Year 602 (AD) — Political upheaval and the prelude to wider wars

AD 602 was a pivotal year in the early 7th century marked by a major Byzantine coup, the rise of Emperor Phocas, and events that helped trigger the long Byzantine–Sasanian war.

The year 602 (AD 602) was a common year in the Julian calendar that falls in the early 7th century, a period of wide political change across Eurasia. Recorded primarily in chronicles of the time, events in 602 had consequences that extended for decades: they altered imperial leadership in Constantinople and contributed to military conflicts which reshaped late antique geopolitics.

Major political events

The most consequential episode of 602 was a violent change of rulers in the Byzantine Empire. A military revolt removed Emperor Maurice from power and brought the centurion Phocas to the throne. Maurice and several members of his family were captured and executed, and Phocas’ reign began in a climate of internal instability. The upheaval in Constantinople provided Sasanian Persia, under Khosrow II, with a stated cause for renewed hostilities; this set the stage for the protracted Byzantine–Sasanian War that would dominate the next quarter-century.

Other regions and developments

Outside the eastern Mediterranean, large imperial states continued to strain under logistical and fiscal pressures. In China the Sui dynasty remained the dominant power, after decades of reunification and major public works that altered internal transport and administration. Across Europe and the Near East, local and regional rulers continued to consolidate power, while religious institutions and local elites adjusted to changing political realities.

Significant events (summary)

Overthrow of Emperor Maurice and accession of Phocas in the Byzantine Empire.
Escalation of tensions between Byzantium and Sasanian Persia, leading toward renewed large-scale warfare.
Continued administrative and infrastructural activities within major Asian polities, including the Sui dynasty.

Historians treat 602 as a turning point because the collapse of established leadership in Constantinople and the ensuing conflicts weakened long-standing imperial structures. These disruptions preceded further transformations in the mid-7th century. For a concise chronological entry and cross-references, see AD 602.