Heraclonas, the mutilated Byzantine emperor accused of inciting revolt

He (born 615—died 641?) was an Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperor who ruled briefly in 641 CE.

Heraclonas was the son of Emperor Heraclius and his second wife, Martina. In 638 CE, Heraclonas, with his mother’s influence, was granted the title of Augustus, solidifying his position as a co-emperor alongside his half-brother Constantine III.

When Heraclius died in February 641 CE, the brothers were declared joint emperors.

The sudden death of Constantine III in May 641 left Heraclonas as the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Though Constantine likely died of tuberculosis, rumours spread that Martina and Heraclonas had orchestrated his death through poisoning.

These accusations, though unproven, incited a revolt that ultimately resulted in their downfall.

In September 641 CE, Heraclonas and Martina were deposed, mutilated (Heraclonas’ nose was cut off as punishment), and exiled to Rhodes. After this event, Heraclonas disappeared from historical records, and his exact fate remains uncertain.

Heraclonas’ brief and tumultuous reign was shaped by court intrigue and accusations of foul play, reflecting the intense instability of the Byzantine Empire during the mid-7th century.

Name: Heraclonas
Birth Name: Heraclius Herakleios
Birthdate and Location: 615 CE, Constantinople
Death Date and Location: c. 641 CE, Rhodes (uncertain)
Age at Death: Approximately 26 years
Job Title: Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire

The article first appeared on Ancient History Vault.

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