Heraclius Strikes Back – The Bold 622- 625 AD Campaign: Eastern Rome vs Persia (Pt 2)

PART 1 here:    • Heraclius Prepares The Greatest Cοmeback i...  
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622 AD—The Byzantine-Sassanid war has been ongoing for 20 years, heavily favoring the Sassanid side. However, despite the past setbacks, Emperor Heraclius is now determined to fight back.

First, he marched his army into Anatolia to lure the Persians into advantageous terrain and delivered a victory to boost his army's morale.

This victory, even if not significant, allowed him to deal with the Avars on the European side of the empire and prepare a new, bolder expedition. In 624, he would march his army deep within Persian territories, recapturing Theodosiopolis, sacking Dvin, and arriving in Ganzac, where he faced Khosraw himself. Heraclius won the day, as the Shahanshah did not wish to deal with Heraclius' reformed army just yet. Instead, he tried to encircle him using three armies at once, as Heraclius retreated towards the Caucasus.

In the Caucasus, Heraclius proved to be an outstanding tactician, separating the three enemy armies and dealing with one of them each time. Even when the armies united, he managed to outplay and defeat them again. Finally, on their way home, the Romans would have to face the Sassanids once again as they blocked the passes on the Sarus river. But even in this engagement, he proved victorious, using once again a bold strategy.

His victorious campaign proved to be a huge success. Now he had humbled the Sassanids for good, but the war was far from over. Khosraw was preparing a new offensive, while at the same time he orchestrated a siege against Constantinople itself, conducted by the Avars, thus bringing the war to its climax.

Heraclius has proved that the Empire can be saved, but his enemies are not yet beaten. Is he ready for the Endgame?

Discover Heraclius’ story and many others in our epic cinematic documentary series.

Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: http://www.epidemicsound.com

0:00 Previously
1:06 Preparing the Campaign
3:36 Battle of Ophlimus
5:09 The Northern Front
5:52 The Great Offensive
7:38 Ganzak
10:50 Persian Counter Attack
12:50 Battle of the Sarus River
14:23 Aftermath of the Campaign

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