Intheseverityofthewinterseason，SarbarazadeemedhimselfsecureinthewallsofSalban:hewassurprisedbytheactivityofHeraclius，whodividedhistroops，andperformedalaboriousmarchinthesilenceofthenight。TheflatroofsofthehousesweredefendedwithuselessvaloragainstthedartsandtorchesoftheRomans:thesatrapsandnoblesofPersia，withtheirwivesandchildren，andthefloweroftheirmartialyouth，wereeitherslainormadeprisoners。Thegeneralescapedbyaprecipitateflight，buthisgoldenarmorwastheprizeoftheconqueror；andthesoldiersofHeracliusenjoyedthewealthandreposewhichtheyhadsonoblydeserved。Onthereturnofspring，theemperortraversedinsevendaysthemountainsofCurdistan，andpassedwithoutresistancetherapidstreamoftheTigris。Oppressedbytheweightoftheirspoilsandcaptives，theRomanarmyhaltedunderthewallsofAmida；andHeracliusinformedthesenateofConstantinopleofhissafetyandsuccess，whichtheyhadalreadyfeltbytheretreatofthebesiegers。ThebridgesoftheEuphratesweredestroyedbythePersians；butassoonastheemperorhaddiscoveredaford，theyhastilyretiredtodefendthebanksoftheSarus，^92inCilicia。Thatriver，animpetuoustorrent，wasaboutthreehundredfeetbroad；thebridgewasfortifiedwithstrongturrets；andthebankswerelinedwithBarbarianarchers。Afterabloodyconflict，whichcontinuedtilltheevening，theRomansprevailedintheassault；andaPersianofgiganticsizewasslainandthrownintotheSarusbythehandoftheemperorhimself。Theenemiesweredispersedanddismayed；
HeracliuspursuedhismarchtoSebasteinCappadocia；andattheexpirationofthreeyears，thesamecoastoftheEuxineapplaudedhisreturnfromalongandvictoriousexpedition。^93
[Footnote91:Icannotfind，andwhatismuchmore，M。
D\'Anvilledoesnotattempttoseek，theSalban，Tarantum，territoryoftheHuns，&c。，mentionedbyTheophanes，p。260—
262。Eutychius，Annal。tom。ii。p。231，232，aninsufficientauthor，namesAsphahan；andCasbinismostprobablythecityofSapor。Ispahanistwenty—fourdays\'journeyfromTauris，andCasbinhalfwaybetween，themVoyagesdeTavernier，tom。i。p。
63—82。]
[Footnote92:AttenparasangsfromTarsus，thearmyoftheyoungerCyruspassedtheSarus，threeplethrainbreadth:thePyramus，astadiuminbreadth，ranfiveparasangsfarthertotheeast，Xenophon，Anabas。l。i。p33，34。
Note:NowtheSihan。—M。]
[Footnote93:GeorgeofPisidiaBell。Abaricum，246—265，p。
49celebrateswithtruththeperseveringcourageofthethreecampaignsagainstthePersians。]
Insteadofskirmishingonthefrontier，thetwomonarchswhodisputedtheempireoftheEastaimedtheirdesperatestrokesattheheartoftheirrival。ThemilitaryforceofPersiawaswastedbythemarchesandcombatsoftwentyyears，andmanyoftheveterans，whohadsurvivedtheperilsoftheswordandtheclimate，werestilldetainedinthefortressesofEgyptandSyria。ButtherevengeandambitionofChosroesexhaustedhiskingdom；andthenewleviesofsubjects，strangers，andslaves，weredividedintothreeformidablebodies。^94Thefirstarmyoffiftythousandmen，illustriousbytheornamentandtitleofthegoldenspears，wasdestinedtomarchagainstHeraclius；thesecondwasstationedtopreventhisjunctionwiththetroopsofhisbrotherTheodorus；andthethirdwascommandedtobesiegeConstantinople，andtosecondtheoperationsofthechagan，withwhomthePersiankinghadratifiedatreatyofallianceandpartition。