Battle of Aghdam (625)

Battle of Aghdam
Part of Byzantine-Sasanian War of 602-628 and the Heraclius Caucasus campaign
Heraclius' Campaigns against the Sassanids
Date January 625 Location Aghdam, Sasanian Empire (modern Azerbaijan) Result Byzantine victory
Belligerents
Byzantine empire	Sasanian empire
Commanders and leaders
Heraclius	Shahin
Strength
20,000[a] to 24,000[b]	20,000[1] to 30,000[2]

Battle of Aghdam is battle between Byzantine and Sasanian armies. As a result of the battle, Shahin's army was defeated and Heraclius was able to move against Shahrvaraz's army.

Background and Battle

Byzantine banner in XII century

In early April 623, the Byzantines, led by Heraclius, invaded Persarmenia and defeated Khosrow's army at the Battle of Ganzak. After this victory, Heraclius moved into the depths of the Caucasus. In response to the actions of the Byzantine emperor, Khosrow sent three armies to block the actions of Heraclius. The army of Shahrvaraz moved from the Syria, and the army of Shahin moved from Chalcedon. However, the Byzantines managed to successfully retreat to the north, where they stayed for the winter. By the spring of the following year, the army of Heraclius was surrounded by three Persian armies, under the command of Shahin, Shahrvaraz and Shahraplakan. Having selected the best soldiers from his army, he abruptly moved to the west, caught Shahin's army by surprise and defeated it, and then moved to meet Shahrvaraz.^[3]

Aftermath

Having defeated Shahin's army, Heraclius moved towards Shahrvaraz and defeated his army at Archesh

Reference

1. Greatrex 1991, pp. 206, 208.
2. Kaegi 2003, p. 129.
3. Dashkov 2008, p. 177.

Bibliography

• Dashkov, S. (2008). Цари Царей - Сасаниды [Kings of Kings - Sasanians] (in Russian). Moscow. ISBN 978-5-91660-001-8.
• Kaegi, Walter Emil (2003), Heraclius: Emperor of Byzantium, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-81459-1
• Greatrex, Geoffrey (1991). The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian wars.Part II.363-630AD. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-14687-9.

Notes

1. Heraclius' army at the Battle of Archesh, which took place shortly after the Battle of Aghdam
2. maximum size of Heraclius army during the Heraclius Caucasus campaign