Hephthalite–Gokturk raids of 614–616

Second Perso-Turkic War
Part of Göktürk–Persian wars
Date 606/607-608 Location Central Asia Result Decisive Sasanian victory
Belligerents
Sasanian Empire	Western Turkic Khaganate Hephthalites
Commanders and leaders
Smbat IV Bagratuni Datoyean	Unknown leader †
Strength
Unknown 2,000 Aswaran cavalry 300 defenders under Datoyean	Large army 300,000 reinforcements (per Sebeos)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Heavy

The Second Perso-Turkic War began in 606/607 with an invasion of the Sasanian Empire by the Göktürks and Hephthalites. The war ended in 608 with the defeat of the Turks and Hephthalites by the Sasanians under the Armenian general Smbat IV Bagratuni.

Context

In 606/607, the Turks invaded eastern Persia with a large number of men, but were defeated in the first battle near the fort of Tus in Khorasan by a force of 2,000 Aswaran (elite heavy cavalry). Having lost this battle, the Turks and Hephthalites requested reinforcements from the Khagan. According to Sebeos, 300,000 troops were sent to reinforce the invading army.

This force soon overran Khorasan as well as the fort of Tus with its 300 defenders under prince Datoyean. However, the Turks withdrew after their raids, which went as far as Isfahan. Smbat quickly reorganized the eastern Persian forces and finally crushed the Turks and Hephthalites, reportedly killing their leader in hand-to-hand combat (mard o mard).

After the death of their leader, which shattered troop morale, the Turks and Hephthalites retreated in a disorderly manner. The Aswaran pursued them, routed them and killed many.

Sources

• Pourshariati, Parvaneh (2008). Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran. London and New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-645-3.

See also

• First Perso-Turkic War
• Third Perso-Turkic War