Sarbar，thegeneralofthethirdarmy，penetratedthroughtheprovincesofAsiatothewell—knowncampofChalcedon，andamusedhimselfwiththedestructionofthesacredandprofanebuildingsoftheAsiaticsuburbs，whileheimpatientlywaitedthearrivalofhisScythianfriendsontheoppositesideoftheBosphorus。Onthetwenty—ninthofJune，thirtythousandBarbarians，thevanguardoftheAvars，forcedthelongwall，anddroveintothecapitalapromiscuouscrowdofpeasants，citizens，andsoldiers。Fourscorethousand^95ofhisnativesubjects，andofthevassaltribesofGepidae，Russians，Bulgarians，andSclavonians，advancedunderthestandardofthechagan；amonthwasspentinmarchesandnegotiations，butthewholecitywasinvestedonthethirty—firstofJuly，fromthesuburbsofPeraandGalatatotheBlachernaeandseventowers；
andtheinhabitantsdescriedwithterrortheflamingsignalsoftheEuropeanandAsiaticshores。Inthemeanwhile，themagistratesofConstantinoplerepeatedlystrovetopurchasetheretreatofthechagan；buttheirdeputieswererejectedandinsulted；andhesufferedthepatricianstostandbeforehisthrone，whilethePersianenvoys，insilkrobes，wereseatedbyhisside。\"Yousee，\"saidthehaughtyBarbarian，\"theproofsofmyperfectunionwiththegreatking；andhislieutenantisreadytosendintomycampaselectbandofthreethousandwarriors。
Presumenolongertotemptyourmasterwithapartialandinadequateransomyourwealthandyourcityaretheonlypresentsworthyofmyacceptance。Foryourselves，Ishallpermityoutodepart，eachwithanunder—garmentandashirt；and，atmyentreaty，myfriendSarbarwillnotrefuseapassagethroughhislines。Yourabsentprince，evennowacaptiveorafugitive，hasleftConstantinopletoitsfate；norcanyouescapethearmsoftheAvarsandPersians，unlessyoucouldsoarintotheairlikebirds，unlesslikefishesyoucoulddiveintothewaves。\"^96
Duringtensuccessivedays，thecapitalwasassaultedbytheAvars，whohadmadesomeprogressinthescienceofattack；theyadvancedtosaporbatterthewall，underthecoveroftheimpenetrabletortoise；theirenginesdischargedaperpetualvolleyofstonesanddarts；andtwelveloftytowersofwoodexaltedthecombatantstotheheightoftheneighboringramparts。
ButthesenateandpeoplewereanimatedbythespiritofHeraclius，whohaddetachedtotheirreliefabodyoftwelvethousandcuirassiers；thepowersoffireandmechanicswereusedwithsuperiorartandsuccessinthedefenceofConstantinople；
andthegalleys，withtwoandthreeranksofoars，commandedtheBosphorus，andrenderedthePersianstheidlespectatorsofthedefeatoftheirallies。TheAvarswererepulsed；afleetofSclavoniancanoeswasdestroyedintheharbor；thevassalsofthechaganthreatenedtodesert，hisprovisionswereexhausted，andafterburninghisengines，hegavethesignalofaslowandformidableretreat。ThedevotionoftheRomansascribedthissignaldeliverancetotheVirginMary；butthemotherofChristwouldsurelyhavecondemnedtheirinhumanmurderofthePersianenvoys，whowereentitledtotherightsofhumanity，iftheywerenotprotectedbythelawsofnations。^97
[Footnote94:PetaviusAnnotationesadNicephorum，p。62，63，64discriminatesthenamesandactionsoffivePersiangeneralswhoweresuccessivelysentagainstHeraclius。]
[Footnote95:ThisnumberofeightmyriadsisspecifiedbyGeorgeofPisidia，Bell。Abar。219。Thepoet50—88clearlyindicatesthattheoldchaganlivedtillthereignofHeraclius，andthathissonandsuccessorwasbornofaforeignmother。YetFogginiAnnotat。p。57hasgivenanotherinterpretationtothispassage。]
