Byzantine - Sasanian War of 602-628 DOCUMENTARY 

New and updated video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r2cEIDZwG5M.html

So this is basically the ancient equivalent to WW1. A whole lot of fighting for a whole lot of nothing.

Heracleus was a tragic hero...his life-achievement was demolished in front of his eyes...his private life was tragic too...

The Byzantines entered an Alliance with the Turks (*OH THE IRONY*)

Story of Heraclius is probably one of the saddest in history. His comback against the Sassanids is something one expects in a Hollywood movie, but in the end it turns into a tragedy.

Sharbaraz and his army fought for 20 years without losing a single battle. He conquered Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. What a great general he was! Heraclius defeated so many armies in relatively short time in Anatolia, Caucasus, and Mesopotamia! He restored his Empire, but 10 years later he couldn't no more:(. Such a tragic hero and roman legend! Both of them should be mentioned among 20 best generals in world history

It's so unfair that we get dozens of videos like this about Roman emperors and generals like Heraclius and Belisarius. But no one ever drops an ounce of credit towards the Sassanid general Shahrvaraz. Shahrvaraz easily outperforms every military commander in this war and many wars before this including Heraclius. Here's a list of Shahrvaraz' victories. -Shahrvaraz defeats a Roman army outside of Dara. Besieges and captures Dara. -Shahrvaraz defeats a Roman army outside of Edessa, mortally wounding the Roman general Germanus. -Shahrvaraz defeats Heraclius outside of Antioch in 613AD. Capturing Antioch. -Shahrvaraz defeats Heraclius, Theodore and Nicetas again in Syria. Allowing him to capture Damascus. -Shahrvaraz defeats Nicetas near Emesa. Allows him to besiege Jerusalam and capture it. By AD618, Shahrvaraz had cut the Byzantine empire in half and captured every fort, town and city from Chalceon to Alexandria. And even during Heraclius' counter attack where Heraclius defeats Shahrvaraz twice, Shahrvaraz counters back again, defeating Heraclius at Saditama and later at the Sarus River. Allowing him to march to Constantinople. He never properly besieges Constantinople but still, give the man some credit.

I find this war to be probably one of the saddest war in my known history, the sassanid and byzantine tried their very best to best each other, but all those 150% disclipine and 8.0 Morale of armies and thousands of war exhaustion thousands of war taxes collected, But they later fall.

I understand Khosrow's thirst for reclaiming the lands of the Achaemenid Empire. He was probably drunk with imagining how his name would go down in history as the victor over the Byzantines and the reclaimer of the Achaemenid legacy. But alas, he is now known for helping weaken the Sassanid empire and allowing for the Arabian conquest. Sometimes, it's better to not get cocky and greedy and settle with what you have.

**No One Expected The Arabs**

the romans and persians should've come to peace with eachother much earlier, established borders recognized by both empires and formed a coalition to expand both east and west. However, it is easy to understand why they were constantly fighting eachother since a definitive victory for either empire would mean world domination.

the Sassanids we’re constantly in war with hostile central Asian nomads who were trying to enter the Middle East. This made it harder to win wars against the byzantines.

Excellent video covering this truly epic conflict. Probably one of my favorite wars to read about in history (despite the unfortunate uncertainties regarding the sources). I'd pay to see a movie about this war, this is some incredible source material.

Thanks for watching! If you liked this one, you will also enjoy a documentary on the Battle of Manzikert of 1071 between the Byzantines and the Seljuks - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ib8O41irWV0.html

Most underrated conflict. Rise of Islam was only made possible because of this.

Damn, the Achaemenid Empire was so close to being reformed.

At that time the Arabs were betting big on who would win between them, except one Arab said the Romans would win and in a few years we would conquer those two great empires. And he’s right.

I am forever blown away by your video production skills! Amazing content!

Persians didn't just attack Byzantine empire for no reason. Persian king, Khosro Parviz, was son in law of Maurice, Roman emperor. Khosro lost his empire due to weak leadership to his general, Bahram Choubin. Maurice helped Khosro to take his empire back. Few years later, a Roman general, Phocas, revolted against Maurice and killed him. Khosro rushed to Byzantine to help Maurice's son or brother to take bakc roman throne. He was almost successful till Heracules took the power in Constantinople and refused to give the throne to Maurice family. That's the Persian side of story. Hercules was a mischievous man and a capable general. He captured Persian envoys, forged letters and sent them back to 3 Persian generals. In fake letters, Khosro had asked the generals to be demoted and imperisoned. Two of three generals believed the forgery and revolted against the Persian emperor. One of them remianed in Egypt with half of Persian army the other one didn't come back to help the capital. Only one general with quarter of Persian forces rushed back to help the King. Armenian subjects of Persian empire revolted against Persian king and Turk allies of Byzantine attacked Persian Cauacaus in current day Georgia and Azerbaijan. Finally, Heracules attacked Persian capital with a combined forces of Byzantine and Armenian rebels and won a hard battle against a quarter of Persian army who were exhausted running back in a short time. Short after this incident, Khosro was killed by his idiot son Kavadh who asked for peace. It was end of Sassanids. Kavadh killed most of his brothers in the process. The empire was so weak that 12 Persian kings and queens ruled from 628 till 632. Arabs attacked Persians in Mesopotamia in 632. Persians lost their empire and Romans gave up more than half of their territories. This all out war created a vacuum which Islam and Arabs filled in.

