diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Stash.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Stash.scala
index 263c5218ad..60bec667a2 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Stash.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Stash.scala
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ trait UnrestrictedStash extends Actor {
    * The actor's deque-based message queue.
    * `mailbox.queue` is the underlying `Deque`.
    */
-  protected[akka] val mailbox: DequeBasedMessageQueueSemantics = {
+  private[akka] val mailbox: DequeBasedMessageQueueSemantics = {
     context.asInstanceOf[ActorCell].mailbox.messageQueue match {
       case queue: DequeBasedMessageQueueSemantics ⇒ queue
       case other ⇒ throw ActorInitializationException(self, s"DequeBasedMailbox required, got: ${other.getClass.getName}\n" +
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ trait UnrestrictedStash extends Actor {
    *  @param filterPredicate only stashed messages selected by this predicate are
    *                         prepended to the mailbox.
    */
-  protected[akka] def unstashAll(filterPredicate: Any ⇒ Boolean): Unit = {
+  private[akka] def unstashAll(filterPredicate: Any ⇒ Boolean): Unit = {
     try {
       val i = theStash.reverseIterator.filter(envelope ⇒ filterPredicate(envelope.message))
       while (i.hasNext) mailbox.enqueueFirst(self, i.next())
@@ -145,6 +145,17 @@ trait UnrestrictedStash extends Actor {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * INTERNAL API.
+   *
+   * Clears the stash and and returns all envelopes that have not been unstashed.
+   */
+  private[akka] def clearStash(): Vector[Envelope] = {
+    val stashed = theStash
+    theStash = Vector.empty[Envelope]
+    stashed
+  }
+
   /**
    *  Overridden callback. Prepends all messages in the stash to the mailbox,
    *  clears the stash, stops all children and invokes the postStop() callback.
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocTest.java b/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocTest.java
index 955c067f51..59b8e7e159 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocTest.java
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocTest.java
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import scala.Option;
 import akka.actor.*;
 import akka.persistence.*;
 
+import static java.util.Arrays.asList;
+
 public class PersistenceDocTest {
 
     public interface ProcessorMethods {
@@ -237,4 +239,31 @@ public class PersistenceDocTest {
             }
         }
     };
+
+    static Object o6 = new Object() {
+        //#batch-write
+        class MyProcessor extends UntypedProcessor {
+            public void onReceive(Object message) throws Exception {
+                if (message instanceof Persistent) {
+                    Persistent p = (Persistent)message;
+                    if (p.payload().equals("a")) { /* ... */ }
+                    if (p.payload().equals("b")) { /* ... */ }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        class Example {
+            final ActorSystem system = ActorSystem.create("example");
+            final ActorRef processor = system.actorOf(Props.create(MyProcessor.class));
+
+            public void batchWrite() {
+                processor.tell(PersistentBatch.create(asList(
+                        Persistent.create("a"),
+                        Persistent.create("b"))), null);
+            }
+
+            // ...
+        }
+        //#batch-write
+    };
 }
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocTest.java b/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocTest.java
index 2b32a78746..78caaeb8fe 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocTest.java
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/java/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocTest.java
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ public class PersistencePluginDocTest {
             return null;
         }
 
+        @Override
+        public Future<Void> doWriteBatchAsync(Iterable<PersistentImpl> persistentBatch) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         @Override
         public Future<Void> doDeleteAsync(PersistentImpl persistent) {
             return null;
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/java/persistence.rst b/akka-docs/rst/java/persistence.rst
index 17e929f1f7..01d1ca0ac6 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/java/persistence.rst
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/java/persistence.rst
@@ -265,6 +265,8 @@ If not specified, they default to ``SnapshotSelectionCriteria.latest()`` which s
 To disable snapshot-based recovery, applications should use ``SnapshotSelectionCriteria.none()``. A recovery where no
 saved snapshot matches the specified ``SnapshotSelectionCriteria`` will replay all journaled messages.
 
+.. _event-sourcing-java:
+
 Event sourcing
 ==============
 
@@ -318,6 +320,20 @@ The example also demonstrates how to change the processor's default behavior, de
 another behavior, defined by ``otherCommandHandler``, and back using ``getContext().become()`` and
 ``getContext().unbecome()``. See also the API docs of ``persist`` for further details.
 
+Batch writes
+============
+
+Applications may also send a batch of ``Persistent`` messages to a processor via a ``PersistentBatch`` message.
+
+.. includecode:: code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocTest.java#batch-write
+
+``Persistent`` messages contained in a ``PersistentBatch`` message are written to the journal atomically but are
+received  by the processor separately (as ``Persistent`` messages). They are also replayed separately. Batch writes
+can not only increase the throughput of a processor but may also be necessary for consistency reasons. For example,
+in :ref:`event-sourcing-java`, all events that are generated and persisted by a single command are batch-written to
+the journal. The recovery of an ``UntypedEventsourcedProcessor`` will therefore never be done partially i.e. with
+only a subset of events persisted by a single command.
+
 Storage plugins
 ===============
 
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocSpec.scala b/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocSpec.scala
index a54ccdaac6..a732b1025c 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocSpec.scala
@@ -225,4 +225,22 @@ trait PersistenceDocSpec {
       maxTimestamp = System.currentTimeMillis))
     //#snapshot-criteria
   }
+
+  new AnyRef {
+    import akka.actor.Props
+    //#batch-write
+    class MyProcessor extends Processor {
+      def receive = {
+        case Persistent("a", _) ⇒ // ...
+        case Persistent("b", _) ⇒ // ...
+      }
+    }
+
+    val system = ActorSystem("example")
+    val processor = system.actorOf(Props[MyProcessor])
+
+    processor ! PersistentBatch(Vector(Persistent("a"), Persistent("b")))
+    //#batch-write
+    system.shutdown()
+  }
 }
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocSpec.scala b/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocSpec.scala
index 0645619aa6..22e693b933 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/persistence/PersistencePluginDocSpec.scala
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package docs.persistence
 
