Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem
| Siege of Jerusalem (614) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Jewish revolt against Heraclius during the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Byzantine Empire |
Sasanian Persian Empire, Jewish allies |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Patriarch Zacharias (POW) |
Shahrbaraz Nehemiah ben Hushiel  Benjamin of Tiberias |
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| Strength | |||||||||
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Byzantine Empire
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Sasanian Empire
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 4,518-66,509 Christians | Many Jews slain in the revolt | ||||||||
Byzantine Empire
Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian Empire conquered Jerusalem after a brief siege in 614, during the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628, after the Persian Shah Khosrau II appointed his general Shahrbaraz to conquer the Byzantine controlled areas of the Near East. Following the victory in Antioch, Shahrbaraz conquered Caesarea Maritima, the administrative capital of the province. By this time the grand inner harbor had silted up and was useless, however the Emperor Anastasius had reconstructed the outer harbor and Caesarea remained an important maritime city, providing the Persian Empire with access to the Mediterranean Sea. The Sasanian Persians were joined by Nehemiah ben Hushiel and Benjamin of Tiberias (a man of immense wealth), who enlisted and armed Jewish soldiers from Tiberias, Nazareth and the mountain cities of Galilee, and together with a band of Arabs and additional Jews from southern parts of the country they marched on Jerusalem. Some 20,000 Jewish rebels joined the war against the Byzantine Christians. Depending on the chronicler figures of either 20,000 or 26,000 are given. The Persian army reinforced by Jewish forces led by Nehemiah ben Hushiel and Benjamin of Tiberias would capture Jerusalem without resistance.
Jews and Samaritans were persecuted frequently by the Byzantines resulting in numerous revolts. Byzantine religious propaganda developed strong anti-Jewish elements. In several cases Jews tried to help support the Sasanian advance. A pogrom in Antioch in 608 would lead to a Jewish revolt in 610 which was crushed. Jews also revolted in both Tyre and Acre in 610. The Jews of Tyre were massacred in reprisal. Unlike in earlier times when Jews had supported Christians in the fight against Shapur I, the Byzantines had now become viewed as oppressors.
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Wikipedia