The work of Heraclius was undone, but he was decidedly one of the most extraordinary
and inconsistent Emperors who assumed the charge of the Byzantine Empire. Great were his
exploits and adventurous campaigns and he ruled the greatest empire of the day. In the
magnitude of his dominions, wealth and military prowess, he could be compared only with
Chosroes II, the Emperor of Persia. Heraclius died at Constantinople in 641 A.D. and was
buried there.
CHOSROES II
Known as Khusro Parvez to the Arabs, he was the fourth son of Hormouz and the grandson
of Chosroes I, Anushirvan the Just. The murder of Hormouz in 590 A.D. was succeeded by
enthronement of Chosroes II, but after suffering a defeat at the hands of a rebel chief, Ba-
hram, he had to solicit the protection of Maurice, the Byzantine Emperor. The fugitive
prince was helped by Maurice with a powerful army which restored his kingdom after two
fierce battles on the banks of Zab and the confines of Mada'in. While the majesty of the
Persian Emperor was revived, Phocas, who promoted himself to the vacant purple, killed his
adopted father, Maurice. Chosroes II decided to avenge the death of Maurice and invaded
the Byzantine dominions in 604 A.D. Chosroes II continued to extend his triumphant march
to Constantinople, even after the death of Phocas, rolling in the dust all the Byzantine prov-
inces, Syria , Egypt and Asia Minor, in the rapid tide of his success.
By 616 A.D. Chosroes II had reached the summit of his victorious campaign for he seemed
to announce the approaching dissolution of the Byzantine Empire. But his insolent demands
at last animated the dormant valor of Heraclius who put the Iranians to rout and penetrated
into the heart of Persia. Chosroes II, had to ultimately leave his country and seek refuge in
some far off place and thus the battle between the two empires came to an end in 628 A.D.
Chosroes II was, according to the unanimous verdict of historians, the greatest Emperor of
Iran. In the East, his writ ran up to the northwestern parts of India. (Iran ba 'Ahad Sasanian,
p. 602)
During his rule, the glory and magnificence of royal court had surpassed the limits of fan-
cy. Iran was, during this period, more than a match to any country of the world in its osten-
tatious living, luxury of its nobles and the splendid workmanship of its artisans. Writing
about the attainments of Chosroes II, the noted Arab historian At-Tabari says: "Made of a
sterner stuff, he was the most prudent far-sighted Emperor of Persia. Deeds of valor,
exploits of victory, abundance of wealth, stroke of luck and favorable circumstances had
so bunched up during his reign as never before. It was for these reasons that he came to
be known as Pervez which meant victorious in Arabic." (Tarikh Tabri, Vol. II, (Egypt), p.
137).
In the arts of civilization and ever-new innovations of edibles and drink, Iran was without
any parallel. (Tarikh Tabri, Vol. II, (Egypt), p. 995) In the manufacture of perfumes it had
attained perfection. The people had developed a taste for savory preparation, luscious