In the early 600s the Persian king Khosrau came extremely close to conquering the Byzantine Empire he failed to defeat the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius managed to defeat him and only a few years later the Persian Empire was conquered by the Arabs who were Muslim who came to rule of all the Middle East. But if Khorsau did conquer the Byzantine Empire so much would be different the Achaemenid Empire would have been revived. Islam would have never emerged and Christianity may not have been a dominant religion. Zoroastrianism may have become a dominant religion instead of Christianity and Islam.
Persia conquers Byzantine Empire
- Thread starter historyrant
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In 626 CE Constantinople the capital of the once great Eastern Roman Empire falls to the Persians and their allies the Slavs and Avars. The Persians annex the Eastern Roman Empire taking most of its territory with the exception of the Byzantine territory in Italy and North Africa. Khosrau King of Persia has not only revived all the territories once part of the Persian Empire but gained control of a large territory in the Balkans. He has conquered Greece which the great kings of Persia failed to conquer in the 400s BCE. Khosrau is given the title king Khosrau the Great. The empire Khosrau ruled was the largest in the world extending from Greece to the Indus Valley. When Khorsau entered the great city of Constantinople he was fascinated the city was far larger than his capital Ctesiphon and was beautiful and fantastic. It had 500 000 inhabitants. What fascinated Khorsau were the massive aqueduct built in Constantinople with tunnels that ran underneath in the reign of Valens. The aqueduct bridges built astonished Khorsau even more. The Theodosian walls that were built around Constantinople for a long time prevented the Persians from capturing the city that Khorsau decided to adopt this for his capital. He allowed his new subjects to worship their own religion to keep them happy and Haiga Sophia remained a cathedral. Gold and riches more than what the kings of Persia had were taken back to Ctesiphon. The defeated emperor Heraclius was nowhere to be found he had fled from Constantinople to Carthage in North Africa where the Byzantine Empire kept hold of its last territories. He refused to spare the patriarch of Constantinople Sergius I who the Persian king had him buried alive.
Khorsau now had more Christian subjects in his farfetched empire than he had zostrians. Although hateful too Christians he still had to please his people. Just like the Achaemenid king Cyrus had done he allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land. The Avars people from Eastern Europe who had helped defeat Byzantines the Persians paid in gold.
The Persians were now rich of Byzantine wealth. To help control his empire Khorsau created two capitals for the empire Constantinople and Ctesiphon. By expanding territory it also created problems for Khorsau. Khorsau now had more Christian subjects than he had Zoroastrian which was the primary religion within the Persian Empire. To keep hold of power he had to allow the teachings of Christianity within the empire. Khorsau however refused to return the true holy cross to Jerusalem which he had taken when he sacked the holy city. The execution of the patriarch made his Christian subjects angry with their new ruler it was a great sin to execute a man of god.
Khorsau now had two administrative centres one in Ctesiphon the other in Constantinople. The people of Constantinople hated Khorsau and in 629 the revolted against Khorsau and stormed the Sacred Palace in Constantinople they took the governor hostage. Khorsau returned and defeated the revolt and executed the leading participants of the revolt. During these events the Sacred Palace and the great Hippodrome were badly damaged.
The new peoples of the Greater Persians hated their foreign ruler who they new were a pagan.
Just like what the Roman Empire had to deal with on the borders of Khorsau’s empire thier were barbarians that could at any time invade his farfetched empire. In particular were the Avars who were waiting to invade Persia.
Khosrau governed his now huge empire by appointing provincal governors to rule satrapies (provinces) to rule over areas of the Persian Empire. The borders of the satrapies were set according to the borders of the satrapies in Achaemenid Persia. The satrapy of Palestine were ruled by Jewish governor for the first time in hundreds of years. The Jews who had suffered under the reign of the Byzantine emperor Phocas returned to the Promised Land. Constantinople was ruled by the satrap of Hellespont who was Greek.
No actually the patriarch was flayed alive that seems like a more common Persian form of execution back in 628 CE (no offense to Persians).
When the Persians conquered Constantinople Heraclius was on campaign against the Persians across the Euphrates on hearing the news of Constantinople’s fall he retreated across the Euphrates his retreat being harassed by the Persian armies until he reached the shores of the Mediterranean where he fled to Carthage in North Africa which was under Byzantine control. The retreat had been disastrous and half of his army couldn’t cross the river Euphrates because of floods.
In North Africa he established Carthage as the capital of the exiled Byzantine empire, which became known as the empire of Carthage.