Imagine how different history might have turned out if the persians had quit while they had Egypt, Syria and the Caucasus.

Heraclius seems like a pretty legit commander. Successfully out playing multiple ambushes, and creating his own successful traps.

Heraclius was a fuckin' baller. One of my favorite emperors alongside Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer.

Arabs joined the chat Sassanids left the chat

During that war when Rome lost Persian Empire at first, it was mentioned in the Holy Quran that Rome will win the war in few years, and this what really happened based on this video. You can check the first verses in Al Rum chapter in the Holy Quran. “The Romans have been defeated (2), in a nearby land.Yet following their defeat, they will triumph (3), within three to nine years.The whole matter rests with Allah before and after victory. And on that day the believers will rejoice (4).”

An interesting event that happened during the Byzantine-Persian Wars was when the Persians captured the Holy Land(Israel) in the course of one of the wars they destroyed most of the Christian churches except for the Church of the nativity in Bethlehem.Why did they spare this church? -because of a mural that depicted the Three Wise Men who were magi or Zoroastrian priests clad in Persian garb done on one of the facades of the church.

Sassanids: We May have lost but at least we still have our lands Arabs: Yeah I don’t think so

I haven't seen in my entire life so great videos. Even the documentaries aren't so good. Amazing work...continue...

It seems like you kinda glossed over the Siege of Constantinople by the Persians and Avars. If fact the situation was so dire that Heraclius wanted to move the capital to Syracuse, Sicily to be safer. I was about to start reading a book by Geoffrey Regan about Heraclius called "The First Crusader" when I received this video in my recomended list.

I enjoyed this video, But i am disappointed that you didn't mention all the great quotes: "I pursue and run after peace. I do not willingly burn Persia, but compelled by you. Let us now throw down our arms and embrace peace. Let us quench the fire before it burns up everything." -Heraclius "Khosrow, greatest of Gods, and master of the earth, to Heraclius, his vile and insensate slave. Why do you still refuse to submit to our rule, and call yourself a king? Have I not destroyed the Greeks? You say that you trust in your God. Why has he not delivered out of my hand Caesarea, Jerusalem, and Alexandria? And shall I not also destroy Constantinople? But I will pardon your faults if you submit to me, and come hither with your wife and children; and I will give you lands, vineyards, and olive groves, and look upon you with a kindly aspect. Do not deceive yourself with vain hope in that Christ, who was not able to save himself from the Jews, who killed him by nailing him to a cross. Even if you take refuge in the depths of the sea, I will stretch out my hand and take you, whether you will or no." -Khosrow II EDIT: Upon later reflection i believe khosrow's quote may be a fabrication by byzantine sources. It's well written though, So i'm keeping it here.

“The Romans have been defeated in the lowest land, but after their defeat they will soon be victorious. Within three to nine years. The decision of the matter, before and after, is with God.” (Quran 30:2-4)

why does hagia sophia have towers ????? in 6 century

2019 and it’s already looking ancient! Also a testimony of how this channel has improved in just 2 years. Well done and keep delivering ✌🏻

i wish i could go back in time and tell my ancestors that war with the romans would only mean the fall of both and rise of islam

“Herculean effort” should be “Heraclian effort” after what Heraclius did to save the empire

Glad to see your documentary videos start to have bigger and bigger audience.

When we watch new documentaries of k& g we ll see the real difference. Brilliant channel. We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. Love from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

الم (1) غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ (2) فِي أَدْنَى الْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ (3) فِي بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

There is a Verse in the Quran called The Byzentine Empire and predicted that The Byzentine would defeat The Sasanids

Liked just for the ending scene. Truly the end of an era for Egypt.

The story of the last Roman-Persian War is incredible, but it's important to remember that the war didn't just come out of nowhere. There had been nearly a century of back-and-forth conflict during the 6th century that was a constant source of fuel to the inferno that began in 602.

This war was predicted to be in favor of the Romans in the Quran by Prophet Muhammad pbuh at the time. There's a Chapter of the Quran named after Rome🙂 because of this war

I love this channel so much, I've been watching backwards all the way to here and I want more! This is by far some of the best documentaries of some of my favorite history subjects, thank you for everything you do.

