Opening of the Battle for Survival

Abstract

In this chapter the spotlight is on Heraclius who trained his troops in Bithynia before leading them against a Persian army in northern Asia Minor (622). He was forced to break off the campaign in midsummer after a minor success because of news from the west. It is not known whether the Avars were inspired directly by the Persians, but they had taken up arms and laid siege to Thessalonica, already under pressure from their Slav subjects. They had to be bought off that year, and, again, at huge cost (an annual tribute of 200,000 solidi), in 623 after a failed attempt to capture Heraclius when he was lured from Constantinople on the pretext of signing a peace treaty. The Persians continued to push forward by land and sea in 623.