Here the Persian general, Maruzas, met them, and drove them from the province; but, following up his success too ardently, he received a complete defeat near Martyropolis, and lost his life in the battle.

His head was cut off by the civilized conquerors, and sent as a trophy to Maurice.
The campaign of A.D.589 was opened by a brilliant stroke on the part of the Persians, who, through the treachery of a certain Sittas, a petty officer in the Roman army, made themselves masters of Martyropolis.

It was in vain that Philippicus twice besieged the place; he was unable to make any impression upon it, and after a time desisted from the attempt.
On the second occasion the garrison was strongly reinforced by the Persians under Mebodos and Aphraates, who, after defeating Philippicus in a pitched battle, threw a large body of troops into the town.
Philippicus was upon this deprived of his office, and replaced by Comentiolus, with Heraclius as second in command.

The new leaders, instead of engaging in the tedious work of a siege, determined on re-establishing the Roman prestige by a bold counter-attack.

They invaded the Persian territory in force, ravaged the country about Nisibis, and brought Aphraates to a pitched battle at Sisarbanon, near that city.