[Footnote96:Abird，afrog，amouse，andfivearrows，hadbeenthepresentoftheScythiankingtoDarius，Herodot。l。iv。c。
131，132。SubstituezunelettreacessignessaysRousseau，withmuchgoodtastepluselleseramenacantemoinselleeffrayera；ceneseraqu\'unefanfarronadedontDariusn\'eutfaitquerire，Emile，tom。iii。p。146。YetImuchquestionwhetherthesenateandpeopleofConstantinoplelaughedatthismessageofthechagan。]
[Footnote97:ThePaschalChroniclep。392—397givesaminuteandauthenticnarrativeofthesiegeanddeliveranceofConstantinopleTheophanesp。264addssomecircumstances；andafaintlightmaybeobtainedfromthesmokeofGeorgeofPisidia，whohascomposedapoemdeBelloAbarico，p。45—54tocommemoratethisauspiciousevent。]
Afterthedivisionofhisarmy，HeracliusprudentlyretiredtothebanksofthePhasis，fromwhencehemaintainedadefensivewaragainstthefiftythousandgoldspearsofPersia。HisanxietywasrelievedbythedeliveranceofConstantinople；hishopeswereconfirmedbyavictoryofhisbrotherTheodorus；andtothehostileleagueofChosroeswiththeAvars，theRomanemperoropposedtheusefulandhonorableallianceoftheTurks。
Athisliberalinvitation，thehordeofChozars^98transportedtheirtentsfromtheplainsoftheVolgatothemountainsofGeorgia；HeracliusreceivedthemintheneighborhoodofTeflis，andthekhanwithhisnoblesdismountedfromtheirhorses，ifwemaycredittheGreeks，andfellprostrateontheground，toadorethepurpleoftheCaesars。Suchvoluntaryhomageandimportantaidwereentitledtothewarmestacknowledgments；andtheemperor，takingoffhisowndiadem，placeditontheheadoftheTurkishprince，whomhesalutedwithatenderembraceandtheappellationofson。Afterasumptuousbanquet，hepresentedZiebelwiththeplateandornaments，thegold，thegems，andthesilk，whichhadbeenusedattheImperialtable，and，withhisownhand，distributedrichjewelsandear—ringstohisnewallies。Inasecretinterview，heproducedtheportraitofhisdaughterEudocia，^99condescendedtoflattertheBarbarianwiththepromiseofafairandaugustbride；obtainedanimmediatesuccoroffortythousandhorse，andnegotiatedastrongdiversionoftheTurkisharmsonthesideoftheOxus。^100ThePersians，intheirturn，retreatedwithprecipitation；inthecampofEdessa，HeracliusreviewedanarmyofseventythousandRomansandstrangers；andsomemonthsweresuccessfullyemployedintherecoveryofthecitiesofSyria，MesopotamiaandArmenia，whosefortificationshadbeenimperfectlyrestored。SarbarstillmaintainedtheimportantstationofChalcedon；butthejealousyofChosroes，ortheartificeofHeraclius，soonalienatedthemindofthatpowerfulsatrapfromtheserviceofhiskingandcountry。Amessengerwasinterceptedwitharealorfictitiousmandatetothecadarigan，orsecondincommand，directinghimtosend，withoutdelay，tothethrone，theheadofaguiltyorunfortunategeneral。ThedespatchesweretransmittedtoSarbarhimself；andassoonashereadthesentenceofhisowndeath，hedexterouslyinsertedthenamesoffourhundredofficers，assembledamilitarycouncil，andaskedthecadariganwhetherhewaspreparedtoexecutethecommandsoftheirtyrant。ThePersiansunanimouslydeclared，thatChosroeshadforfeitedthesceptre；aseparatetreatywasconcludedwiththegovernmentofConstantinople；andifsomeconsiderationsofhonororpolicyrestrainedSarbarfromjoiningthestandardofHeraclius，theemperorwasassuredthathemightprosecute，withoutinterruption，hisdesignsofvictoryandpeace。