Heraclius received recognition from the pope as the heir to the Roman Empire. The king of the Lombards pleads his allegiance to the empire. In Carthage he decided to strengthen the walls of the city by building the Heracliun walls around Carthage based on the Theodosian walls which had protected Constantinople before the Persians captured the city.
To replace the patriarch of Constantinople Heraclius appointed a patriarch of Carthage which would crown the emperor. After the Persian capture of Constantinople the empire remained largely Latin.
Heraclius upgraded the defences of Carthage largely because he feared another Persian invasion. By the fact that the Persians were able to storm Constantinople Heraclius was not sure if even these walls could defend the city against an opponent like the Persians, Lombards etc.
Khorsau was king edger to repeat the achievements of Cyrus and Darius his dream was to create a universal empire and bring about a new golden age for Persia. He created a administrative centre in Constantinople. He admired Darius’ achievements including the road to Sardis. This inspired him to order a construction of a road that spread from Ctesiphon to Constantinople. Khorsau set up administrative centres in every satrapy of his empire. Egypt became a useful satrapy within the empire and soon supplied most of the empires grain. Alexandria remained the centre of the satrapy. During the storming of the Sacred Palace in the revolt in Constantinople valuable Greek texts were taking back to Ctesiphon. In the south a new threat was emerging the Arabs who lived south of Ctesiphon and near the Red Sea. In the past the Arabs have traded with Persians and Byzantines and they learnt of the ongoing war between the Byzantines and Persians. In Arabia a new religion was rising Islam which had spread amongst the people of Arabia. There leader was a prophet called Mohammed who asked his people to submit to Allah the one true God. His religion was popular amongst the people of Arabia. The Persians heard of these events from the merchants of Mecca who visited Ctesiphon. Islamic communities started to appear in Mesopotamia, Syria and other parts of the empire. When Khorsau cared little for the spread of Islam he did not think that the armies of the Arabs would be a match for the sheer number of Persians soldiers he also knew that his army was far more advanced in Technology. He thought of the Arabs as merchants and traders not a warlike people. This would later be a great mistake.
Khorsau now had more Christian subjects in his farfetched empire than he had zostrians. Although hateful too Christians he still had to please his people. Just like the Achaemenid king Cyrus had done he allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land. The Avars people from Eastern Europe who had helped defeat Byzantines the Persians paid in gold.
The Persians were now rich of Byzantine wealth. To help control his empire Khorsau created two capitals for the empire Constantinople and Ctesiphon. By expanding territory it also created problems for Khorsau. Khorsau now had more Christian subjects than he had Zoroastrian which was the primary religion within the Persian Empire. To keep hold of power he had to allow the teachings of Christianity within the empire. Khorsau however refused to return the true holy cross to Jerusalem which he had taken when he sacked the holy city. The execution of the patriarch made his Christian subjects angry with their new ruler it was a great sin to execute a man of god.
Khorsau now had two administrative centres one in Ctesiphon the other in Constantinople. The people of Constantinople hated Khorsau and in 629 the revolted against Khorsau and stormed the Sacred Palace in Constantinople they took the governor hostage. Khorsau returned and defeated the revolt and executed the leading participants of the revolt. During these events the Sacred Palace and the great Hippodrome were badly damaged.
The new peoples of the Greater Persians hated their foreign ruler who they new were a pagan.
Just like what the Roman Empire had to deal with on the borders of Khorsau’s empire thier were barbarians that could at any time invade his farfetched empire. In particular were the Avars who were waiting to invade Persia.
Khosrau governed his now huge empire by appointing provincal governors to rule satrapies (provinces) to rule over areas of the Persian Empire. The borders of the satrapies were set according to the borders of the satrapies in Achaemenid Persia. The satrapy of Palestine were ruled by Jewish governor for the first time in hundreds of years. The Jews who had suffered under the reign of the Byzantine emperor Phocas returned to the Promised Land. Constantinople was ruled by the satrap of Hellespont who was Greek.
No actually the patriarch was flayed alive that seems like a more common Persian form of execution back in 628 CE (no offense to Persians).
When the Persians conquered Constantinople Heraclius was on campaign against the Persians across the Euphrates on hearing the news of Constantinople’s fall he retreated across the Euphrates his retreat being harassed by the Persian armies until he reached the shores of the Mediterranean where he fled to Carthage in North Africa which was under Byzantine control. The retreat had been disastrous and half of his army couldn’t cross the river Euphrates because of floods.
In North Africa he established Carthage as the capital of the exiled Byzantine empire, which became known as the empire of Carthage.