 //#plugin-imports
 import scala.concurrent.Future
+import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 //#plugin-imports
 
 import com.typesafe.config._
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ class PersistencePluginDocSpec extends WordSpec {
 
 class MyJournal extends AsyncWriteJournal {
   def writeAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl): Future[Unit] = ???
+  def writeBatchAsync(persistentBatch: Seq[PersistentImpl]): Future[Unit] = ???
   def deleteAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl): Future[Unit] = ???
   def confirmAsync(processorId: String, sequenceNr: Long, channelId: String): Future[Unit] = ???
   def replayAsync(processorId: String, fromSequenceNr: Long, toSequenceNr: Long)(replayCallback: (PersistentImpl) ⇒ Unit): Future[Long] = ???
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/scala/persistence.rst b/akka-docs/rst/scala/persistence.rst
index 20fc1318db..9f61d2b4a5 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/scala/persistence.rst
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/scala/persistence.rst
@@ -331,6 +331,20 @@ The example also demonstrates how to change the processor's default behavior, de
 another behavior, defined by ``otherCommandHandler``, and back using ``context.become()`` and ``context.unbecome()``.
 See also the API docs of ``persist`` for further details.
 
+Batch writes
+============
+
+Applications may also send a batch of ``Persistent`` messages to a processor via a ``PersistentBatch`` message.
+
+.. includecode:: code/docs/persistence/PersistenceDocSpec.scala#batch-write
+
+``Persistent`` messages contained in a ``PersistentBatch`` message are written to the journal atomically but are
+received  by the processor separately (as ``Persistent`` messages). They are also replayed separately. Batch writes
+can not only increase the throughput of a processor but may also be necessary for consistency reasons. For example,
+in :ref:`event-sourcing`, all events that are generated and persisted by a single command are batch-written to the
+journal. The recovery of an ``EventsourcedProcessor`` will therefore never be done partially i.e. with only a subset
+of events persisted by a single command.
+
 Storage plugins
 ===============
 
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWritePlugin.java b/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWritePlugin.java
index 01ec3c2c74..41f6cb24cf 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWritePlugin.java
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWritePlugin.java
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@ interface AsyncWritePlugin {
      */
     Future<Void> doWriteAsync(PersistentImpl persistent);
 
+    /**
+     * Plugin Java API.
+     *
+     * Asynchronously writes a batch of persistent messages to the journal. The batch write
+     * must be atomic i.e. either all persistent messages in the batch are written or none.
+     */
+    Future<Void> doWriteBatchAsync(Iterable<PersistentImpl> persistentBatch);
+
     /**
      * Plugin Java API.
      *
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWritePlugin.java b/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWritePlugin.java
index dc022ed644..8660b5dab7 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWritePlugin.java
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWritePlugin.java
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ interface SyncWritePlugin {
      */
     void doWrite(PersistentImpl persistent) throws Exception;
 
