The Last Great Empires of Antiquity

EMPIRES OF FAITH HIST 1301 | History The Last Great Empires of Antiquity The Byzantine Empire and the Sasanian Empire were two powerful giants engaged in a neverending dance of intrigue and conflict throughout the turbulent sixth and seventh century. Despite brief periods of peace and transient coalitions, the story of their relationship was mostly one of armed conflict and calculated use of force. Khosrow I, the emperor of the Sasanian Empire, proved to be a brilliant military strategist who skillfully repelled many raids by wandering tribes into Sasanian territory. His skill as a diplomat was further demonstrated in 532 when he worked with the Byzantines to broker a provisional peace. Peace, however, was short-lived as Khosrow took advantage of Justinian's immersion by Italian battles to advance westward into Byzantine lands. During the subsequent battle, which lasted from 541 to 557, the Sasanians took possession of strategically important Byzantine-held lands, such as Armenia and Syria. Even though Justinian's death in 565 signalled the start of hostilities again, a truce had been mediated in 557. Khosrow II, carrying on his father's military prowess, launched a campaign that intensified hostilities to unprecedented levels. In 602, Khosrow made a bold incursion into Byzantine lands, taking advantage of the turmoil caused by the assassination of the Byzantine Emperor Maurice. The Sasanian empire reached its peak of growth in 619, when, encouraged by their early victories, they expanded their rule into Palestine, Egypt, and even Libya. The Byzantines responded by uniting under the banner of resistance, which resulted in a string of important victories that allowed them to retake lost territory and ultimately led to Khosrow II's overthrow in 628. However, despite the ups and downs of conflict, an odd symbiosis continued. The Byzantines and Sasanians participated in a sophisticated web of cultural interchange and diplomatic procedures under the surface of animosity. In the midst of the clangour of battle, courtly rituals like gift-giving and the observance of elaborate processions and games functioned as channels for communication. Furthermore, as strongholds of authority and legitimacy, both empires used the powerful symbolism of their capital cities, Ctesiphon and Constantinople. Their claims to imperial power were reinforced by art and architecture, as they were rooted in the common memory of previous glory. This common story of legitimacy ironically highlighted their competition for global domination, a struggle that has lasted throughout history. The empires skillfully used lesser states as puppets on their geopolitical chessboard while they fought against other on their territory. Despite differences in religion, the Armenians were frequently caught in the crossfire of political forces and turned to the Sasanians or Byzantines for support when circumstances required it. In the meantime, nomadic communities unknowingly furthered the objectives of far-off empires by acting as willing proxy in the Byzantine-Sasanian struggle. Over the course of the ages, the geographical boundaries of both empires steadily shrank, their former splendour fading in the face of revolving coalitions and advancing enemies. Still, the echoes of Byzantine and Sasanian legacies echoed amid the ruins of empires, bearing witness to the long-lasting impact of their epic fight for power.