegi 2003, p. 169
[15] Kaegi 2003, pp. 170
[16] Kaegi 2003, pp. 168

Cherub and Heraclius receiving the submission of Khosrau II;

plaque from a cross (Champlev enamel over gilt copper, 1160
1170, Paris, Louvre).

[17] Kaegi 2003, p. 173

[18] Oman 1893, p. 211
[19] Norwich 1997, p. 94

The victory at Nineveh was not total as the Byzantines

were unable to capture the Persian camp.[16] However, [20] Oman 1893, p. 212
this victory was signicant enough to shatter the resistance
of the Persians.[16]
With no Persian army left to oppose him, Heraclius victorious army plundered Dastagird, Khosraus palace, and
gained tremendous riches while recovering 300 captured
Byzantine/Roman standards accumulated over years of
warfare.[17] Khosrau had already ed to the mountains
of Susiana to try to rally support for the defense of
Ctesiphon.[12][18] Heraclius could not attack Ctesiphon itself because the Nahrawan Canal was blocked by the collapse of a bridge.[17]
The Persian army rebelled and overthrew Khosrau II,
raising his son Kavadh II, also known as Siroes, in his
stead. Khosrau perished in a dungeon after suering for
ve days on bare sustenancehe was shot to death slowly
with arrows on the fth day.[19] Kavadh immediately sent
peace oers to Heraclius. Heraclius did not impose harsh
terms, knowing that his own empire was also near exhaustion. Under the peace treaty, the Byzantines regained all
their lost territories, their captured soldiers, a war indemnity, and of great spiritual signicance, the True Cross
and other relics that were lost in Jerusalem in 614.[19][20]
The battle marked the end of the Roman-Persian Wars.

Notes

[1] Kaegi 2003, pp. 158159

7 References
Kaegi, Walter Emil (2003), Heraclius: emperor of
Byzantium, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9780-521-81459-1

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