+    /**
+     * Plugin Java API.
+     *
+     * Synchronously writes a batch of persistent messages to the journal. The batch write
+     * must be atomic i.e. either all persistent messages in the batch are written or none.
+     */
+    void doWriteBatch(Iterable<PersistentImpl> persistentBatch);
+
     /**
      * Plugin Java API.
      *
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageFormats.java b/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageFormats.java
index 254e7fe3d9..cd7bdab38e 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageFormats.java
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/java/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageFormats.java
@@ -8,6 +8,692 @@ public final class MessageFormats {
   public static void registerAllExtensions(
       com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistry registry) {
   }
+  public interface PersistentMessageBatchOrBuilder
+      extends com.google.protobuf.MessageOrBuilder {
+
+    // repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    java.util.List<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage> 
+        getBatchList();
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage getBatch(int index);
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    int getBatchCount();
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    java.util.List<? extends akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder> 
+        getBatchOrBuilderList();
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder getBatchOrBuilder(
+        int index);
+  }
+  /**
+   * Protobuf type {@code PersistentMessageBatch}
+   */
+  public static final class PersistentMessageBatch extends
+      com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage
+      implements PersistentMessageBatchOrBuilder {
+    // Use PersistentMessageBatch.newBuilder() to construct.
+    private PersistentMessageBatch(com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.Builder<?> builder) {
+      super(builder);
+      this.unknownFields = builder.getUnknownFields();
+    }
+    private PersistentMessageBatch(boolean noInit) { this.unknownFields = com.google.protobuf.UnknownFieldSet.getDefaultInstance(); }
+
+    private static final PersistentMessageBatch defaultInstance;
+    public static PersistentMessageBatch getDefaultInstance() {
+      return defaultInstance;
+    }
+
+    public PersistentMessageBatch getDefaultInstanceForType() {
+      return defaultInstance;
+    }
+
+    private final com.google.protobuf.UnknownFieldSet unknownFields;
+    @java.lang.Override
+    public final com.google.protobuf.UnknownFieldSet
+        getUnknownFields() {
+      return this.unknownFields;
+    }
+    private PersistentMessageBatch(
+        com.google.protobuf.CodedInputStream input,
+        com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
+        throws com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException {
+      initFields();
+      int mutable_bitField0_ = 0;
+      com.google.protobuf.UnknownFieldSet.Builder unknownFields =
+          com.google.protobuf.UnknownFieldSet.newBuilder();
+      try {
+        boolean done = false;
+        while (!done) {
+          int tag = input.readTag();
+          switch (tag) {
+            case 0:
+              done = true;
+              break;
+            default: {
+              if (!parseUnknownField(input, unknownFields,
+                                     extensionRegistry, tag)) {
+                done = true;
+              }
+              break;
+            }
+            case 10: {
+              if (!((mutable_bitField0_ & 0x00000001) == 0x00000001)) {
+                batch_ = new java.util.ArrayList<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage>();
+                mutable_bitField0_ |= 0x00000001;
+              }
+              batch_.add(input.readMessage(akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.PARSER, extensionRegistry));
+              break;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      } catch (com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException e) {
+        throw e.setUnfinishedMessage(this);
+      } catch (java.io.IOException e) {
+        throw new com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException(
+            e.getMessage()).setUnfinishedMessage(this);
+      } finally {
+        if (((mutable_bitField0_ & 0x00000001) == 0x00000001)) {
+          batch_ = java.util.Collections.unmodifiableList(batch_);
+        }
+        this.unknownFields = unknownFields.build();
+        makeExtensionsImmutable();
+      }
+    }
+    public static final com.google.protobuf.Descriptors.Descriptor
+        getDescriptor() {
+      return akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_descriptor;
+    }
+
+    protected com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.FieldAccessorTable
+        internalGetFieldAccessorTable() {
+      return akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_fieldAccessorTable
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+              akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch.class, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch.Builder.class);
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+
+    public static com.google.protobuf.Parser<PersistentMessageBatch> PARSER =
+        new com.google.protobuf.AbstractParser<PersistentMessageBatch>() {
+      public PersistentMessageBatch parsePartialFrom(
+          com.google.protobuf.CodedInputStream input,
+          com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
+          throws com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException {
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+      }
+    };
+
+    @java.lang.Override
+    public com.google.protobuf.Parser<PersistentMessageBatch> getParserForType() {
+      return PARSER;
+    }
+
+    // repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;
+    public static final int BATCH_FIELD_NUMBER = 1;
+    private java.util.List<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage> batch_;
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    public java.util.List<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage> getBatchList() {
+      return batch_;
+    }
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    public java.util.List<? extends akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder> 
+        getBatchOrBuilderList() {
+      return batch_;
+    }
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    public int getBatchCount() {
+      return batch_.size();
+    }
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage getBatch(int index) {
+      return batch_.get(index);
+    }
+    /**
+     * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+     */
+    public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder getBatchOrBuilder(
+        int index) {
+      return batch_.get(index);
+    }
+
+    private void initFields() {
+      batch_ = java.util.Collections.emptyList();
+    }
+    private byte memoizedIsInitialized = -1;
+    public final boolean isInitialized() {
+      byte isInitialized = memoizedIsInitialized;
+      if (isInitialized != -1) return isInitialized == 1;
+
+      for (int i = 0; i < getBatchCount(); i++) {
+        if (!getBatch(i).isInitialized()) {
+          memoizedIsInitialized = 0;
+          return false;
+        }
+      }
+      memoizedIsInitialized = 1;
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    public void writeTo(com.google.protobuf.CodedOutputStream output)
+                        throws java.io.IOException {
+      getSerializedSize();
+      for (int i = 0; i < batch_.size(); i++) {
+        output.writeMessage(1, batch_.get(i));
+      }
+      getUnknownFields().writeTo(output);
+    }
+
+    private int memoizedSerializedSize = -1;
+    public int getSerializedSize() {
+      int size = memoizedSerializedSize;
+      if (size != -1) return size;
+
+      size = 0;
+      for (int i = 0; i < batch_.size(); i++) {
+        size += com.google.protobuf.CodedOutputStream
+          .computeMessageSize(1, batch_.get(i));
+      }
+      size += getUnknownFields().getSerializedSize();
+      memoizedSerializedSize = size;
+      return size;
+    }
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 0L;
+    @java.lang.Override
+    protected java.lang.Object writeReplace()
+        throws java.io.ObjectStreamException {
+      return super.writeReplace();
+    }
+
+    public static akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch parseFrom(
+        com.google.protobuf.ByteString data)
+        throws com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException {
+      return PARSER.parseFrom(data);
+    }
+    public static akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch parseFrom(
+        com.google.protobuf.ByteString data,
+        com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
+        throws com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException {
+      return PARSER.parseFrom(data, extensionRegistry);
+    }
+    public static akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch parseFrom(byte[] data)
+        throws com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException {
+      return PARSER.parseFrom(data);
+    }
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+        byte[] data,
+        com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
+        throws com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException {
+      return PARSER.parseFrom(data, extensionRegistry);
+    }
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+        throws java.io.IOException {
+      return PARSER.parseFrom(input);
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+        java.io.InputStream input,
+        com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
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+        com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
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+      return PARSER.parseDelimitedFrom(input, extensionRegistry);
+    }
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+        com.google.protobuf.CodedInputStream input)
+        throws java.io.IOException {
+      return PARSER.parseFrom(input);
+    }
+    public static akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch parseFrom(
+        com.google.protobuf.CodedInputStream input,
+        com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
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+    }
+
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+    public Builder newBuilderForType() { return newBuilder(); }
