World Politics in 641 AD

T’ang Emperor T’ai Tsung 627-650 AD

In the reign of the second T’ang Emperor T’ai Tsung 627-650 AD conquered all the tribes to the west up to the Caspian Sea and south of the Hindu Kush. In simple terms he took all the way over to Turkmenistan, south into Persian Khorasan and most of Afghanistan possibly even into modern day Pakistan. He created satrapies which by the distance were defacto vassal states.

Don't ask it only leads to trouble.

At the same time Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim popularly known as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers were exploding out of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Persians were getting pressure on all sides and Khosrau II was defeated by the Emperor Flavius Heraclius. In the image above we see Khosrau loses his crown and submits to Heraclius

Flavius Heraclius and his father over threw Phocas the usurper (One could say the empire lost Phocas). In 610 Heraclius began his reign in his own right. Heraclius had an ongoing fight with his neighbors to the east. He drew heavily on the flagging reserves of the empire and united with Khazars a Jewish Turkish tribe.  He was able to defeat the Persians in 628 under Khosrau II to stabilize his eastern border but at the same time he was under growing pressure from the Muslim threat to the south.

In about 640 Heraclius reached out to China. After the death of Mohammad the Arabs pushed out and were a problem. The Sasanians were still a problem and Heraclius wanted to put his two sons (by different mothers) on the throne to succeed him.  The embassy reached T’ang Emperor T’ai Tsung in 641. Outside of possible trade benefits no real improvents seemed to come from the trip.

On a side note Heraclius made Greek the official language of Byzantium. He tried to fix the schism with the Nestorian Christians. He is also venerated by Muslims who think he was Mohammad’s pen pal and possibly a Muslim himself. Heralius is alluded to in the Koran:

Surrah 30

30:2 The Romans have been defeated 3 In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome. 4 Within several years. To Allah belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice 5 In the victory of Allah.. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

Cherub and Heraclius receiving the submission of Khosrau II; plaque from a cross (Champlevéenamel over gilt copper, 1160–1170, Paris,Louvre).