Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem

Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem
	Part of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628
	; Territory controlled by the Byzantines (purple) and the Sasanians (yellow) in 600 CE
Date	April–May 614 CE (per Sebeos and Antiochus)
Location	Jerusalem31°47′N 35°13′E / 31.783°N 35.217°E
Result	Jewish-Sasanian victory
Territorial; changes	Jerusalem and Palaestina Prima annexed by the Sasanians
Belligerents
Byzantine Empire	Sasanian Empire; Supported by:; Anti-Heraclian Jews
Commanders and leaders
Heraclius; Zacharias;	Khosrow II; Shahrbaraz; Nehemiah ben Hushiel; Benjamin of Tiberias ;
Strength
Byzantine army	Sasanian army 20,000–26,000 Jewish rebels;
Casualties and losses
Disputed	Disputed
	Many Jews killed during the revolt; 4,518–66,509 Christians killed during the siege

The Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem or Sasanian conquest of Palestine was a significant event in the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628, having taken place in early 614. Amidst the conflict, Sasanian king Khosrow II had appointed Shahrbaraz, his spahbod (army chief), to lead an offensive into the Diocese of the East of the Byzantine Empire. Under Shahrbaraz, the Sasanian army had secured victories at Antioch as well as at Caesarea Maritima, the administrative capital of Palaestina Prima.^[4]^: 206 By this time, the grand inner harbour had silted up and was useless, but the city continued to be an important maritime hub after Byzantine emperor Anastasius I Dicorus ordered the reconstruction of the outer harbour. Successfully capturing the city and the harbour had given the Sasanian Empire strategic access to the Mediterranean Sea.^[5] The Sasanians' advance was accompanied by the outbreak of a Jewish revolt against Heraclius; the Sasanian army was joined by Nehemiah ben Hushiel^[6] and Benjamin of Tiberias, who enlisted and armed Jews from across Galilee, including the cities of Tiberias and Nazareth. In total, between 20,000 and 26,000 Jewish rebels took part in the Sasanian assault on Jerusalem.^[7]^[1] By mid-614, the Jews and the Sasanians had captured the city, but sources vary on whether this occurred without resistance^[4]^: 207 or after a siege and breaching of the wall with artillery. Following the Sasanians capture of Jerusalem tens of thousands of Byzantine Christians were massacred by the Jewish rebels.

^ ^a ^b James Parkes (1949). A history of Palestine from 135 A.D. to modern times. Victor Gollancz. p. 81.
^ Cite error: The named reference Avni was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Antiochus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Thomson, R. W.; Howard-Johnston, James (historical commentary); Greenwood, Tim (assistance) (1999). The Armenian History Attributed to Sebeos. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-564-4. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
^ Joseph Patrich (2011). "Caesarea Maritima". Institute of Archaeology Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
^ Haim Hillel Ben-Sasson (1976). A History of the Jewish People. Harvard University Press. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-674-39731-6. Retrieved 19 January 2014. nehemiah ben hushiel
^ Kohler, Kaufmann; Rhine, A. [Abraham Benedict] (1906). "Chosroes (Khosru) II. Parwiz ("The Conqueror")". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20 January 2014.

[hp-1] James Parkes (1949). A history of Palestine from 135 A.D. to modern times. Victor Gollancz. p. 81.

[Avni-2] Cite error: The named reference Avni was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Antiochus-3] Cite error: The named reference Antiochus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[james-4] Thomson, R. W.; Howard-Johnston, James (historical commentary); Greenwood, Tim (assistance) (1999). The Armenian History Attributed to Sebeos. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-564-4. Retrieved 17 January 2014.

[5] Joseph Patrich (2011). "Caesarea Maritima". Institute of Archaeology Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Retrieved 13 March 2014.

[Nehemiah-6] Haim Hillel Ben-Sasson (1976). A History of the Jewish People. Harvard University Press. p. 362. ISBN 978-0-674-39731-6. Retrieved 19 January 2014. nehemiah ben hushiel

[7] Kohler, Kaufmann; Rhine, A. [Abraham Benedict] (1906). "Chosroes (Khosru) II. Parwiz ("The Conqueror")". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20 January 2014.

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