The Siege of Jerusalem in 614 AD was part of the final phase of the Roman-Persian Wars, as the Persian shah Khosrau II and his general Shahrbaraz conquered the Byzantine Middle East. Following the Persian advances into Syria in the previous year, Shahrbaraz"s next target was Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine and the Christian Empire"s most holy city. Providing direct access to the Mediterranean Sea, the city would also provide a strategic location for the Persian Empire to begin constructing a naval fleet, thereby threatening Byzantine hegemony in the Mediterranean. After 21 days of relentless siege warfare, Jerusalem"s walls yielded and the conclusive Persian victory resulted in the territorial annexation of Jerusalem, and all of Palestine.Antiochus Strategos

The Siege

Customary to military tradition, when the Persian force arrived outside Jerusalem, Shahrbaraz offered a peaceful transition of power should the city surrender without resistance. The Sassanid general"s offer was however rebuffed, and he consequently prepared his troops for a blockade. Shahrbaraz, alongside fellow general Shahin, prepared for what would they believed would be a long and fierce siege, given Jerusalem"s powerful fortifications. For twenty non-stop days, the Persians army continually blasted the walls of Jerusalem with ballistas and other military engines. While the Byzantine city was composed primarily of civilians and priesthood, there is mention of a formidable Greek force, which was gathered by monk Abba Modestus to assist Jerusalem. However, once the Greek troops caught eye of the overwhelming Persian army encamped outside the city"s walls, they fled, fearing a suicidal battle preceding the siege. After the twenty-first day of bombardment, the city"s walls finally broke, and due notably to the Jewish allies" assistance to the Persian army, the interior was quickly overrun. The Jews, who had long been marginalized and oppressed in their Roman-controlled homeland, viewed the Persian invaders favourably. Some 26,000 Jews betrayed the Byzantine Christian population and fought against them.All Empires - History Online Community, Sassanids vs. Byzantines. Once the Sassanid army had breached the city"s fortifications, the Jewish rebels joined the Persians, and Shahrbaraz ordered a swift razing and looting of Jerusalem. Having recognized the assistance of the Jews in the significant capture, he even gave them the opportunity to massacre personally their Christian enemies.