Rhahzadh

Rhazates († December 12 627 in the area of Nineveh ) was a Sassanian commander in the 7th century AD His original name was Rochelle Vehan; Rhazates he was called by his ( Greek-speaking ) Byzantine adversaries.

Rhazates served in the last and greatest of the Roman -Persian war, that the Sassanid king Khosrau II had begun large-scale 603. The Sassanids had initially can post fairytale success; to 619 was the Roman Orient under Persian control. But then began the 622 counter-offensive of the Eastern Roman emperor Heraclius, who penetrated deep into Persian territory and the Persians caused some defeats.

In September 627 Heraclius marched with a large army of Tbilisi prior to the south. Khosrau II, seemed to have suffered the defeats its state of mind and no longer trusted his generals, sent Rhazates with his army to stop the enemy. Chosroes had Rhazates also granted the ill-fated command to fight the Romans at any time, no matter where he found it and regardless of possible consequences. However Rhazates had the route of the Emperor misjudged, which eventually penetrated into the heart of ancient Assyria. In the ruins of Nineveh, there came the beginning of December some 627 battles. Rhazates wanted to await the arrival of reinforcements, but Heraclius had the experience of prisoners and acted quickly. Rhazates Heraclius finally went into the trap by following on an open plain to him. It came on 12 December for battle.

Our few sources do not allow to get a clear picture of the events, but seem to have maneuvered superior to the Eastern Romans, while the Persians were unprepared for battle. The Persians suffered heavy losses, even Rhazates fell in battle. The victory of Heraclius at Nineveh paved the way to the south and this should mean in retrospect, the decision in the ongoing struggle between the two centuries of late antiquity superpowers Rome and Persia.