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+        akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch result = new akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch(this);
+        int from_bitField0_ = bitField0_;
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          if (((bitField0_ & 0x00000001) == 0x00000001)) {
+            batch_ = java.util.Collections.unmodifiableList(batch_);
+            bitField0_ = (bitField0_ & ~0x00000001);
+          }
+          result.batch_ = batch_;
+        } else {
+          result.batch_ = batchBuilder_.build();
+        }
+        onBuilt();
+        return result;
+      }
+
+      public Builder mergeFrom(com.google.protobuf.Message other) {
+        if (other instanceof akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch) {
+          return mergeFrom((akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch)other);
+        } else {
+          super.mergeFrom(other);
+          return this;
+        }
+      }
+
+      public Builder mergeFrom(akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch other) {
+        if (other == akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch.getDefaultInstance()) return this;
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          if (!other.batch_.isEmpty()) {
+            if (batch_.isEmpty()) {
+              batch_ = other.batch_;
+              bitField0_ = (bitField0_ & ~0x00000001);
+            } else {
+              ensureBatchIsMutable();
+              batch_.addAll(other.batch_);
+            }
+            onChanged();
+          }
+        } else {
+          if (!other.batch_.isEmpty()) {
+            if (batchBuilder_.isEmpty()) {
+              batchBuilder_.dispose();
+              batchBuilder_ = null;
+              batch_ = other.batch_;
+              bitField0_ = (bitField0_ & ~0x00000001);
+              batchBuilder_ = 
+                com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.alwaysUseFieldBuilders ?
+                   getBatchFieldBuilder() : null;
+            } else {
+              batchBuilder_.addAllMessages(other.batch_);
+            }
+          }
+        }
+        this.mergeUnknownFields(other.getUnknownFields());
+        return this;
+      }
+
+      public final boolean isInitialized() {
+        for (int i = 0; i < getBatchCount(); i++) {
+          if (!getBatch(i).isInitialized()) {
+            
+            return false;
+          }
+        }
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      public Builder mergeFrom(
+          com.google.protobuf.CodedInputStream input,
+          com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistryLite extensionRegistry)
+          throws java.io.IOException {
+        akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch parsedMessage = null;
+        try {
+          parsedMessage = PARSER.parsePartialFrom(input, extensionRegistry);
+        } catch (com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException e) {
+          parsedMessage = (akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageBatch) e.getUnfinishedMessage();
+          throw e;
+        } finally {
+          if (parsedMessage != null) {
+            mergeFrom(parsedMessage);
+          }
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      private int bitField0_;
+
+      // repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;
+      private java.util.List<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage> batch_ =
+        java.util.Collections.emptyList();
+      private void ensureBatchIsMutable() {
+        if (!((bitField0_ & 0x00000001) == 0x00000001)) {
+          batch_ = new java.util.ArrayList<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage>(batch_);
+          bitField0_ |= 0x00000001;
+         }
+      }
+
+      private com.google.protobuf.RepeatedFieldBuilder<
+          akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder> batchBuilder_;
+
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public java.util.List<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage> getBatchList() {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          return java.util.Collections.unmodifiableList(batch_);
+        } else {
+          return batchBuilder_.getMessageList();
+        }
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public int getBatchCount() {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          return batch_.size();
+        } else {
+          return batchBuilder_.getCount();
+        }
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage getBatch(int index) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          return batch_.get(index);
+        } else {
+          return batchBuilder_.getMessage(index);
+        }
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder setBatch(
+          int index, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage value) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          if (value == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException();
+          }
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.set(index, value);
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.setMessage(index, value);
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder setBatch(
+          int index, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder builderForValue) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.set(index, builderForValue.build());
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.setMessage(index, builderForValue.build());
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder addBatch(akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage value) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          if (value == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException();
+          }
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.add(value);
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.addMessage(value);
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder addBatch(
+          int index, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage value) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          if (value == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException();
+          }
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.add(index, value);
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.addMessage(index, value);
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder addBatch(
+          akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder builderForValue) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.add(builderForValue.build());
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.addMessage(builderForValue.build());
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder addBatch(
+          int index, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder builderForValue) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.add(index, builderForValue.build());
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.addMessage(index, builderForValue.build());
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder addAllBatch(
+          java.lang.Iterable<? extends akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage> values) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          super.addAll(values, batch_);
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.addAllMessages(values);
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder clearBatch() {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          batch_ = java.util.Collections.emptyList();
+          bitField0_ = (bitField0_ & ~0x00000001);
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.clear();
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public Builder removeBatch(int index) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          ensureBatchIsMutable();
+          batch_.remove(index);
+          onChanged();
+        } else {
+          batchBuilder_.remove(index);
+        }
+        return this;
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder getBatchBuilder(
+          int index) {
+        return getBatchFieldBuilder().getBuilder(index);
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder getBatchOrBuilder(
+          int index) {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          return batch_.get(index);  } else {
+          return batchBuilder_.getMessageOrBuilder(index);
+        }
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public java.util.List<? extends akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder> 
+           getBatchOrBuilderList() {
+        if (batchBuilder_ != null) {
+          return batchBuilder_.getMessageOrBuilderList();
+        } else {
+          return java.util.Collections.unmodifiableList(batch_);
+        }
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder addBatchBuilder() {
+        return getBatchFieldBuilder().addBuilder(
+            akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.getDefaultInstance());
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder addBatchBuilder(
+          int index) {
+        return getBatchFieldBuilder().addBuilder(
+            index, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.getDefaultInstance());
+      }
+      /**
+       * <code>repeated .PersistentMessage batch = 1;</code>
+       */
+      public java.util.List<akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder> 
+           getBatchBuilderList() {
+        return getBatchFieldBuilder().getBuilderList();
+      }
+      private com.google.protobuf.RepeatedFieldBuilder<
+          akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder> 
+          getBatchFieldBuilder() {
+        if (batchBuilder_ == null) {
+          batchBuilder_ = new com.google.protobuf.RepeatedFieldBuilder<
+              akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessage.Builder, akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats.PersistentMessageOrBuilder>(
+                  batch_,
+                  ((bitField0_ & 0x00000001) == 0x00000001),
+                  getParentForChildren(),
+                  isClean());
+          batch_ = null;
+        }
+        return batchBuilder_;
+      }
+
+      // @@protoc_insertion_point(builder_scope:PersistentMessageBatch)
+    }
+
+    static {
+      defaultInstance = new PersistentMessageBatch(true);
+      defaultInstance.initFields();
+    }
+
+    // @@protoc_insertion_point(class_scope:PersistentMessageBatch)
+  }
+
   public interface PersistentMessageOrBuilder
       extends com.google.protobuf.MessageOrBuilder {
 
