eugyppius

Now back to our history. After some succession squabbling, including very possibly the poisoning of Heraclius's eldest son Constantine, it's the grandson Constans II who finally gets to be sole emperor. He is only 11 years old. He will rule until 668.

At first, the Arabs continue their advance through North Africa. The Romans retake Alexandria briefly, but lose it again, this time for good, in 646. Armenia is now under threat. Arabs are raiding into Cappadocia. They lay seige to Caesarea .

From AD 650, the Arabs begin to challenge the Byzantines at sea as well, an ominous new development. Their fleet lays waste to Rhodes in 654, pillages Crete, etc.

In 655 Constans decides to put a stop to this, and it's the almost the end of his reign. He's with the Roman fleet as it confronts the Arabs near Phoinike. There ensues the Battle of the Masts.

Constans is decisively defeated, indeed almost killed. Hundreds of his ships are sunk, the Roman navy is totally devastated.

The only thing that saves the Byzantines at this point, is internal Arab dissension. From 656 they embark upon their own civil war (as all of you doubtless know). Byzantium gets a break until the 660s.

In 660, Constans forces his younger brother, Theodosius into a monastery. Shortly thereafter he has him murdered. The point is to clear a path to the throne for his own sons, Constantine, Heraclius and Tiberius.