Ever since the rise of the Sassanian dynasty in the 3rd Century CE, the Persians had fought against their Roman or Byzantine neighbors. Though devasta

Byzantine-Sassanian War (602-628 CE): The Last Great War of Antiquity

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2025-01-17 00:30:17

Ever since the rise of the Sassanian dynasty in the 3rd Century CE, the Persians had fought against their Roman or Byzantine neighbors. Though devastating, these wars were usually limited in scope. The Sassanians could defeat the Byzantines, but rarely could they match their resources. Over time, the balance of power shifted so that the two empires became more equal. When the conflict reignited in the early 7th Century CE, the Sassanians nearly succeeded in destroying the Byzantine Empire. It was only with the rise of the great soldier-emperor Heraclius (c.575-641 CE) and the use of clever diplomacy that the Byzantines were able to emerge victorious. Yet, the war that would come to be known as the “Last Great War of Antiquity” left both empires exhausted and unable to defend themselves from the rising power of the Islamic Rashidun Caliphate.

The previous conflict between the two great empires, the Byzantine-Sassanian War of 572-591 CE, ended with a promise of peace. Maurice (539-602 CE), the Byzantine emperor, helped an exiled prince Sassanian prince, Khosrow II (c.570-628 CE), ascend the throne. This resulted in cordial relations between the empires, with the Byzantines being able to halt annual tribute payments to the Sassanians. Both empires had been weakened by the conflict, and Khosrow needed to consolidate his rule. However, Maurice’s attempts to rebuild the imperial treasury and deal with the Avars and Slavs ended up destabilizing the Byzantine Empire.