@@ -3059,6 +3745,11 @@ public final class MessageFormats {
     // @@protoc_insertion_point(class_scope:ConfirmMessage)
   }
 
+  private static com.google.protobuf.Descriptors.Descriptor
+    internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_descriptor;
+  private static
+    com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.FieldAccessorTable
+      internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_fieldAccessorTable;
   private static com.google.protobuf.Descriptors.Descriptor
     internal_static_PersistentMessage_descriptor;
   private static
@@ -3083,38 +3774,46 @@ public final class MessageFormats {
       descriptor;
   static {
     java.lang.String[] descriptorData = {
-      "\n\024MessageFormats.proto\"\371\001\n\021PersistentMes" +
-      "sage\022#\n\007payload\030\001 \001(\0132\022.PersistentPayloa" +
-      "d\022\022\n\nsequenceNr\030\002 \001(\003\022\023\n\013processorId\030\003 \001" +
-      "(\t\022\021\n\tchannelId\030\004 \001(\t\022\017\n\007deleted\030\005 \001(\010\022\020" +
-      "\n\010resolved\030\006 \001(\010\022\020\n\010confirms\030\010 \003(\t\022\'\n\016co" +
-      "nfirmMessage\030\n \001(\0132\017.ConfirmMessage\022\025\n\rc" +
-      "onfirmTarget\030\t \001(\t\022\016\n\006sender\030\007 \001(\t\"S\n\021Pe" +
-      "rsistentPayload\022\024\n\014serializerId\030\001 \002(\005\022\017\n" +
-      "\007payload\030\002 \002(\014\022\027\n\017payloadManifest\030\003 \001(\014\"" +
-      "L\n\016ConfirmMessage\022\023\n\013processorId\030\001 \001(\t\022\022",
-      "\n\nsequenceNr\030\002 \001(\003\022\021\n\tchannelId\030\003 \001(\tB\"\n" +
-      "\036akka.persistence.serializationH\001"
+      "\n\024MessageFormats.proto\";\n\026PersistentMess" +
+      "ageBatch\022!\n\005batch\030\001 \003(\0132\022.PersistentMess" +
+      "age\"\371\001\n\021PersistentMessage\022#\n\007payload\030\001 \001" +
+      "(\0132\022.PersistentPayload\022\022\n\nsequenceNr\030\002 \001" +
+      "(\003\022\023\n\013processorId\030\003 \001(\t\022\021\n\tchannelId\030\004 \001" +
+      "(\t\022\017\n\007deleted\030\005 \001(\010\022\020\n\010resolved\030\006 \001(\010\022\020\n" +
+      "\010confirms\030\010 \003(\t\022\'\n\016confirmMessage\030\n \001(\0132" +
+      "\017.ConfirmMessage\022\025\n\rconfirmTarget\030\t \001(\t\022" +
+      "\016\n\006sender\030\007 \001(\t\"S\n\021PersistentPayload\022\024\n\014" +
+      "serializerId\030\001 \002(\005\022\017\n\007payload\030\002 \002(\014\022\027\n\017p",
+      "ayloadManifest\030\003 \001(\014\"L\n\016ConfirmMessage\022\023" +
+      "\n\013processorId\030\001 \001(\t\022\022\n\nsequenceNr\030\002 \001(\003\022" +
+      "\021\n\tchannelId\030\003 \001(\tB\"\n\036akka.persistence.s" +
+      "erializationH\001"
     };
     com.google.protobuf.Descriptors.FileDescriptor.InternalDescriptorAssigner assigner =
       new com.google.protobuf.Descriptors.FileDescriptor.InternalDescriptorAssigner() {
         public com.google.protobuf.ExtensionRegistry assignDescriptors(
             com.google.protobuf.Descriptors.FileDescriptor root) {
           descriptor = root;
-          internal_static_PersistentMessage_descriptor =
+          internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_descriptor =
             getDescriptor().getMessageTypes().get(0);
+          internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_fieldAccessorTable = new
+            com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.FieldAccessorTable(
+              internal_static_PersistentMessageBatch_descriptor,
+              new java.lang.String[] { "Batch", });
+          internal_static_PersistentMessage_descriptor =
+            getDescriptor().getMessageTypes().get(1);
           internal_static_PersistentMessage_fieldAccessorTable = new
             com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.FieldAccessorTable(
               internal_static_PersistentMessage_descriptor,
               new java.lang.String[] { "Payload", "SequenceNr", "ProcessorId", "ChannelId", "Deleted", "Resolved", "Confirms", "ConfirmMessage", "ConfirmTarget", "Sender", });
           internal_static_PersistentPayload_descriptor =
-            getDescriptor().getMessageTypes().get(1);
+            getDescriptor().getMessageTypes().get(2);
           internal_static_PersistentPayload_fieldAccessorTable = new
             com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.FieldAccessorTable(
               internal_static_PersistentPayload_descriptor,
               new java.lang.String[] { "SerializerId", "Payload", "PayloadManifest", });
           internal_static_ConfirmMessage_descriptor =
-            getDescriptor().getMessageTypes().get(2);
+            getDescriptor().getMessageTypes().get(3);
           internal_static_ConfirmMessage_fieldAccessorTable = new
             com.google.protobuf.GeneratedMessage.FieldAccessorTable(
               internal_static_ConfirmMessage_descriptor,
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/protobuf/MessageFormats.proto b/akka-persistence/src/main/protobuf/MessageFormats.proto
index eaf389c044..4b31a4e459 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/protobuf/MessageFormats.proto
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/protobuf/MessageFormats.proto
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 option java_package = "akka.persistence.serialization";
 option optimize_for = SPEED;
 