[Footnote98:ThepoweroftheChozarsprevailedintheviith，viiith，andixthcenturies。TheywereknowntotheGreeks，theArabs，andunderthenameofKosa，totheChinesethemselves。DeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。ii。partii。p。507—509。
Note:MosesofChorenespeaksofaninvasionofArmeniabytheKhazarsinthesecondcentury，l。ii。c。62。M。St。MartinsuspectsthemtobethesamewiththeHunnishnationoftheAcatiresorAgazzires。TheyarecalledbytheGreekhistoriansEasternTurks；liketheMadjarsandotherHunnishorFinnishtribes，theyhadprobablyreceivedsomeadmixturefromthegenuineTurkishraces。Ibn。HankalOrientalGeographysaysthattheirlanguagewasliketheBulgarian，andconsidersthemapeopleofFinnishorHunnishrace。Klaproth，Tabl。Hist。p。268
—273。AbelRemusat，Rech。surlesLanguesTartares，tom。i。p。
315，316。St。Martin，vol。xi。p。115。—M]
[Footnote99:Epiphania，orEudocia，theonlydaughterofHeracliusandhisfirstwifeEudocia，wasbornatConstantinopleonthe7thofJuly，A。D。611，baptizedthe15thofAugust，andcrownedintheoratoryofSt。Stepheninthepalacethe4thofOctoberofthesameyear。Atthistimeshewasaboutfifteen。
EudociawasafterwardssenttoherTurkishhusband，butthenewsofhisdeathstoppedherjourney，andpreventedtheconsummation，Ducange，FamiliaeByzantin。p。118。]
[Footnote100:ElmcainHist。Saracen。p。13—16givessomecuriousandprobablefacts；buthisnumbersarerathertoohigh—
300，000RomansassembledatEdessa—500，000PersianskilledatNineveh。Theabatementofacipherisscarcelyenoughtorestorehissanity]
Deprivedofhisfirmestsupport，anddoubtfulofthefidelityofhissubjects，thegreatnessofChosroeswasstillconspicuousinitsruins。ThenumberoffivehundredthousandmaybeinterpretedasanOrientalmetaphor，todescribethemenandarms，thehorsesandelephants，thatcoveredMediaandAssyriaagainsttheinvasionofHeraclius。YettheRomansboldlyadvancedfromtheAraxestotheTigris，andthetimidprudenceofRhazateswascontenttofollowthembyforcedmarchesthroughadesolatecountry，tillhereceivedaperemptorymandatetoriskthefateofPersiainadecisivebattle。EastwardoftheTigris，attheendofthebridgeofMosul，thegreatNinevehhadformerlybeenerected:^101thecity，andeventheruinsofthecity，hadlongsincedisappeared；^102thevacantspaceaffordedaspaciousfieldfortheoperationsofthetwoarmies。ButtheseoperationsareneglectedbytheByzantinehistorians，and，liketheauthorsofepicpoetryandromance，theyascribethevictory，nottothemilitaryconduct，buttothepersonalvalor，oftheirfavoritehero。Onthismemorableday，Heraclius，onhishorsePhallas，surpassedthebravestofhiswarriors:hislipwaspiercedwithaspear；thesteedwaswoundedinthethigh；buthecarriedhismastersafeandvictoriousthroughthetriplephalanxoftheBarbarians。Intheheatoftheaction，threevaliantchiefsweresuccessivelyslainbytheswordandlanceoftheemperor:amongthesewasRhazateshimself；hefelllikeasoldier，butthesightofhisheadscatteredgriefanddespairthroughthefaintingranksofthePersians。Hisarmorofpureandmassygold，theshieldofonehundredandtwentyplates，theswordandbelt，thesaddleandcuirass，adornedthetriumphofHeraclius；andifhehadnotbeenfaithfultoChristandhismother，thechampionofRomemighthaveofferedthefourthopimespoilstotheJupiteroftheCapitol。