Heraclius received recognition from the pope as the heir to the Roman Empire. The king of the Lombards pleads his allegiance to the empire. In Carthage he decided to strengthen the walls of the city by building the Heracliun walls around Carthage based on the Theodosian walls which had protected Constantinople before the Persians captured the city.
To replace the patriarch of Constantinople Heraclius appointed a patriarch of Carthage which would crown the emperor. After the Persian capture of Constantinople the empire remained largely Latin.
Heraclius upgraded the defences of Carthage largely because he feared another Persian invasion. By the fact that the Persians were able to storm Constantinople Heraclius was not sure if even these walls could defend the city against an opponent like the Persians, Lombards etc.
Khorsau was king edger to repeat the achievements of Cyrus and Darius his dream was to create a universal empire and bring about a new golden age for Persia. He created a administrative centre in Constantinople. He admired Darius’ achievements including the road to Sardis. This inspired him to order a construction of a road that spread from Ctesiphon to Constantinople. Khorsau set up administrative centres in every satrapy of his empire. Egypt became a useful satrapy within the empire and soon supplied most of the empires grain. Alexandria remained the centre of the satrapy. During the storming of the Sacred Palace in the revolt in Constantinople valuable Greek texts were taking back to Ctesiphon. In the south a new threat was emerging the Arabs who lived south of Ctesiphon and near the Red Sea. In the past the Arabs have traded with Persians and Byzantines and they learnt of the ongoing war between the Byzantines and Persians. In Arabia a new religion was rising Islam which had spread amongst the people of Arabia. There leader was a prophet called Mohammed who asked his people to submit to Allah the one true God. His religion was popular amongst the people of Arabia. The Persians heard of these events from the merchants of Mecca who visited Ctesiphon. Islamic communities started to appear in Mesopotamia, Syria and other parts of the empire. When Khorsau cared little for the spread of Islam he did not think that the armies of the Arabs would be a match for the sheer number of Persians soldiers he also knew that his army was far more advanced in Technology. He thought of the Arabs as merchants and traders not a warlike people. This would later be a great mistake.
Welcome to the site! Christianity would still be the dominant religion in the west (and I assume in the occupied eastern roman provinces). Maybe if Khosrau manages to take Constantinople, Heraclius really does set up shop in Carthage and rules a sort of southern Roman Empire.
edit: sorry, didn't see the second post, I'll read it first.
edit: sorry, didn't see the second post, I'll read it first.
This was the POD for my "Muslim Europe, Christian Middle East" TL.
Basically the Persian Empire got overextended and fell into civil war, with the Muslim Arabs conquering the western half (ruled by a rebellious son who'd converted to Orthodoxy and was calling himself the Eastern Emperor) but being held at the Sinai. Persian proper holds out and the Arabs pour into the Balkans, eventually forcing the remnants of the Avars to becoming mercenaries for Venice.
Basically the Persian Empire got overextended and fell into civil war, with the Muslim Arabs conquering the western half (ruled by a rebellious son who'd converted to Orthodoxy and was calling himself the Eastern Emperor) but being held at the Sinai. Persian proper holds out and the Arabs pour into the Balkans, eventually forcing the remnants of the Avars to becoming mercenaries for Venice.
Wouldn't the proper Persians come to help or perhaps regain their empire? If you're planning on Muslim Europe, be careful with plausibility. Ambitious idea
It's just too much territory for one Empire to hold onto centrally. Especially in the bloody wake of the war. The only way for the Sassanids to maintain control or what have you would be to resort to the Satrapy system and in essence prop up a bunch of local governors who can do what they want as long as they swear loyalty to the Shahanshah. Unfortunately, Khosrau II was a massive jerk who did not rule in this way. The destruction of the Kingdom of Al Hira aka the Lakhmids is one example as they destroyed their best buffer state against Arab raids and set off a chain that would help the Muslims.
Further in this position the Lombards would rather do all that they could and likely take Ravenna and Rome, to take the Roman Legacy for themselves.
Though I can see it seems you have in mind a much bigger fall for both Iranians and Rhomaioi then OTL.
Further in this position the Lombards would rather do all that they could and likely take Ravenna and Rome, to take the Roman Legacy for themselves.
Though I can see it seems you have in mind a much bigger fall for both Iranians and Rhomaioi then OTL.
