Heraclius’ First Counteroffensive

The second decisive moment of the war came in 624, when Heraclius sent off a diplomatic mission to the khagan of the Turks in central Asia and himself led a small, hardened expeditionary force deep into Transcaucasia and beyond. Speed of movement and surprise played key parts in the series of victories he won over pursuing armies in 625, after disrupting Khusro’s mobilization and sacking the fire temple of Adur Gushnasp at modern Takht-I Sulaiman in 624. The Romans benefited in several ways from this first counteroffensive: (1) the troops gained in confidence with each success; (2) serious damage was done to Persian resources by widespread raiding; (3) volunteers were raised from the Christian peoples of Transcaucasia; and (4) the Turks agreed to come into the war on the Roman side. After learning this from Turkish emissaries in Albania late in 625, Heraclius set off on the long march home.