Product Description

This book evaluates the life and empire of the pivotal yet controversial Byzantine emperor Heraclius (ad. 610-641), a contemporary of the Prophet Muhammad. His stormy war-torn reign is critical for understanding the background to fundamental changes in the Balkans and the Middle East, including the emergence of Islam. Heraclius' skills enabled him to capture and recapture important territory, including Jerusalem, Syria and Egypt. Yet, they proved to be of little value when he confronted early Islamic conquests.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1104895 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 372 pages

Review
"...a good, solid work on a much studied, and much misunderstood, period in Byzantine history, and should find its way immediately onto graduate reading lists." Military History

"This study constitutes an excellent source for students and specialists interested in Byzantine and later Roman history. Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium will also enhance readers' knowledge of the Muslim-Arabic expansion into Middle Eastern territory." History

"...Prof. Kaegi's work breaks considerable new ground by refuting many old, generally superficial views of Heraclius, while putting his considerable achievements firmly into the political, social, cultural, and military frame-work of his times." New York Military Affairs Symposium Review

"A meticulous narrative." Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"Kaegi's expertise in the analysis of military campaigns shines through on numerous occasions, well supported by good maps, plans and photographs." The Medieval Review

"...a bold endeavor...it will require a heroic scholarly effort to produce a better account." American Historical Review

"Kaegi has certainly achieved his goal of superseding Andrewas Strato's narrative of the reign." - Speculum Mark Whittow, St. Peter's College, Oxford

"This subtly argued monograph will contribute importantly to the discussion of late Carolingian politics" - Speculum Hans Hummer, Wayne State University

About the Author
Walter E. Kaegi is Professor of History, The University of Chicago. He is the author of many books, including Byzantium and the Decline of Rome (1968), Byzantine Military Unrest 471-843 (1981), Army, Society and Religion in Byzantium (1982), Some Thoughts on Byzantine Military Strategy (1983), and Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests (1992, paperback 1995).

Customer Reviews

Heraclius - Hero of Byzantium
Heraclius saved the Byzantine Empire from sure destruction at the hands of the Persians, only to be confronted by the onslaught of Islam in the early seventh century. Piecing together Heraclius' life and remarkable achivement from fragmentary sources is no easy task, but Walter Kaegi has succeeded in creating an account of Heraclius that will long remain the oft cited standard. Critics will find details to quibble about, but what book is beyond criticism? In fact, Kaegi demonstrates the art of the careful and critical historian, sifting through pieces of evidence to arrive at well balanced judgments. His extraordinary handling of the Greek sources is matched by that applied to the Arabic (how many western historians can say that?), and his knowledge of the Armenian and Syraic sources is no less inferior. Moreover, Kaegi is among the few historians who has ever set foot in the area of Syria and Palestine where the critical battles between Byzantines and Persians/Arabs occurred, not to mention Iraq. Kaegi takes the reader through all this and shows just what can be known in a sure handed way, so that even the novice reader can learn of the heroic Heraclius and the great events of his day.

A superb work
This work depicts the trials of a man placed at the helm of one of the most tumultuous times in history, and is a must read for anyone interested in the Middle East. Most fascinating is Kaegi's depiction of the rise of Islam, which greatly diminished the massive Byzantine Empire and changed the history of the world. Kaegi not only examines why the Byzantines lost to the invaders, but also tries to understand Heraclius' role as an effective military leader. Kaegi makes the history come alive to the reader, but does not overstep the bounds of reality by creating fiction. All of his claims are cited and well-reasoned.
Besides being the first major comprehensive biography of Heraclius in the English language and being a compelling read, this is a work to be emulated. Walter Kaegi examines myriad Arabic and Greek primary sources, while also providing a thorough examination of secondary sources and arguments from academia. He does not stop there. His research into libraries throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East is then coupled with his on the ground research in both North Africa and the Near East. Walter Kaegi actually visited the sites about which he writes, and knows well the geography.
I strongly recommend this work for both experts and non-experts alike.

A Good History but at Times Frustrating
This is a good sound academically written book. It addresses a little known personality whose life reads like a Greek tragedy; triumph, defeat, triumph again and finally ignominous failure. Keagi has, I'm sure, mined the available ancient texts but the repetition of his speculations, naturally without recorded foundations, does get a bit tedious. Still, he makes a convincing case that Heraclius was no First Crusader, as another book on this emperor implies. That was simply because the Byzantines did not quite understand the religious implications of the Muslim movement in the beginning. I recommend this book for all history buffs of this era and this empire.