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Comparing himself to Cyrus and Darius Khorsau wanted to go down in history as the greatest Shahensha who ever lived. He wanted the complete destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire. He sent the great armies of Persia from Alexandria to march on Carthage. Khorsau made an alliance with the Berbers in North Africa. In July 630 the long awaited Berber-Persian siege of Carthage came. Heraclius relied on faith that his Heracliun walls could withstand the siege. The walls proved effective and the Persian-Berber army wore themselves out assaulting the walls. Heraclius in desperation bribed the Lombards to help protect Carthage. When they arrived they attacked the besieging army there attcks proved effective. In November of that year the Persians and their allies withdrew and thus Carthage was saved.
When Khorsau heard of this failure he was infuriated and ordered the death of Heraclius’ son Constantine who was flayed. Khorsau was now left with an overextended empire.
Khorsau grew suspicious of his relatives and imprisoned his son Kavad for plotting against him.
In 632 the man responsible for the spread of Islam Muhammad died. The Muslims chose Abu Bakr as his successor and he took the title Caliph Successor of Muhammad. He wanted the world to submit to Allah the one true God. To do so he had to expand Islam beyond the reaches of Arabia. Abu Bakr extended Islamic land right into the lands of Iranshar. The armies of Islam overran Palestine and were knocking on Egypt’s door. By now Khorsau’s health was deteriorating now an old man he was no position to led his armies against this new threat Khorsau passed away in 635 outliving Abu Bakr by a few months. Khorsau was succeded by his son Kavad I who was an ineffective ruler. Kavad did not reign for long and died of the plague. To make things worse Kavad’s son Ardashir had been assassinated. After his death Persia’s greatest general Shahrbaraz seized power and married Khorsau’s daughter Borandukht to strengthen his claim on the throne. Shahrbraz was immediately faced with numerous threats. The citizens of Constantinople had been raided by the Avars and the emperor in distant Ctesiphon was never there. The people of Constantinople raised a usurper who claimed to be Tiberius, Maurice’s murdered son. The Arabs had captured Jerusalem and had reached the Sinai desert. The empire seemed to be collapsing around him. Shahbraz’ sister in law Azarmidokht continually intrigued against him. In no time the Arabs were advancing on the great city of Ctesiphon. Shahbraz led his armies against the Arabs and was soundly defeated. Ctesiphon was only saved by the flooding of the Tigris river. This gave the Persians some breathing space.
When Khorsau heard of this failure he was infuriated and ordered the death of Heraclius’ son Constantine who was flayed. Khorsau was now left with an overextended empire.
Khorsau grew suspicious of his relatives and imprisoned his son Kavad for plotting against him.
In 632 the man responsible for the spread of Islam Muhammad died. The Muslims chose Abu Bakr as his successor and he took the title Caliph Successor of Muhammad. He wanted the world to submit to Allah the one true God. To do so he had to expand Islam beyond the reaches of Arabia. Abu Bakr extended Islamic land right into the lands of Iranshar. The armies of Islam overran Palestine and were knocking on Egypt’s door. By now Khorsau’s health was deteriorating now an old man he was no position to led his armies against this new threat Khorsau passed away in 635 outliving Abu Bakr by a few months. Khorsau was succeded by his son Kavad I who was an ineffective ruler. Kavad did not reign for long and died of the plague. To make things worse Kavad’s son Ardashir had been assassinated. After his death Persia’s greatest general Shahrbaraz seized power and married Khorsau’s daughter Borandukht to strengthen his claim on the throne. Shahrbraz was immediately faced with numerous threats. The citizens of Constantinople had been raided by the Avars and the emperor in distant Ctesiphon was never there. The people of Constantinople raised a usurper who claimed to be Tiberius, Maurice’s murdered son. The Arabs had captured Jerusalem and had reached the Sinai desert. The empire seemed to be collapsing around him. Shahbraz’ sister in law Azarmidokht continually intrigued against him. In no time the Arabs were advancing on the great city of Ctesiphon. Shahbraz led his armies against the Arabs and was soundly defeated. Ctesiphon was only saved by the flooding of the Tigris river. This gave the Persians some breathing space.
err one fatal flaw in your tl. Constantinople in this time period was impossible to take. Plus for the persians to stand a chance in besieging the city effectivly a powerful navy was required as well which they lacked.
Last I checked at this time the ERE navy ruled the seas plus constantinople had not yet declined and was still a mighty city. Even with the Avars their is little Khosrau can do to defeat the rhomans at sea nor would he try.
Therefore without a proper naval force byzantium cant even be taken in the first place. the only reason constantinople fell in otl in 1452 was due to turkish cannon, overwhelming numerical superiority, villages making up the city, and anoverwelhmingly superior navy. Now the crusaders took constaninople because their navy managed to defeat the rhoman navy and take down the sea walls of constantinople which greatly weakened it(the whole details of the collapse of byzantine empire after and during the komnenoi is too complex to go into detai but that played a major role) and they had insane amounts of luck and fortune on their side. But unless the mighty sea walls fall the Persians can do nothing to effectively take the city of constantinople especially in this time POD with its massive Theodisan walls.
