Atlas of Battles

siege, notable, medieval

Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem

Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem was a siege conducted in March AD 614 at Jerusalem, in what is now Israel. It was part of the Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628, which ran from AD 602 to AD 628. The recorded result: Sasanian victory. Recorded strength: Unknown against Unknown number of Sasanian forces; 20,000–26,000 Jewish rebels.

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Byzantine and Sassanid empires and their vassals at the beginning of 7th century CE. Based on the File:East-Hem_600ad.jpg by User:Talessman
Byzantine and Sassanid empires and their vassals at the beginning of 7th century CE. Based on the File:East-Hem_600ad.jpg by User:Talessman. Getoryk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtMarch AD 614
WhereJerusalem, Israel31.783N, 35.217E
OutcomeSasanian victory
BelligerentsByzantine EmpireagainstSasanian Empire; Anti-Heraclian Jews
Casualties and lossesDisputedandDisputed
Part ofByzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628AD 602 to AD 628

Where it sits in the Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628

Battle of Arzamon, AD 605Siege of Edessa, AD 610Siege of Caesarea, AD 611Battle of Antioch, AD 613Siege of Caesarea Maritima, AD 614Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem, AD 614Battle of Ganzak, AD 624Battle of Aghdam, AD 625Battle of Archesh, AD 625Battle of Sarus, AD 625Siege of Constantinople, AD 626Battle of the Lycus, AD 626Battle of Nineveh, AD 627AD 605AD 627Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem, AD 614
13 placed engagements of the Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateMarch AD 614 (month precision)
to April AD 614
PlaceJerusalem, Israel
31.783N, 35.217E
KindSiege, medieval
Territorial changeJerusalem and Palaestina Prima annexed by the Sasanian Empire
StrengthUnknownUnknown number of Sasanian forces; 20,000–26,000 Jewish rebels
Casualties and lossesDisputedDisputed; According to Sebeos: 17,000 Christians killed; According to later Christian sources: 66,509 Christians killed during the siege (exaggerated); 4,518 Jews killed during the revolt
Commanders
  • Khosrow II
  • Shahrbaraz
  • Nehemiah ben Hushiel
  • Benjamin of Tiberias
Sasanian conquest of JerusalemSasanian conquest of JerusalemSiege of JerusalemSiege of JerusalemSiege of JebusSiege of JerusalemSiege of JerusalemTel AvivAmmanHaifaNablusEl ArishNazarethAl KarakAs Suwayda100 km31.783N, 35.217E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 21 times between 1010 BC and 1967.

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 614

Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem is one of 179 engagements of the 7th century in the atlas and one of 152 in present-day Israel.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2915236, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem, revision 1376804652, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.