ABSTRACT
Despite the inglorious death of Khusro almost a year earlier, Roman control of the Near East had not been fully restored by January 629 by any means. Mesopotamia, Osrhoene, and presumably Syria and Phoenice had been regained by Theodore, but Shahrvaraz remained in Egypt.143 Nothing is known of Persian troops stationed north of Syria. Heraclius was forced therefore to deal with Shahrvaraz, clearly now a more powerful figure than the new king in Ctesiphon (Sebeos 129/88, Thom. Arts. 96/162). On 17 July 629 the emperor met Shahrvaraz at Arabissus to arrange terms. Since already in June Shahrvaraz had started to evacuate Egypt, the two leaders had evidently been in contact for some time before their meeting (Chr. 724, 146/17-18). A western Turk invasion around the same time failed to dissolve the good relations now established. See Flusin 1992: II, 290-1, Zuckerman 1995: 118 and n.30, HowardJohnston 1999: 27-8.144
Chr. 724, 147.18-24, cf. 139.13-18 (AG 940 = 629): In that year, in July, Heraclius, emperor of the Romans, and Shahrvaraz the patricius of the Persians, met each other at a pass in the north, which is named Arabissus Tripotamus. They built a church there and called it Eirene (Peace) by name, and they spoke about peace there with each other, and it was determined that the Euphrates was the boundary between them. Thus they made peace with each other. (tr. M. Greatrex) Nic. 17.1-19: Shahrvaraz, when he had heard that Khusro and Shiroe, Kaboes and Hormizd had died, returned from the land of the Romans and wrote an apology to Heraclius, (claiming) that what he had done to the Romans he had not performed willingly but according to the order of the one who sent him, and he sought permission to come to him (Heraclius) and to present (himself) as a slave. After being reassured by a sworn assurance from the emperor, he came to him and promised to give him money from Persia with which he might repair whatever he had destroyed in the land of the Romans. Meanwhile the son of Hormizd fell victim to a plot and was slain, and Shahrvaraz sought from the emperor the Persian crown.145 He granted him (this), and they agreed between themselves that all the Roman territory under the Persians should be restored to the Romans. When peace had been concluded, Shahrvaraz immediately returned to the Romans both Egypt and all the eastern lands after withdrawing the Persians (that were) there; and he sent the life-giving Cross to the emperor. Heraclius conferred the dignity of patrician upon Nicetas, the son of Shahrvaraz, and gave the latter’s daughter Nike in marriage to his own son Theodosius, born of Martina.146 ( … ) (tr. Mango, revised)
Sebeos 129-30/88, cf. Thom. Arts. 96/162 reports that Shahrvaraz agreed to evacuate the eastern provinces after Heraclius offered him the Persian crown and military support if he should need it.147 When they met (i.e. at Arabissus, presumably) Shahrvaraz pledged to return the Cross as soon as he found it and to fix the frontier where Heraclius wished it. See Thomson and Howard-Johnston 1999: 224.