Sorry but at best the Byzantines lose Anatolia to persians and balkans sans the core greek territory to avars. however eventually avars collapse or assimilate and soon fall under rhoman sphere. As for persians trying to get into the balkans. Not happening. As long as the Byzantine navy is supreme Khosrau can kiss his balkan ambitions goodbye.
that is really the only problem with your POD which is that Constantinople would be impossible to take. Also the rhoman empire still had a powerful base of support in North Africa which was still a major breadbasket of the empire next to egypt. Therefore with sea lanes open food shipments can easily occur ergo Khosrau cant starve city since he lack navy. Plus the persians do not have the logistical capability to project power and seize rhoman africa simultaneous holding down and maintaining control over egypt, levant, and anatolia.
Perhaps you could have Persia take the core territories of the rhoman empire which were situated in Anatolia but actually destroy it impossible and unlikely. As for the persians even with the avar help taking constantinople asb. Why do you think so many invasions of constantinople failed because the vast majority of the time the invaders lacked control of the sea. the only two successful takings of the city occurred due to the enemy having vastly massive numerical and[/B sea superiority plus an insane amount of luck when it came to the crusaders taking the city(By the way crusaders had trebs something persians lack making taking walls even more difficult). Oh and nicean taking of city doesn't count since that occurred due to the circumstances of the latin relying heavily on mercenaries which didn't turn out too well and a whole host of other factors that khosrau does not have in his favour, and most of the problems this ere does not face during this time period.
Good tl otherwise though and the tl is sound its just the taking of constaninople let alone destroying the byzantine empire at this time period is asb. Weaken it yes. Cripple it yes. Make it lose most of its territories absolutly. Conquer it asb. By the way during Khosraou's march to anatolia he overextended himself as he neared constantinople. Just to take that into account.
Last I checked at this time the ERE navy ruled the seas plus constantinople had not yet declined and was still a mighty city. Even with the Avars their is little Khosrau can do to defeat the rhomans at sea nor would he try.
Therefore without a proper naval force byzantium cant even be taken in the first place. the only reason constantinople fell in otl in 1452 was due to turkish cannon, overwhelming numerical superiority, villages making up the city, and anoverwelhmingly superior navy. Now the crusaders took constaninople because their navy managed to defeat the rhoman navy and take down the sea walls of constantinople which greatly weakened it(the whole details of the collapse of byzantine empire after and during the komnenoi is too complex to go into detai but that played a major role) and they had insane amounts of luck and fortune on their side. But unless the mighty sea walls fall the Persians can do nothing to effectively take the city of constantinople especially in this time POD with its massive Theodisan walls.
Sorry but at best the Byzantines lose Anatolia to persians and balkans sans the core greek territory to avars. however eventually avars collapse or assimilate and soon fall under rhoman sphere. As for persians trying to get into the balkans. Not happening. As long as the Byzantine navy is supreme Khosrau can kiss his balkan ambitions goodbye.
that is really the only problem with your POD which is that Constantinople would be impossible to take. Also the rhoman empire still had a powerful base of support in North Africa which was still a major breadbasket of the empire next to egypt. Therefore with sea lanes open food shipments can easily occur ergo Khosrau cant starve city since he lack navy. Plus the persians do not have the logistical capability to project power and seize rhoman africa simultaneous holding down and maintaining control over egypt, levant, and anatolia.
Perhaps you could have Persia take the core territories of the rhoman empire which were situated in Anatolia but actually destroy it impossible and unlikely. As for the persians even with the avar help taking constantinople asb. Why do you think so many invasions of constantinople failed because the vast majority of the time the invaders lacked control of the sea. the only two successful takings of the city occurred due to the enemy having vastly massive numerical and[/B sea superiority plus an insane amount of luck when it came to the crusaders taking the city(By the way crusaders had trebs something persians lack making taking walls even more difficult). Oh and nicean taking of city doesn't count since that occurred due to the circumstances of the latin relying heavily on mercenaries which didn't turn out too well and a whole host of other factors that khosrau does not have in his favour, and most of the problems this ere does not face during this time period.
Good tl otherwise though and the tl is sound its just the taking of constaninople let alone destroying the byzantine empire at this time period is asb. Weaken it yes. Cripple it yes. Make it lose most of its territories absolutly. Conquer it asb. By the way during Khosraou's march to anatolia he overextended himself as he neared constantinople. Just to take that into account.