{ الۤمۤ } { غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ } { فِیۤ أَدۡنَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ غَلَبِهِمۡ سَیَغۡلِبُونَ } { فِی بِضۡعِ سِنِینَۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ مِن قَبۡلُ وَمِنۢ بَعۡدُۚ وَیَوۡمَىِٕذࣲ یَفۡرَحُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ }

This is pretty much exactly how my eastern Roman Empire campaign went on total war Attila

Best channel ever. Both meaningful and awesome. Thank you for doing so good videos. I watched your whole channel in just 1 day.

I am blown away by this vid , big like

Great work, both on animating and condensing a 26 year war (and 7 centuries) in a 10ish min. video! But I'm sorry to state that it could be better narrated. I was a bit let down by the fact that many names were pronounced rather badly: such as Ancria instead of AnCYra, Cacausus instead of CAUcasus, and many other names of persons and places. I know this is the hard part of trying to pronounce all kinds of alien sounding words in Greek, Latin, Pahlavi, Armenian etc. but it will get easier once the narrators or the researchers get used to them. I could offer some help in pronunciation if you'd like. Keep up the amazing work!

Respect to the Iranians for the Good fight !

Nice one, i hope you make more of this nice stuff. But i have to say, its really a pity you missed an important part of this epic story; the struggle of Heraclius to convice his subjects that, despite the loss of Africa and Asia and the army's defeats, the empire could and should put another fight, to victorry or the bitter end. The lending of all church assets to the state, the heated speaches with a never before seen religious character and the rush of recruits to enlist in preparation for a counter offensive are so touching. It's really ironic how we are made to believe that strong will, tireless effort and cunning eventually brings a great victory, not only in the field but in the legends. Heraclius would have been named the greatest General after Caesar if he died after the peace talks with persia. His score to turn a situation that was hopeless to a victory is unparaled in byzantine 1000 year history. But reality in this world can be a bitch some times, and can take away what you thought you earned just with a swift and unseen blow (Yarmuk)

Impressive Documentary video. The battles these two fought are interesting to listen too. My compliments to this video's creators for making it.

If khosrow accept the peace at the first time ... just think about it! World fate changed by that!

this war is also given inn short in holy Quran in chapter Room.

Quran verse revelation at 621 AD: "The Romans were defeated in the lowest land and they will win after 3-9 years." Lowest land is the shore near dead sea at 614 AD (lowest location on Earth). Prophecy fulfilled at 628 AD (7 years after verse revelation date). This verse statement ccontains both a scientific term (in the lowest land) as well a very highly unlikely risky prophecy that after extreme loss there is a win. Just like if you see a football game of 8-1 and you say the defeated team will win! Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not in need to put his prophrthood title on the edge of such a prediction after him being successful in leading those he convinced unless he is truly a prophet.

"Imagine all the people living life in peace. Ioannes Lennonites." LOL Good one!

I'm 4 years late but I'm here!! Excellent quality video, extremely accurate depictions and accounts!! Much love!

Truly thankful about someone finally making a video of a conflict in the middle east that facilitated the rise of islam this is gold as no one truly bothers to attempt to describe what conflicts lead to the fall of empires most of the time they are simply described as them fumbling and falling appartPlus you have saved me hours of trying to explain to someone this specific conflict the video is great and if you are looking for ideas a more in depth description of the khaganate wars that split the mongols is one the fall of parthia the mughals ming and all time favorites like western rome or the greek suceesor states are there to name a few(the seleucids was awesome work) and phyrrus's campaigns on rome and sicily(epirus was not as big as its neighbors but could have matched Macedon's conquests in west if they only taken Rome)

The summary of this video is basically "our historical information is limited"

Meanwhile, in Mecca (~615 AD) Quran: The Roman Empire has been defeated- (2) In a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious- (3) Within a few years. With Allah is the Decision, in the past and in the Future: on that Day shall the Believers rejoice- (4)....Surah 30

Awesome video! My one gripe is that the video does fail to portray the tragic human side of Heraclius who managed to pull one of history's greatest miracles to then just see everything fall into a nightmare.

Two lions fought to the point of exhaustion, and at the end the hyenas took over ...

My favourite piece of Byzantine history. Heraclius was a hero but tragically his victory meant nothing in the end thanks to the Muslim invasions. Its one of those what if moments of history- if the Byzantiens and Persian Empires weren't weakened would they have combined forces and crushed the Muslims before they even left Arabia? We will never know.

Studying this war at Uni was both one of the most interesting and depressing couple of lectures I have ever had to sit through... You have to feel for the Byzantines. There capital was devastated by the loss of Egypt. The seizure of the valuable eastern provinces had left the state bankrupt, having to loot their own churches en-mass just to pay for their crippled army... They finally feel like they have peace, fated to be the dominant world empire, finally beating their age old rival... And then it's all un-done in a matter of years by the rise of a new upstart power whose men had helped the Persians with their initial successes by failing to defend the border they had long been paid to help secure.