^103InthebattleofNineveh，whichwasfiercelyfoughtfromdaybreaktotheeleventhhour，twenty—eightstandards，besidesthosewhichmightbebrokenortorn，weretakenfromthePersians；thegreatestpartoftheirarmywascutinpieces，andthevictors，concealingtheirownloss，passedthenightonthefield。Theyacknowledged，thatonthisoccasionitwaslessdifficulttokillthantodiscomfitthesoldiersofChosroes；amidstthebodiesoftheirfriends，nomorethantwobow—shotfromtheenemytheremnantofthePersiancavalrystoodfirmtilltheseventhhourofthenight；abouttheeighthhourtheyretiredtotheirunrifledcamp，collectedtheirbaggage，anddispersedonallsides，fromthewantofordersratherthanofresolution。ThediligenceofHeracliuswasnotlessadmirableintheuseofvictory；byamarchofforty—eightmilesinfour—and—twentyhours，hisvanguardoccupiedthebridgesofthegreatandthelesserZab；andthecitiesandpalacesofAssyriawereopenforthefirsttimetotheRomans。Byajustgradationofmagnificentscenes，theypenetratedtotheroyalseatofDastagerd，and，thoughmuchofthetreasurehadbeenremoved，andmuchhadbeenexpended，theremainingwealthappearstohaveexceededtheirhopes，andeventohavesatiatedtheiravarice。
Whatevercouldnotbeeasilytransported，theyconsumedwithfire，thatChosroesmightfeeltheanguishofthosewoundswhichhehadsoofteninflictedontheprovincesoftheempire:andjusticemightallowtheexcuse，ifthedesolationhadbeenconfinedtotheworksofregalluxury，ifnationalhatred，militarylicense，andreligiouszeal，hadnotwastedwithequalragethehabitationsandthetemplesoftheguiltlesssubject。
TherecoveryofthreehundredRomanstandards，andthedeliveranceofthenumerouscaptivesofEdessaandAlexandria，reflectapurergloryonthearmsofHeraclius。FromthepalaceofDastagerd，hepursuedhismarchwithinafewmilesofModainorCtesiphon，tillhewasstopped，onthebanksoftheArba，bythedifficultyofthepassage，therigoroftheseason，andperhapsthefameofanimpregnablecapital。ThereturnoftheemperorismarkedbythemodernnameofthecityofSherhzour:hefortunatelypassedMountZara，beforethesnow，whichfellincessantlythirty—fourdays；andthecitizensofGandzca，orTauris，werecompelledtoentertainthesoldiersandtheirhorseswithahospitablereception。^104
[Footnote101:CtesiasapudDidor。Sicul。tom。i。l。ii。p。115，edit。Wesselingassigns480stadiaperhapsonly32milesforthecircumferenceofNineveh。Jonastalksofthreedays\'
journey:the120，000personsdescribedbytheprophetasincapableofdiscerningtheirrighthandfromtheirleft，mayaffordabout700，000personsofallagesfortheinhabitantsofthatancientcapital，Goguet，OriginesdesLoix，&c。，tom。iii。
parti。p。92，93，whichceasedtoexist600yearsbeforeChrist。Thewesternsuburbstillsubsisted，andismentionedunderthenameofMosulinthefirstageoftheArabiankhalifs。]
[Footnote102:NiebuhrVoyageenArabie，&c。，tom。ii。p。286
passedoverNinevehwithoutperceivingit。Hemistookforaridgeofhillstheoldrampartofbrickorearth。Itissaidtohavebeen100feethigh，flankedwith1500towers，eachoftheheightof200feet。]
[Footnote103:RexregiaarmaferosaysRomulus，inthefirstconsecration……binaposteacontinuesLivy，i。10intertotbella，opimapartasuntspolia，adeoraraejusfortunadecoris。
IfVarroapudPompFestum，p。306，edit。Daciercouldjustifyhisliberalityingrantingtheopimespoilseventoacommonsoldierwhohadslainthekingorgeneraloftheenemy，thehonorwouldhavebeenmuchmorecheapandcommon]
[Footnote*:MacdonaldKinneirplacesDastagerdatKasreShirin，thepalaceofSiraonthebanksoftheDialabetweenHolwanandKanabee。KinnetsGeograph。Mem。p。306。—M。]
