Heraclius (son of Constans II)

Heraclius
Emperor of the Romans
Heraclius, mosaic in basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna.
Byzantine co-emperor
Reign2 June 659 – 16 September/21 December 681 (22 years)
Coronation2 June 659
PredecessorConstans II
SuccessorConstantine IV
Co-emperors
BornConstantinople
(now Istanbul, Turkey)
DynastyHeraclian
FatherConstans II
MotherFausta
ReligionChristianity

Heraclius (Greek: Ἡράκλειος, translit. Hērákleios) was Byzantine co-emperor from 659 to 681. He was the son of Emperor Constans II and Fausta, who was elevated in 659, before his father departed for Italy. After the death of Constans, Heraclius' brother Constantine IV ascended the throne as senior emperor. Constantine attempted to have both Heraclius and Tiberius removed as co-emperors. However, this sparked a popular revolt in 681. Constantine ended the revolt by promising to accede to the demands of the rebels, sending them home, but bringing their leaders into Constantinople. Once there, Constantine had them executed, then imprisoned Tiberius and Heraclius and had their noses slit, after which point they disappear from history.