Heraclius: Encyclopedia II - Heraclius - Legacy

Heraclius - Legacy

Although his defeat of the Persians produced no lasting benefit to the empire, Heraclius still ranks among the greatest of the Byzantine emperors. His reforms of the government reduced the corruption which had taken hold in the disastrous reign of Phocas, and he reorganized the military with great success. Ultimately, the reformed imperial army halted the Muslims in Asia Minor and held on to Carthage for another 60 years, saving a core from which the empire's strength could be rebuilt.

The recovery of the eastern areas of the Byzantine Empire from the Persians once again raised the problem of religious unity centering around the understanding of the true nature of Christ. Most of the inhabitants of these provinces were Monophysites who rejected the Council of Chalcedon. Heraclius tried to promote a compromise doctrine called Monothelitism; however, this philosophy was rejected as heretical by both sides of the dispute. For this reason, Heraclius was viewed as a heretic and bad ruler by some later religious writers. After the Monophysite provinces were finally lost to the Muslims, Monotheletism rather lost its raison d'etre and was eventually abandoned.

Heraclius and Fabia-Eudocia had two children:

• Epiphania-Eudocia, Augusta
• Heraclius Constantine, Emperor 641

With his second wife Martina Emperor had at least ten children, though the names and order of these children are questions for debate:

• Fabius, had a paralysed neck
• Theodosius, was a deaf-mute, married Nike, daughter of Persian general Shahrbaraz
• Constantine
• Heraclius II (Heracleonas), Emperor 638 - 641
• David (Tiberius), proclaimed Caesar in 638
• Martinus or Marinus
• Augustina, Augusta
• Anastasia and/or Martina, Augusta
• Febronia

Of these at least two were handicapped, which was seen as punishment for the illegality of the marriage.

He also had at least one illegitimate son, Atalarichus, who was mutiliated and exiled to Prinkipo in 637 for his involvment in the plot against Heraclius.

During the last years of Heraclius' life, it became evident that a struggle was taking place between Heraclius Constantine and Martina who was trying to position her son Heracleonas in line for the throne. When Heraclius died, in his will he left the empire to both Heraclius Constantine and Heracleonas to rule jointly with Martina as Empress and mother of both.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Legacy", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki