Revolt Against Heraclius

Niya Keller 11-8-17

Social Studies Rm.36 The Jewish Revolt Against Heraclius

The Jewish revolt against Heraclius was apart of the Byzantine- Sasanian War of 602-628 BCE. The Jews wanted to gain the Land of Israel. The war took place during the Late Antique Little Ice Age. It started when Jews and Samaritans were being killed frequently by the Byzantines who were the Eastern Romans, which resulted in numerous revolts. The Byzantines religious propaganda developed strong anti-Jewish elements.In different cases Jews would try to help support Sasanian advance. A pogrom on Antioch in 608 would led to the Jews revolt in 610 which was crushed, they Also revolted in Tyre and Acre in 610 BCE. When Jews had supported Christians in the fight against Shapur I, the Byzantines had been viewed as oppressors. Ten percent of the Jews joined the revolt, so that was figured that 20,000 of them rebel and 200,000 Jews were living in the territory at the time. Soon, Michael Avi-Yonah figured that if he used the figure of Jewish combates to arrive at an estimate of the total Jewish population. The figure was that 150,000 to 200,000

Heraclius would not have entered Jerusalem while Persian troop presence. In 628 BCE, Khosrau II made peace with Heraclius. But Khosrau had a brief reign. On March 21st,630 BCE, Heraclius marched into Jerusalem with the True Cross. Heraclius was in Constantinople in 629 BCE, where he issued a law. Heraclius and Shahrbaraz agreed on new borders. Heraclius came as the victor into the county. The Jews surrendered and ask for his protection under Benjamin of Tiberias leadership. Benjamin accompanied Heraclius on his way to Jerusalem. Once Heraclius reached Jerusalem he went back to Benjamin of Tiberias because of his promise to him. The Christian population and monks of Jerusalem convinced the Emperor to break his