Siege of Constantinople (626)

Avar–Persian siege of Constantinople
Part of Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 and the Avar–Byzantine Wars

Depiction of the siege from the Chronicle of Constantine Manasses
DateJune–July 626
Location41°0′44.06″N 28°58′33.67″E / 41.0122389°N 28.9760194°E / 41.0122389; 28.9760194
Result Byzantine victory
Territorial
changes
The Byzantines successfully re-capture Anatolia in 626.
Belligerents
Sassanid Empire
Avar Khaganate
Sclaveni
Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Bayan III
Shahrbaraz
Kardarigan
Patriarch Sergius
Magister Bonus
Theodore
Strength

George of Pisidia:
80,000 troops[1]

  • 30,000 from vanguard

Theodore Synkellos:
Less than 8,000 troops, outnumbered 10+ to 1
Modern estimates:
15,000 troops[2]

  • 12,000 cavalrymen
  • 1,000–2,000 palace guards
  • sailors
Siege of Constantinople (626) is located in Istanbul
Siege of Constantinople (626)
Location within Istanbul
Siege of Constantinople (626) is located in Mediterranean
Siege of Constantinople (626)
Siege of Constantinople (626) (Mediterranean)
Siege of Constantinople (626) is located in Black Sea
Siege of Constantinople (626)
Siege of Constantinople (626) (Black Sea)

The siege of Constantinople in 626 by the Sassanid Persians and Avars, aided by large numbers of allied Slavs, ended in a strategic victory for the Byzantines. The failure of the siege saved the empire from collapse, and, combined with other victories achieved by Emperor Heraclius (r. 610–641) the previous year and in 627, enabled Byzantium to regain its territories and end the destructive Roman–Persian Wars by enforcing a treaty with borders status quo c. 590.

  1. ^ Hurbanič, Martin (2019). The Avar Siege of Constantinople in 626. Springer. p. 135. ISBN 978-3030166847.
  2. ^ Hurbanič, Martin (2019). The Avar Siege of Constantinople in 626. Springer. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-3030166847.