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As territories in the eastern provinces were becoming more and more in jeopardy by the saracen menace. Constans II began to turn his attention westward in hopes of establishing an imperial presence in Italy. In 663, he became the first emperor to visit Italy since the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire two hundred years before.

an iron chain was wrapped around his neck where he was paraded through the Praetorium(imperial prison). The Patriarch Paul insistently sought that Martin should face no further ill-treatment. The emperor accepted this changing the sentencing from death to banishment. Pope Martin would be exiled to Cherson in Crimea were he would die in 655

The religious dispute monthelitism would persist at this time. Constans at only seventeen would publish his Typos, which aimed to provide context to this idea, begun by his uncle Heraclius. Pope Martin I would stand up to this edict which led to his eventual kidnapping and brutal torture. He would be trialed and sentenced to death; standing before a dense audience, is papal robes were torn leaving him exposed...

In 642, the eleven year old Constans II became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire, addressing the senate to handle the care of the empire effectively acting as a regency until he became of age. During his reign, Alexandria would fall with its population welcoming the conquerors openly. Constantia(Salamis) would fall and too Rhodes, which the enormous bronze fragments of the colossus would be melted for scrap.

Your vote above all contributed to the just desposition of her and her son from the imperial dignity, in order that the Roman Empire should not be obliged to countenance so grave an insult to the law. Of this your noble eminences are fully aware; and therefore invite you to assist me by your advice and judgement, in providing for the general safety of my subjects."
-Constans II

Theophanes,Chronographia

"My father Constantine regined with Heraclius, his father and my grandfather, for a considerable time;but after the latters death for only a very short time. For the envy of his stepmother Martina brought high hopes to nothing and deprived him his life-and for the sake of Heraclonas, the son of her incestuous union with Heraclius...
-Theophanes, Chronographia

The months after Heraclius death would lead to more religious strife and an attempt by his widow Martina to claim the regency over the bastard Heraclonas. This would not work, with the people circumspect over a female ruler were well aware of her schemes and blamed her for Hearclius decline in health and death. Little Heraclis, changed his name to Constans, apprehended Martina, had severed her tongue, slit his nose

The later years of the emperor was a different personality, he was suffering from Dropsy, inflamed tissue all across his body creating unnatural bumps on his limbs, a fear of water which prevented him from leading anymore campaigns, and believing that he was abandoned by god. He was able to recover the True Cross for Jerusalem sometime before the Caliph Omar had entered the city in 638. He would die in 641.

allowed for the Arabs to launch an all out attack on the Byzantine lines slaughtering every christian solider to a man.

In 636, Heraclius amassed an army and sent them to a little tributary of the Jordan river, at Yarmuk which flowed to the south of the sea of Galilee. However, the roman indecisiveness in their decision making would wait for three months until they struke. The Arab general Khalid took advantage of this harassed them with volleys of arrows, until a sand storm, blowing in the faces of the romans..

After the defeat of the Persians and the procession of the True Cross in Constantinople and it being placed at the main aspe, behind the iconostasis of the Hagia Sophia was the crowning achievement of Heraclius' career. All seemed to boad well for him. In the middle of the seventh century, a prophet Mohamed would enter into the footnotes of history. A little more than a century later, the Islamic tide call for jihad

Chosroes fled to Susiana leaving Ctesiphon to its fate. The persian capital would share a similar fate to Perspolis a thousand years before. Choroes would run to the ends of his empire, refusing to establish a garrison in the city allegedly desiring for the women and children responsible for the defense of the city. In 628, his son Kavadh-Siroes revolted against his father, banishing him to the tower of darkness.

Hearclius had defeated more persian armies under Razates and won him a great deal of spoils on his march eastward. While celebrating christmas his scouts intercepted a message carrier on his way to meet to Shahr-Baraz intending for him to return to capital at once to strengthen its defense. Heraclius ordered for the message to be altered and for Shahr-Baraz to remain at his position.

During the siege the barbarian army had been enveloped by the byzantines and their fleet was caught in the ambush. News caught wind to the besieging army and panic began to break out throughout the ranks and the army began to break down entirely for the hills. Heraclius had won. News reached that Theodore had won a victory against the persian Shahin and the alliance with the Khazars had been put together.

The Orderly Way of Marching Through our own Country when there is no hostile activity

-Maurice displays intriguing ways of properly presenting your armies as they march on campaign to other regions of the empire. He talks of various scenarios/situations when on march. Consisting of marching through friendly towns, crossing rivers, formulating the Meros and Moira into designated positions where their roles will help

The Various Titles of the Officers and the Soldiers

-General is the head of the army. Hypo-strategos is the lieutenant General.Merarch is the c. of the Meros; the Moirarch is the c. of the moira and is called the Duke. A Meros is a division of grouped moiras consisting of three. A moira is made of tagmas, arithmos, or bandon.A hekatontarch c. a hundred men, dekarch ten, pentarch guard the back file.