+message PersistentMessageBatch {
+  repeated PersistentMessage batch = 1;
+}
+
 message PersistentMessage {
   optional PersistentPayload payload = 1;
   optional int64 sequenceNr = 2;
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/resources/reference.conf b/akka-persistence/src/main/resources/reference.conf
index ed9f7e8576..633b6ff2da 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/resources/reference.conf
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/resources/reference.conf
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ akka {
     serialization-bindings {
 
       "akka.persistence.serialization.Snapshot" = akka-persistence-snapshot
+      "akka.persistence.PersistentBatch" = akka-persistence-message
       "akka.persistence.PersistentImpl" = akka-persistence-message
       "akka.persistence.Confirm" = akka-persistence-message
     }
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala
index 5257c52fd2..e645b47ba7 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Eventsourced.scala
@@ -21,20 +21,37 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
     def aroundReceive(receive: Receive, message: Any): Unit
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Processor recovery state. Waits for recovery completion and then changes to
+   * `processingCommands`
+   */
+  private val recovering: State = new State {
+    def aroundReceive(receive: Receive, message: Any) {
+      Eventsourced.super.aroundReceive(receive, message)
+      message match {
+        case _: ReplaySuccess | _: ReplayFailure ⇒ currentState = processingCommands
+        case _                                   ⇒
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Command processing state. If event persistence is pending after processing a
    * command, event persistence is triggered and state changes to `persistingEvents`.
+   *
+   * There's no need to loop commands though the journal any more i.e. they can now be
+   * directly offered as `LoopSuccess` to the state machine implemented by `Processor`.
    */
   private val processingCommands: State = new State {
-    def aroundReceive(receive: Receive, message: Any) = message match {
-      case m if (persistInvocations.isEmpty) ⇒ {
-        Eventsourced.super.aroundReceive(receive, m)
-        if (!persistInvocations.isEmpty) {
-          persistInvocations = persistInvocations.reverse
-          persistCandidates = persistCandidates.reverse
-          persistCandidates.foreach(self forward Persistent(_))
-          currentState = persistingEvents
-        }
+    def aroundReceive(receive: Receive, message: Any) {
+      Eventsourced.super.aroundReceive(receive, LoopSuccess(message))
+      if (!persistInvocations.isEmpty) {
+        currentState = persistingEvents
+        Eventsourced.super.aroundReceive(receive, PersistentBatch(persistentEventBatch.reverse))
+        persistInvocations = persistInvocations.reverse
+        persistentEventBatch = Nil
+      } else {
+        processorStash.unstash()
       }
     }
   }
@@ -46,9 +63,13 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
    */
   private val persistingEvents: State = new State {
     def aroundReceive(receive: Receive, message: Any) = message match {
-      case p: PersistentImpl if identical(p.payload, persistCandidates.head) ⇒ {
-        Eventsourced.super.aroundReceive(receive, message)
-        persistCandidates = persistCandidates.tail
+      case PersistentBatch(b) ⇒ {
+        b.foreach(deleteMessage)
+        throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Persistent command batches not supported")
+      }
+      case p: PersistentImpl ⇒ {
+        deleteMessage(p)
+        throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Persistent commands not supported")
       }
       case WriteSuccess(p) if identical(p.payload, persistInvocations.head._1) ⇒ {
         withCurrentPersistent(p)(p ⇒ persistInvocations.head._2(p.payload))
@@ -65,7 +86,7 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
       persistInvocations = persistInvocations.tail
       if (persistInvocations.isEmpty) {
         currentState = processingCommands
-        processorStash.unstashAll()
+        processorStash.unstash()
       }
     }
 
@@ -74,9 +95,9 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
   }
 
   private var persistInvocations: List[(Any, Any ⇒ Unit)] = Nil
-  private var persistCandidates: List[Any] = Nil
+  private var persistentEventBatch: List[PersistentImpl] = Nil
 
-  private var currentState: State = processingCommands
+  private var currentState: State = recovering
   private val processorStash = createProcessorStash
 
   /**
@@ -103,7 +124,7 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
    */
   final def persist[A](event: A)(handler: A ⇒ Unit): Unit = {
     persistInvocations = (event, handler.asInstanceOf[Any ⇒ Unit]) :: persistInvocations
-    persistCandidates = event :: persistCandidates
+    persistentEventBatch = PersistentImpl(event) :: persistentEventBatch
   }
 
   /**
@@ -137,6 +158,13 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
    */
   def receiveCommand: Receive
 
+  override def unstashAll() {
+    // Internally, all messages are processed by unstashing them from
+    // the internal stash one-by-one. Hence, an unstashAll() from the
+    // user stash must be prepended to the internal stash.
+    processorStash.prepend(clearStash())
+  }
+
   /**
    * INTERNAL API.
    */
@@ -144,6 +172,22 @@ private[persistence] trait Eventsourced extends Processor {
     currentState.aroundReceive(receive, message)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Calls `super.preRestart` then unstashes all messages from the internal stash.
+   */
+  override def preRestart(reason: Throwable, message: Option[Any]) {
+    super.preRestart(reason, message)
+    processorStash.unstashAll()
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Calls `super.postStop` then unstashes all messages from the internal stash.
+   */
+  override def postStop() {
+    super.postStop()
+    processorStash.unstashAll()
+  }
+
   /**
    * INTERNAL API.
    */
@@ -242,7 +286,9 @@ abstract class UntypedEventsourcedProcessor extends UntypedProcessor with Events
    * Command handler. Typically validates commands against current state (and/or by
    * communication with other actors). On successful validation, one or more events are
    * derived from a command and these events are then persisted by calling `persist`.
-   * Commands sent to event sourced processors should not be [[Persistent]] messages.
+   * Commands sent to event sourced processors must not be [[Persistent]] or
+   * [[PersistentBatch]] messages. In this case an `UnsupportedOperationException` is
+   * thrown by the processor.
    */
   def onReceiveCommand(msg: Any): Unit
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala
index 45c0228a83..81b7e21470 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/JournalProtocol.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 package akka.persistence
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
+
 import akka.actor._
 
