His subjects put his father Hormisdas in prison, and the son upon the throne of Persia. He used his father tenderly at first; but afterwards caused him to be put to death. This, together with his killing some of the nobility, obliged him to fly: he gave his horse the bridle, which carried him into a town of the Romans, where Mauricius the emperor received him kindly, and sent an army under Narpes, which set him again upon the throne. He took Jerusalem; after this he made himself master of Libya and Egypt, and carried Carthage. Heraclius sued for peace; which was offered him on condition, That he and his subjects should deny Jesus Christ: Hereupon Heraclius attacked him with succours, and put him to flight. His own son pursued him, and he was starved in prison in 627.