The Armament of the Cavalryman and the Basic Equipment to be Furnished

-The goes over how each commanding officer should equip their men, weaponry, chainmail, clothing, their horses as well as essential items needed on campaign. It also talks of how soldiers having servants and relying on themselves should receive their pay, how flags should presented to identify armies and how to wear cloth over mail to avoid sight

The Training and Drilling of the Individual Soldier

-This describes the manner in which soldiers were accustomed to carrying a shield on their backs, a spear slung their sides, a sword and a bow. Its interesting how these techniques employed were traditions used from far away lands. Using the thumb and forefinger to reel back a bow string came from the Steppes(Hunnic tribes) Timely drawing and switching your weapons

On the severed head was a message
-"We and the Khangan are now reconciled. He has taken charge of the first two of your ambassadors. As for the third, here he is!"

Afterwards, its reasonable to assume the Romans discovered the plans of attack and thwarted the invasion when Persians ferries were ambushed and the Avar fleet who tired to sail into the Horn were lured into a trap and annihilated being scattered in sea

The dignitaries in turn for attempting to bribe Bonus were in unison promised a fate contrary to their tricks. The First attempting to hide under some blankets was beheaded on the spot. The Second had his hands severed and delivered back to the Khan. The Thirds was sailed to a spot at Chalcedon and in full view of the Persian camp was executed on the spot...

For two months the catapults pelted massive stones along the defenses and swords clashing along the perimeter defenses with neither side finding an advantage. Sometime in August, the Persians sent three dignitaries to the Patrician Bonus to sue for terms. Once again the Persians were refused their offer for peace and as the dignitaries were sailing across the Bosphorus, they were intercepted by a Roman ship...

The barbarian contenders consisting of Avars, Huns, Gepids, Bulgars, Scythians and Slavs dug in along the Theodosian Walls;numbered around eighty-thousand of both sexs. The Roman force defending the city consisted of twelve thousand dismounted cavalry and citizens who took up the spear voluntarily. The Patriarch Sergius walked the length of the walls holding an icon of the defender of the city the all-holy Theotokos.

"It was 29 June 626. The night sky glowed red with light of blazing churches as Persians and Avars signaled to each other across the Bosphorus, confirming that they arrived in their prearranged positions and they they were ready to mount their concerted attack.The inhabitants of the suburbs outside the walls hastily loaded their possessions on to barrows and sought refuge within the gates;which were bolted behind."

For some time, the persians had been colluding information and supplying arms in their conjoined siege of Constantinople. With the persians having a foothold in Chalcedon and the Avar siege engines lined along the walls it was only a matter of time before the attack began. It isnt mentioned what Heraclius knew of the true nature of their plans, but their is no doubt that he knew something was off.

The introduction provide interesting insights on the history and analysis of the Strategikon. The author or (s) of this book have been questioned since the works inception. Either the Emperors Maurice or perhaps Phocas reigned. The lengthy efforts of translating the text have been made throughout history with modern historians in Germany translating the Greek texts and scholars in England to English.

In Mesopotamia, Theodore commanding the 2nd army in which his brother had given him command of. Achieved a great victory over Shahin being granted the fortune of fighting in a massive hail storm;mysteriously being sheltered from the vollies. Shahin, knowing his life was forfeit, took his own life. Chosroes, on the other hand ordered for his body to be packed in salt and delivered to him, where it would be flogged.

Heraclius’s next step was to secure an alliance with the Hunnic tribes of the Caucasus. He dazzled the Khan of the splendor and wealth of his empire, allegedly showing him a picture of his daughter Epiphania offering her hand in marriage. The Khan was so enthralled by the image that he agreed to send forty thousand of his men to aid in Heraclius’s campaigns…

One being sent home to defend the capital, the second being under the command of the emperors brother Theodore to keep Shahin company in Mesopotamia, while the third would stay with Heraclius keeping a watchful eye of Shahr-Baraz. The Patriarch Sergius and the Patrician Bonus were granted commands of the defense of the city, being sent letters from the emperor fervently giving them advice and encouragement.

The Emperor retreated to Trebizond along the lower Black Sea where he received word of a major Avar offensive on Constantinople. The Khangan had already begun wheeling his siege engines through Thrace. Heraclius knew that to leave for the defense of the city would in turn mean the loss of four years of hard campaigning. The result would be that he would split his army into three groups…

As the Emperor pressed forward, arrows began to strike him, but not critically and cut down many Persians that crossed his path. This act of courage was notes by Shahr-Baraz who was said to have exclaimed-

”Look at your emperor! He fears these arrows and spears no more than would and anvil!”

His courage had won him the day, the Persians scattered the field and the Romans had won a stunning victory.