 /**
@@ -18,6 +20,14 @@ private[persistence] object JournalProtocol {
    */
   case class Delete(persistent: Persistent)
 
+  /**
+   * Instructs a journal to persist a sequence of messages.
+   *
+   * @param persistentBatch batch of messages to be persisted.
+   * @param processor requesting processor.
+   */
+  case class WriteBatch(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl], processor: ActorRef)
+
   /**
    * Instructs a journal to persist a message.
    *
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Persistent.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Persistent.scala
index 7d8b33d95f..075a2777a0 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Persistent.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Persistent.scala
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@
 
 package akka.persistence
 
+import java.lang.{ Iterable ⇒ JIterable }
 import java.util.{ List ⇒ JList }
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
+
 import akka.actor.ActorRef
+import akka.japi.Util.immutableSeq
 
 /**
  * Persistent message.
@@ -78,6 +82,27 @@ object Persistent {
     Some((persistent.payload, persistent.sequenceNr))
 }
 
+/**
+ * Instructs a [[Processor]] to atomically write the contained [[Persistent]] messages to the
+ * journal. The processor receives the written messages individually as [[Persistent]] messages.
+ * During recovery, they are also replayed individually.
+ */
+case class PersistentBatch(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[Persistent]) {
+  /**
+   * INTERNAL API.
+   */
+  private[persistence] def persistentImplList: List[PersistentImpl] =
+    persistentBatch.toList.asInstanceOf[List[PersistentImpl]]
+}
+
+object PersistentBatch {
+  /**
+   * JAVA API.
+   */
+  def create(persistentBatch: JIterable[Persistent]) =
+    PersistentBatch(immutableSeq(persistentBatch))
+}
+
 /**
  * Plugin API.
  *
@@ -123,6 +148,9 @@ case class PersistentImpl(
    * Java Plugin API.
    */
   def getConfirms: JList[String] = confirms.asJava
+
+  private[persistence] def prepareWrite(sender: ActorRef) =
+    copy(sender = sender, resolved = false, confirmTarget = null, confirmMessage = null)
 }
 
 object PersistentImpl {
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Processor.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Processor.scala
index 0e1244075a..251ef053c4 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Processor.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/Processor.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 package akka.persistence
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
+
 import akka.actor._
 import akka.dispatch._
 
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ import akka.dispatch._
  *
  * @see [[UntypedProcessor]]
  * @see [[Recover]]
+ * @see [[PersistentBatch]]
  */
 trait Processor extends Actor with Stash {
   import JournalProtocol._
@@ -151,9 +154,10 @@ trait Processor extends Actor with Stash {
           throw new ActorKilledException(errorMsg)
         }
       }
-      case LoopSuccess(m)    ⇒ process(receive, m)
-      case p: PersistentImpl ⇒ journal forward Write(p.copy(processorId = processorId, sequenceNr = nextSequenceNr()), self)
-      case m                 ⇒ journal forward Loop(m, self)
+      case LoopSuccess(m)      ⇒ process(receive, m)
+      case p: PersistentImpl   ⇒ journal forward Write(p.copy(processorId = processorId, sequenceNr = nextSequenceNr()), self)
+      case pb: PersistentBatch ⇒ journal forward WriteBatch(pb.persistentImplList.map(_.copy(processorId = processorId, sequenceNr = nextSequenceNr())), self)
+      case m                   ⇒ journal forward Loop(m, self)
     }
   }
 
@@ -362,6 +366,16 @@ trait Processor extends Actor with Stash {
     def stash(): Unit =
       theStash :+= currentEnvelope
 
+    def prepend(others: immutable.Seq[Envelope]): Unit =
+      others.reverseIterator.foreach(env ⇒ theStash = env +: theStash)
+
+    def unstash(): Unit = try {
+      if (theStash.nonEmpty) {
+        mailbox.enqueueFirst(self, theStash.head)
+        theStash = theStash.tail
+      }
+    }
+
     def unstashAll(): Unit = try {
       val i = theStash.reverseIterator
       while (i.hasNext) mailbox.enqueueFirst(self, i.next())
@@ -377,7 +391,24 @@ trait Processor extends Actor with Stash {
  * Processor specific stash used internally to avoid interference with user stash.
  */
 private[persistence] trait ProcessorStash {
+  /**
+   * Appends the current message to this stash.
+   */
   def stash()
+
+  /**
+   * Prepends `others` to this stash.
+   */
+  def prepend(others: immutable.Seq[Envelope])
+
+  /**
+   * Unstashes a single message from this stash.
+   */
+  def unstash()
+
+  /**
+   * Unstashes all messages from this stash.
+   */
   def unstashAll()
 }
 
@@ -434,6 +465,7 @@ private[persistence] trait ProcessorStash {
  *
  * @see [[Processor]]
  * @see [[Recover]]
+ * @see [[PersistentBatch]]
  */
 abstract class UntypedProcessor extends UntypedActor with Processor {
 
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/AsyncWriteJournal.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/AsyncWriteJournal.scala
index cc3b9e07e0..b10328b398 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/AsyncWriteJournal.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/AsyncWriteJournal.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 package akka.persistence.journal
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
 import scala.concurrent.Future
 import scala.util._
 
@@ -11,7 +12,6 @@ import akka.actor._
 import akka.pattern.{ pipe, PromiseActorRef }
 import akka.persistence._
 import akka.persistence.JournalProtocol._
-import akka.serialization.Serialization
 