[Footnote104:IndescribingthislastexpeditionofHeraclius，thefacts，theplaces，andthedatesofTheophanesp。265—271
aresoaccurateandauthentic，thathemusthavefollowedtheoriginallettersoftheemperor，ofwhichthePaschalChroniclehaspreservedp。398—402averycuriousspecimen。]
WhentheambitionofChosroeswasreducedtothedefenceofhishereditarykingdom，theloveofglory，oreventhesenseofshame，shouldhaveurgedhimtomeethisrivalinthefield。InthebattleofNineveh，hiscouragemighthavetaughtthePersianstovanquish，orhemighthavefallenwithhonorbythelanceofaRomanemperor。ThesuccessorofCyruschoserather，atasecuredistance，toexpecttheevent，toassembletherelicsofthedefeat，andtoretire，bymeasuredsteps，beforethemarchofHeraclius，tillhebeheldwithasightheoncelovedmansionsofDastagerd。Bothhisfriendsandenemieswerepersuaded，thatitwastheintentionofChosroestoburyhimselfundertheruinsofthecityandpalace:andasbothmighthavebeenequallyadversetohisflight，themonarchofAsia，withSira，andthreeconcubines，escapedthroughaholeinthewallninedaysbeforethearrivaloftheRomans。Theslowandstatelyprocessioninwhichheshowedhimselftotheprostratecrowd，waschangedtoarapidandsecretjourney；andthefirsteveninghelodgedinthecottageofapeasant，whosehumbledoorwouldscarcelygiveadmittancetothegreatking。^105Hissuperstitionwassubduedbyfear:onthethirdday，heenteredwithjoythefortificationsofCtesiphon；yethestilldoubtedofhissafetytillhehadopposedtheRiverTigristothepursuitoftheRomans。Thediscoveryofhisflightagitatedwithterrorandtumultthepalace，thecity，andthecampofDastagerd:thesatrapshesitatedwhethertheyhadmosttofearfromtheirsovereignortheenemy；andthefemalesoftheharemwereastonishedandpleasedbythesightofmankind，tillthejealoushusbandofthreethousandwivesagainconfinedthemtoamoredistantcastle。Athiscommand，thearmyofDastagerdretreatedtoanewcamp:thefrontwascoveredbytheArba，andalineoftwohundredelephants；thetroopsofthemoredistantprovincessuccessivelyarrived，andthevilestdomesticsofthekingandsatrapswereenrolledforthelastdefenceofthethrone。ItwasstillinthepowerofChosroestoobtainareasonablepeace；andhewasrepeatedlypressedbythemessengersofHeracliustosparethebloodofhissubjects，andtorelieveahumaneconquerorfromthepainfuldutyofcarryingfireandswordthroughthefairestcountriesofAsia。ButtheprideofthePersianhadnotyetsunktothelevelofhisfortune；hederivedamomentaryconfidencefromtheretreatoftheemperor；heweptwithimpotentrageovertheruinsofhisAssyrianpalaces，anddisregardedtoolongtherisingmurmursofthenation，whocomplainedthattheirlivesandfortunesweresacrificedtotheobstinacyofanoldman。Thatunhappyoldmanwashimselftorturedwiththesharpestpainsbothofmindandbody；and，intheconsciousnessofhisapproachingend，heresolvedtofixthetiaraontheheadofMerdaza，themostfavoredofhissons。ButthewillofChosroeswasnolongerrevered，andSiroes，whogloriedintherankandmeritofhismotherSira，hadconspiredwiththemalecontentstoassertandanticipatetherightsofprimogeniture。^106Twenty—twosatrapstheystyledthemselvespatriotsweretemptedbythewealthandhonorsofanewreign:tothesoldiers，theheirofChosroespromisedanincreaseofpay；totheChristians，thefreeexerciseoftheirreligion；