Atlas of Battles

siege, major, medieval

Siege of Constantinople

Siege of Constantinople was a siege conducted in May AD 626 at Constantinople, in what is now Turkey. It was part of the Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628, which ran from AD 602 to AD 628. The recorded result: Byzantine victory.

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Miniature 42 from the Constantine Manasses Chronicle, 14 century: Emperor Heraclius attacks a Persian fortress, while the Persians attack Constantinople.
Miniature 42 from the Constantine Manasses Chronicle, 14 century: Emperor Heraclius attacks a Persian fortress, while the Persians attack Constantinople.. Original: Constantine Manasses, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtMay AD 626
WhereConstantinople, Turkey41.012N, 28.976E
OutcomeByzantine victory
BelligerentsSassanid Empire; Avar Khaganate; SclaveniagainstByzantine Empire
Part ofByzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628AD 602 to AD 628

Where it sits in the Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628

Sasanian invasion of Armenia, AD 603Battle of Elevard, AD 604Battle of Erginay, AD 605Battle of Arzamon, AD 605Siege of Edessa, AD 610Siege of Caesarea, AD 611Battle of Antioch, AD 613Siege of Caesarea Maritima, AD 614Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem, AD 614Shahin's invasion of Asia Minor, AD 615Heraclius' campaign of 622, AD 622Heraclius Caucasus campaign, AD 624Battle of Ganzak, AD 624Battle of Aghdam, AD 625Battle of Archesh, AD 625Battle of Sarus, AD 625Siege of Constantinople, AD 626Battle of the Lycus, AD 626Battle of Nineveh, AD 627AD 603AD 627Siege of Constantinople, AD 626
19 placed engagements of the Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateMay AD 626 (month precision)
to June AD 626
PlaceConstantinople, Turkey
41.012N, 28.976E
KindSiege, medieval
Territorial changeThe Byzantines successfully re-capture Anatolia in 626.
StrengthGeorge of Pisidia: 80,000 troops30,000 from vanguardTheodore Synkellos: Less than 8,000 troops, outnumbered 10+ to 1Modern estimates: 15,000 troops; 12,000 cavalrymen; 1,000–2,000 palace guards; sailors
Commanders
Siege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleSiege of ConstantinopleBursaAdapazarıİzmitTekirdağLüleburgazKırklareliBilecik100 km41.012N, 28.976E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Siege of Constantinople
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 10 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Siege of Constantinople today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2025-07-22. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025.

The recorded site stands at about 38 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from -14 to 133 m, 147 m of relief, gently rolling country and today it is 57% water, 37% built-up, 4% tree cover.

water: 57%built-up: 37%tree cover: 4%water 57%built-up 37%tree cover 4%
west to east, 10.0 km0 to 70 mnorth to south, 10.0 km0 to 102 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 43 times between 510 BC and 1453.

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 626

Siege of Constantinople is one of 203 engagements of the 7th century in the atlas and one of 687 in present-day Turkey.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q312268, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Constantinople (626), revision 1381250704, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.