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Historyrant: slow down and check your formatting and spelling before you go any further. Right now this TL is badly unreadable.
How do you propose to have Constantinople fall in 626?
How do you propose to have Constantinople fall in 626?
In 636 the citizens of Antioch happily opened their gate to their conqueror that was praised by the people who greeted them as liberators. The usurper Tiberius had secured the Balkans and had crossed into Asia Minor to challenge the shahensha.
In the wake of the Arab invasions the Balkans were left defenceless. The Avars ravaged Greece and the Shahensha who focused the empire’s energy on fighting the Arab invaders was never there. A man who claimed to be the Emperor Maurice’s murdered son was raised to the throne. He was recognised as emperor thought the Balkans. The people of Constantinople opened there gates to the the pretender. He was crowned in the Cathedral of Haiga Sophia by the patriarch of Constantinople. His claims to be emperor were rejected by Heraclius in Carthage who claimed to be the rightful Roman Emperor. Tiberius offered the Avars land in Moesia in return for help fighting against Persia.
Tiberius marched through Hellespont into Asia Minor to challenge the Shahensha accompanied by an army of Avar mercenaries.
After a 10 month siege Jerusalem fell to the Arabs who brutally sacked the city. Many Christians and Jews were taken captive and then butchered by the River Jordon where their bodies floated in the Dead Sea.
By the end of the year most of Khorsau’s hard won land was gone and the Arabs had by now stormed Sinai and Egypt looked next to fall.
In the wake of the Arab invasions the Balkans were left defenceless. The Avars ravaged Greece and the Shahensha who focused the empire’s energy on fighting the Arab invaders was never there. A man who claimed to be the Emperor Maurice’s murdered son was raised to the throne. He was recognised as emperor thought the Balkans. The people of Constantinople opened there gates to the the pretender. He was crowned in the Cathedral of Haiga Sophia by the patriarch of Constantinople. His claims to be emperor were rejected by Heraclius in Carthage who claimed to be the rightful Roman Emperor. Tiberius offered the Avars land in Moesia in return for help fighting against Persia.
Tiberius marched through Hellespont into Asia Minor to challenge the Shahensha accompanied by an army of Avar mercenaries.
After a 10 month siege Jerusalem fell to the Arabs who brutally sacked the city. Many Christians and Jews were taken captive and then butchered by the River Jordon where their bodies floated in the Dead Sea.
By the end of the year most of Khorsau’s hard won land was gone and the Arabs had by now stormed Sinai and Egypt looked next to fall.
Even if they could take Constantinople (which is unlikely), they wouldn't be able to hold onto most of their conquests. The remnants of the Roman Empire would live on as a threat, and the Persians would be facing extensive issues with over-extension even before the Arabs invasions come. The likely result of this is an Arab explosion that reach even further into anatolia and to Constantinople.
The only way to take Constantinople would be for a massive earthquake to ruin some of their walls. Funnily enough, this is almost what happened during one of the Hunnish raids. The walls were damaged, but not destroyed, and the Byzantines recovered in time.
the Persians and Avars defeat a the Byzantine navy off the coast of Gallipoli.
On the 14-15 of May rioting broke out in Constantinople. The peasants raised a usurper and overran Constantinople imprisoning Heraclius' son Constantine. The defenders now desperate and starving opened the gates of Constantinople to the Persian-Avar army who stormed Constantinople. For two weeks the city of Justinian and Constantine was sacked in a most unholy massacre. The Avars stormed Haiga Sophia which was plundered. The barbaric Avars were rewarded with the spoils of war.
come to think of it I don't think that even that was enough to take Constantinople.
an avar navy... What navy did the avars have pray tell. As for a persian navy in the Mediterranean.
The Byzantine navy may not have been so skilled but compared to the Persian navy or an Avar navy... Eh it was first class. Besides the Sassanids are a land based power not sea based. The avars morso. Pray tell where nomads were able to find competent sailors to crew ships and actually made enough ships to challenge the byzantine fleet which was at this time pretty big. Not likely at all.
Also unless either side has a way of getting past the Bosporus chain they cant touch Constantinople. As for the walls its asb to have an earthquake happen coincidentally at that time when in otl no earthquake or natural disaster hit the city.
