Product Description

This book evaluates the life and empire of the pivotal yet controversial and poorly understood Byzantine emperor Heraclius (AD 610–641), a contemporary of the Prophet Muhammad. Heraclius’ reign is critical for understanding the background to fundamental changes in the Balkans and the Middle East, including the emergence of Islam, at the end of antiquity. Heraclius captured and lost important swathes of territory, including Jerusalem and Syria and Egypt. Skills in exploiting divisions within the ranks of his opponents, and encouraging the switching of sides and the breakdown of morale, provided Heraclius with his greatest triumphs, yet they proved to be of little value when he finally confronted the early Islamic conquests. The author synthesizes diverse primary sources, including those in Greek and Arabic, in the light of more recent historical scholarship. The varied Mediterranean and Middle Eastern context stretches from North Africa to Syria, Armenia and what is modern Iraq.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #809071 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 372 pages

Review
‘Kaegi offers a comprehensive and lucid analysis of Roman and Persian relationships in the early seventh century … Kaegi’s study usefully fills out an all too common gap in modern perceptions of early medieval history.’ Times Literary Supplement

‘Kaegi is a master of his sources and this biography will provide the starting point for future serious study of the emperor.’ History Today

‘Kaegi brings his broad knowledge of Eastern sources to this biography, the first in English.’ Judith Herrin, BBC History

'… a compelling assessment of an extraordinary reign.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History

About the Author
Walter E. Kaegi is Professor of History, The University of Chicago. He is the author of many books, including Byzantium and the Decline of Rome (1968), Byzantine Military Unrest 471–843 (1981), Army, Society and Religion in Byzantium (1982), Some Thoughts on Byzantine Military Strategy (1983), and Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests (1992, paperback 1995).

Customer Reviews

sound but not popular history
The Emperor Heraclius was the emperor who lost most of the Middle East to the armies of the Prophet Mohamed. Why he lost will always be a point of debate around such facts such as the state of the empire after the Persian wars, & the effects of the endlass Byzantine Christological conflicts on the will to fight. Mr Kaegi's book is a closely detailed examination of Heraclius's life based solely on primary or near primary sources. It is an academically inclined work & is particularly good at revealing the atmosphere within the empire in the short time between its triumph over the Persians & it's partial defeat by Islamic forces. Surely it greatest victory & it worst defeat before the crusaders sacked Constantinople.
For a general reader with a great passion for the Byzantine Empire It was enlightening to read an history on a Byzantine theme by an academic historian, as opposed to the sort of history on this subject by authors who are not historians but who aim to make a good story using well known sources. As a consequence it took more energy to read but was also more rewarding than a general history.

An excellent study on an important figure
This is an academic title so the emphasis is on the facts rather than a rivetting narrative. With that said, the story is still well written and accessible to all. Kaegi avoids the pitfalls of presumption or overly flowery language.

Heraclius is more important to the modern world than you may first realise he was born into a world that Julius Caesar would have recognised, the Classical Roman way of life still existed (although Christianised). Indeed the biggest threat at the start of his reign was the Persians an Empire that had been a threat to the West for a thousand years. However by the end of his life his lands were under threat from this new group called "Muslims". A group that was to over take the Persians as the main concern in the West for the next thousand years. So in many ways Heraclius is a link between the classical world and the medieval period.

Because of this it's a shame more isn't written on him however with this book you have an excellent biography of an interesting man at a fascinating moment of history.