Editing Battle of Nineveh (627) (section)

==Invasion of Mesopotamia==
mid-September 627, leaving Ziebel to continue the [[Heraclius invasion in Georgia#Siege of Tbilisi|Siege of Tbilisi]], Heraclius invaded the Persian Empire, this time with between 25,000 and 50,000 troops and 40,000 [[Göktürks]]. The Göktürks, however, quickly deserted him because of the strange winter conditions.<ref name = "Kaegi158"/> Heraclius was tailed by [[Rhahzadh]]'s army of 12,000,<ref name = "Kaegi167" /> but managed to evade Rhahzadh and entered [[Mesopotamia]] (modern Iraq).<ref name = "Kaegi158" /> Heraclius acquired food and fodder from the countryside, so Rhahzadh, following through countryside already stripped, could not easily find provisions for his soldiers and animals.<ref name="Kaegi159">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC&pg=PA159 159]}}</ref><ref name = "Kaegi160">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC&pg=PA160 160]}}</ref>

[[File:Battle of nineveh-mohammad adil rais.PNG|alt=Both Heraclius and the Persians approached from the east of the ruins of the ancient [[Assyrian Empire]] capital of Nineveh in [[Assuristan]] ([[Assyria]]) province. Persian reinforcements were near Mosul. After the battle, Heraclius went back east while the Persians looped back to Nineveh itself before following Heraclius again.|thumb|left|Maneuvers before and after the Battle of Nineveh]]

On 1 December, Heraclius crossed the [[Great Zab|Great Zab River]] and camped near the ruins of the capital of the former [[Assyrian Empire]] of [[Nineveh]] in Persian ruled [[Assyria]]/[[Assuristan]]. This was a movement from south to north, contrary to the expectation of a southward advance. However, this can be seen as a way to avoid being trapped by the Persian army in case of a defeat. Rhahzadh approached Nineveh from a different position. News that 3,000 Persian reinforcements were approaching reached Heraclius, forcing him to counteract.<ref name="Kaegi160"/> He gave the appearance of retreating from Persia by crossing the Tigris.<ref name = "Kaegi161">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC&pg=PA161 161]}}</ref>