Perhaps you could have a Sassanian general defect to the rhomans. He then becomes rhomanized and converts to Orthodox Christianity and earns reputation for outstanding victories against Persian forces. Then he wins Heraclius favor and soon rises to a high position in the rhoman court. Then the arabs invade like otl. Heraclius loses the levant. Said Persian builds a base of support among disgruntled military and civil aristocrats and launches a cou that overthrows Heraclius and said Persian becomes Emperor after marrying a prominent Byzantine Noble.
Lets also say, said Persian general belonged to a prominent and powerful Persian Noble family.
Ergo you have a Persian noble who takes the rhoman throne. That is the best scenario for you if you want a "Persian" Byzantium. Since technically he and his successors are of Persian descent. Plus once Sassanid Persia falls he being a relative of the Persian royal house who survives would inherit the title of deposed Shah. Therefore you have Emperor of the Rhomans and Shah of the Sassanids.
Which eliminates the fleet off Constantinople itself? Strange.
Why would there be riots? Why would they imprison Constantine? Why are they starving all of a sudden (they don't seem to have been suffering from that OTL)?
At the start of the years the edger Tiberius’ army marched over the the Euphrates into the heartland of Persia. Tiberius army neared Ctiesphon but his army was ambushed at Therthar Lake by the Persian Calvary. Tiberius’ army was surrounded and cut down. The Avar mercenaries fled leaving Tiberius and a few soldiers left to fight. Almost all of the remains of Tiberius’ army were butchered and seeing that all was lost Tiberius took his life and his body was never found.
Soon the Arabs were once again encroaching on Ctesiphon.
In the past the Arabs had raided Persian land and had occupied the ruins of Ancient cities but now the Arabs came not as raiders but as conquers in greater numbers.
Victory over Tiberius was not enough to stop his empire rotting away as the Arabs neared Ctesiphon Shahbraz put together his fighting force to deal with and see an end to the Arab threat.
The Arab ruler Omar sent emissaries to the Shahensha to convert him to Islam. The angry Shahensha responded by castrating the emissaries before sending them back to Omar.
Shahbraz realised he needed to improve the military. Shahbraz was already respected and trusted by the army. To do so he confiscated vast amounts of territory and wealth from the Parthian aristocracy and giving the land to the Moabs in return for their support. He used the wealth to pay for his army. But as a result a powerful church aristocracy was born.
It was in May 637 that the Arabs and the Persians would fight in a battle that would decide the fate of Persia. The Shahensha himself led his army into battle. He wasted no time doing duelling and was happy to let the battle ignite. The Shahensha’s army vastly outnumbered the Muslims Shahbraz expected a quick victory during the battle as the Persian army numbered 70 000 compared to the much smaller Arab army of 30 000. His army immediately launched a devastating attack and the Arabs. The Muslim general Sa`d was captured and he was beheaded. The Shahensha stuck his head on a pole and the Muslim army become demoralized and fled.
The rest of the Muslim army were massacred when they tried to cross the Euphrates river.
This was a decisive defeat of the Arab forces by the Shahensha who eliminated the Arabs from Mesopotamia thereby the heartland of his empire was no longer under serious threat.
After the battle Shahbraz realised that one of the reasons his army suffered so much casualties was because it was used to fighting Romans on their Western frontier rather than nomads like the Arabs. The Arab Calvary was light and carried swords and lances. They were no match for the Persian immortals though.
The defeat of the Arabs in Mesopotamia managed to halt their conquest of Mesopotamia in the east. Afterwards Shahbraz and Omar agreed to come to terms. Shahbraz recognised the Arab conquest of Palestine, Egypt and a large part of Syria.
Not all the gains of Khorsau were lost a part of Syria, Armenia and Anatolia were still under the Shahensha’s control.
The Caliph was now willing to negotiate. The Caliph brought a treaty with the Shaensha since both of them were weary of war. In return the Shah recognised the Arab conquest of Egypt, Palestine and parts of Syria. The two powers bordered at the Euphrates River and up to Antioch which was controlled by the Persians.
The Turkic Khaganate in the east fractured and was no longer as powerful as it had been in the past and was less of a problem to the Shahensha’s eastern provinces.
The Shahensha still had enemies to deal with his subjects in Syria and Anatolia were Christians who hated their Persian masters. To gain support of the Christians the Zoroastrian church tried to merge thier beliefs together. The Shahaensha made the Moabs claim that Jesus was the son of Ahura Mazda (God) and were one. The Shahensha planned for large Greek style mosaics of himself to be placed in all the lands of the empire once controlled by the Byzantines. This was surprising since the Shahs of Persia had long condemned Greek culture. To collect taxes the Shahensha organised a group of undisciplined thugs to collect taxes.