I can't love history without your videos man! They make me addicted :D love the animation

There are still Zoroastrians today in a number of 200.000 people.Zoroastrianism is the oldest religion along with Hinduism

This was done absolutely amazingly, havent seen this war covered in such detail but also so succintly! Love this channel!

Excellent video as a Sunni Persian I am grateful to Allah for his wisdom that Islam managed to enter the heart of the persians so that they learned good values and helped equalise the Persian people and give them the permission to start the Islamic golden age when all great scientists and the start of great contribution humanitarian civilization began producing one of the most intelligent systems that the western civilization now highly based on while the same time the byzantiums were swimming in shit and probably thought the earth was carried by a giant pink turtle that jesus used to feed زنده باد ملت اسلام زنده باد ملت ايران لا اله الا الله ☝️

Rewatching this. I couldn't say which of your videos I've enjoyed most, but this one's ending has moved me more than any other.

Important detail - shortly before, in the 541, the bubonic plague appeared in Europe for the first time, precisely in Constantinople. It was as deadly as Black Death in 14th century, estimations are it killed 40% of Byzantine population. It was reappearing few times with smaller epidemics for the next 200 years. This might be the sole reason that this most powerful realm in area was on the defensive ever since until it's fall.

Great channel deserves more subs

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم.... الم (1) غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ (2) فِي أَدْنَى الْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ (3) فِي بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (4) بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ (5) Battle of Antioch (613):The Quran refers to this battle in the 30th chapter which was revealed shortly after the battle, Surat al-Rum. In it, Allah mentions that "The Romans [Byzantines] have been defeated. In a land close by; but they will soon be victorious-Within a few years. Allah's is the command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice."

FUN FACT: After the Persians captured Dara, Justin II absolutely lost it, and all culminated after he lost the last of his power. In his final days as he was wheeled on his throne through the palace, he would bite attendants who came near him and even ate a few of them. The only thing that would calm him down was organ music that had to be played constantly throughout the palace.

Great video for context Great narration

Entertaining! You earn a new sub now !

Sassanids and Byzntines both allied with Turks, Avars and Gokturks, it is an interesting thing to see that Nomads are everywhere with different names and they are affecting world politic history through their adventurer life style and horsemanships.

Wow! It felt like I was watching a movie in theatre for two hours. Amazing.

That has to be the most epic intro I have ever seen

غلبت الروم في أدنى الأرض وهم من بعد غلبهم سيغلبون في بضع سنين لله الامر من قبل ومن بعد و يومئذ يفرح المومنين بنصر الله ينصر من يشاء وهو العزيز الرحيم

Love this series.. no subjective BS, just facts. Keep it up!

This is Gold , please don't stop making these

Best history channel in RU-vid ;)

The great comeback in history

Once again, great work with your documentary series. I was wondering if sometime you will attempt to analyze the Battle of White Mountain.

This one could really use a redo, the standard and quality of this channel has increased considerably since this was released and it's a really interesting conflict. It basically sets the stage for the medieval period. It's arguable that up until this point we are dealing with 'late antiquity', or maybe an intermediate period between the classical and medieval period.

holy crap. I just found your channel on a wim. Where have you been?!!?!?!

Your documentaries ought to be screen during history classes to get a different perspective on events in ancient history instead of just perusing the textbooks & looking at slides of maps. Its stimulating for students studying ancient History subject esp. at secondary level. It stick as much to the facts as possible and that is refreshing in this internet age where almost anything goes. Congrats on work well done.

Lol the caliphate troll both empire

Awesome new series/idea. I'll support each & every video you folks out out. Keep on educating the masses please! Lol

Truth be told. I personally believe that a coalition of Byzantine and Sassanid field armies could have kicked the Rashidun Caliphate back into the shadows.

12:20 Patrain?

Ahh nobody expects the Spanish Inqui... I mean the Muslims

This war feels like 2 people beating the crap out of each other only for both of them to bleed out.

Very well produced video! Entertaining history, great job! :)

Although Arabs devastated the Persian empire, they eventually Persianized the whole region.

The Koran prophesied about the Roman counter attack. What a turn around

Great vid.Haven't watched any vid for months and it is great

جدا رائع أتمنى ترجمة المزيد مع حبي وتقديري للمجهود المبذول

Zemarkhos was the man who talked with Gokturs for Byzntine!

Love portrait of Hypatia in Alexandria there at the end. Great movie about the end of an era and the rise of ignorance and brutal savagery that dominated the end of the Roman Empire

Khosrow is a very important character in Persian poetry too. He is known as Khosro-ye-adel means Khosrow the righteus.

I love history ! The political Commissar was very convincing . :)