With the treaty with the Caliph Shahbraz was now free to eliminate the Turk Khagantae which had been raiding his far Eastern Provinces. With the army in the best state as it had been in twenty years it seemed like an easy task. Just a few years earlier the Gokturks devastated the Eastern Provinces and reached as far as Armenia but now their advance seems to have been halted and first there was civil war and then they were divided before their Eastern territories were slowly eaten away by a new emerging power in the east the Tang Empire of China. Transoxania was initially ruled by the Persians but in the 630s the territory was seized by the Gokturks. In 639 Shahbraz left Ctesiphon and with the full strength of the formidable Persian army marched eastward. Together with pressure from Tang China Transoxania was recovered but now had a powerful superpower on his border.
Soon the Arabs were once again encroaching on Ctesiphon.
In the past the Arabs had raided Persian land and had occupied the ruins of Ancient cities but now the Arabs came not as raiders but as conquers in greater numbers.
Victory over Tiberius was not enough to stop his empire rotting away as the Arabs neared Ctesiphon Shahbraz put together his fighting force to deal with and see an end to the Arab threat.
The Arab ruler Omar sent emissaries to the Shahensha to convert him to Islam. The angry Shahensha responded by castrating the emissaries before sending them back to Omar.
Shahbraz realised he needed to improve the military. Shahbraz was already respected and trusted by the army. To do so he confiscated vast amounts of territory and wealth from the Parthian aristocracy and giving the land to the Moabs in return for their support. He used the wealth to pay for his army. But as a result a powerful church aristocracy was born.
It was in May 637 that the Arabs and the Persians would fight in a battle that would decide the fate of Persia. The Shahensha himself led his army into battle. He wasted no time doing duelling and was happy to let the battle ignite. The Shahensha’s army vastly outnumbered the Muslims Shahbraz expected a quick victory during the battle as the Persian army numbered 70 000 compared to the much smaller Arab army of 30 000. His army immediately launched a devastating attack and the Arabs. The Muslim general Sa`d was captured and he was beheaded. The Shahensha stuck his head on a pole and the Muslim army become demoralized and fled.
The rest of the Muslim army were massacred when they tried to cross the Euphrates river.
This was a decisive defeat of the Arab forces by the Shahensha who eliminated the Arabs from Mesopotamia thereby the heartland of his empire was no longer under serious threat.
After the battle Shahbraz realised that one of the reasons his army suffered so much casualties was because it was used to fighting Romans on their Western frontier rather than nomads like the Arabs. The Arab Calvary was light and carried swords and lances. They were no match for the Persian immortals though.
The defeat of the Arabs in Mesopotamia managed to halt their conquest of Mesopotamia in the east. Afterwards Shahbraz and Omar agreed to come to terms. Shahbraz recognised the Arab conquest of Palestine, Egypt and a large part of Syria.
Not all the gains of Khorsau were lost a part of Syria, Armenia and Anatolia were still under the Shahensha’s control.
The Caliph was now willing to negotiate. The Caliph brought a treaty with the Shaensha since both of them were weary of war. In return the Shah recognised the Arab conquest of Egypt, Palestine and parts of Syria. The two powers bordered at the Euphrates River and up to Antioch which was controlled by the Persians.
The Turkic Khaganate in the east fractured and was no longer as powerful as it had been in the past and was less of a problem to the Shahensha’s eastern provinces.
The Shahensha still had enemies to deal with his subjects in Syria and Anatolia were Christians who hated their Persian masters. To gain support of the Christians the Zoroastrian church tried to merge thier beliefs together. The Shahaensha made the Moabs claim that Jesus was the son of Ahura Mazda (God) and were one. The Shahensha planned for large Greek style mosaics of himself to be placed in all the lands of the empire once controlled by the Byzantines. This was surprising since the Shahs of Persia had long condemned Greek culture. To collect taxes the Shahensha organised a group of undisciplined thugs to collect taxes.
With the treaty with the Caliph Shahbraz was now free to eliminate the Turk Khagantae which had been raiding his far Eastern Provinces. With the army in the best state as it had been in twenty years it seemed like an easy task. Just a few years earlier the Gokturks devastated the Eastern Provinces and reached as far as Armenia but now their advance seems to have been halted and first there was civil war and then they were divided before their Eastern territories were slowly eaten away by a new emerging power in the east the Tang Empire of China. Transoxania was initially ruled by the Persians but in the 630s the territory was seized by the Gokturks. In 639 Shahbraz left Ctesiphon and with the full strength of the formidable Persian army marched eastward. Together with pressure from Tang China Transoxania was recovered but now had a powerful superpower on his border.