 /**
  * Abstract journal, optimized for asynchronous, non-blocking writes.
@@ -28,13 +28,26 @@ trait AsyncWriteJournal extends Actor with AsyncReplay {
       val csdr = sender
       val cctr = resequencerCounter
       val psdr = if (sender.isInstanceOf[PromiseActorRef]) context.system.deadLetters else sender
-      writeAsync(persistent.copy(sender = psdr, resolved = false, confirmTarget = null, confirmMessage = null)) map {
+      writeAsync(persistent.prepareWrite(psdr)) map {
         _ ⇒ Desequenced(WriteSuccess(persistent), cctr, processor, csdr)
       } recover {
         case e ⇒ Desequenced(WriteFailure(persistent, e), cctr, processor, csdr)
       } pipeTo (resequencer)
       resequencerCounter += 1
     }
+    case WriteBatch(persistentBatch, processor) ⇒ {
+      val csdr = sender
+      val cctr = resequencerCounter
+      val psdr = if (sender.isInstanceOf[PromiseActorRef]) context.system.deadLetters else sender
+      def resequence(f: PersistentImpl ⇒ Any) = persistentBatch.zipWithIndex.foreach {
+        case (p, i) ⇒ resequencer ! Desequenced(f(p), cctr + i, processor, csdr)
+      }
+      writeBatchAsync(persistentBatch.map(_.prepareWrite(psdr))) onComplete {
+        case Success(_) ⇒ resequence(WriteSuccess(_))
+        case Failure(e) ⇒ resequence(WriteFailure(_, e))
+      }
+      resequencerCounter += persistentBatch.length
+    }
     case Replay(fromSequenceNr, toSequenceNr, processorId, processor) ⇒ {
       // Send replayed messages and replay result to processor directly. No need
       // to resequence replayed messages relative to written and looped messages.
@@ -73,6 +86,14 @@ trait AsyncWriteJournal extends Actor with AsyncReplay {
    */
   def writeAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl): Future[Unit]
 
+  /**
+   * Plugin API.
+   *
+   * Asynchronously writes a batch of persistent messages to the journal. The batch write
+   * must be atomic i.e. either all persistent messages in the batch are written or none.
+   */
+  def writeBatchAsync(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl]): Future[Unit]
+
   /**
    * Plugin API.
    *
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/SyncWriteJournal.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/SyncWriteJournal.scala
index dfa4c7e7d5..c0310e73dd 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/SyncWriteJournal.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/SyncWriteJournal.scala
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 
 package akka.persistence.journal
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
 import scala.util._
 
 import akka.actor.Actor
 import akka.pattern.{ pipe, PromiseActorRef }
 import akka.persistence._
-import akka.serialization.Serialization
 
 /**
  * Abstract journal, optimized for synchronous writes.
@@ -23,11 +23,18 @@ trait SyncWriteJournal extends Actor with AsyncReplay {
   final def receive = {
     case Write(persistent, processor) ⇒ {
       val sdr = if (sender.isInstanceOf[PromiseActorRef]) context.system.deadLetters else sender
-      Try(write(persistent.copy(sender = sdr, resolved = false, confirmTarget = null, confirmMessage = null))) match {
+      Try(write(persistent.prepareWrite(sdr))) match {
         case Success(_) ⇒ processor forward WriteSuccess(persistent)
         case Failure(e) ⇒ processor forward WriteFailure(persistent, e); throw e
       }
     }
+    case WriteBatch(persistentBatch, processor) ⇒ {
+      val sdr = if (sender.isInstanceOf[PromiseActorRef]) context.system.deadLetters else sender
+      Try(writeBatch(persistentBatch.map(_.prepareWrite(sdr)))) match {
+        case Success(_) ⇒ persistentBatch.foreach(processor forward WriteSuccess(_))
+        case Failure(e) ⇒ persistentBatch.foreach(processor forward WriteFailure(_, e)); throw e
+      }
+    }
     case Replay(fromSequenceNr, toSequenceNr, processorId, processor) ⇒ {
       replayAsync(processorId, fromSequenceNr, toSequenceNr) { p ⇒
         if (!p.deleted) processor.tell(Replayed(p), p.sender)
@@ -57,6 +64,14 @@ trait SyncWriteJournal extends Actor with AsyncReplay {
    */
   def write(persistent: PersistentImpl): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Plugin API.
+   *
+   * Synchronously writes a batch of persistent messages to the journal. The batch write
+   * must be atomic i.e. either all persistent messages in the batch are written or none.
+   */
+  def writeBatch(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl]): Unit
+
   /**
    * Plugin API.
    *
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/inmem/InmemJournal.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/inmem/InmemJournal.scala
index fd8f723bc7..11660b1db5 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/inmem/InmemJournal.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/inmem/InmemJournal.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 package akka.persistence.journal.inmem
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
 import scala.concurrent.Future
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 import scala.language.postfixOps
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ private[persistence] class InmemJournal extends AsyncWriteJournal {
   def writeAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl): Future[Unit] =
     (store ? Write(persistent)).mapTo[Unit]
 
+  def writeBatchAsync(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl]): Future[Unit] =
+    (store ? WriteBatch(persistentBatch)).mapTo[Unit]
+
   def deleteAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl): Future[Unit] =
     (store ? Delete(persistent)).mapTo[Unit]
 
@@ -47,6 +51,7 @@ private[persistence] class InmemStore extends Actor {
 
   def receive = {
     case Write(p)               ⇒ add(p); success()
+    case WriteBatch(pb)         ⇒ pb.foreach(add); success()
     case Delete(p)              ⇒ update(p.processorId, p.sequenceNr)(_.copy(deleted = true)); success()
     case Confirm(pid, snr, cid) ⇒ update(pid, snr)(p ⇒ p.copy(confirms = cid +: p.confirms)); success()
     case Replay(pid, fromSnr, toSnr, callback) ⇒ {
@@ -84,6 +89,7 @@ private[persistence] class InmemStore extends Actor {
 
 private[persistence] object InmemStore {
   case class Write(p: PersistentImpl)
+  case class WriteBatch(pb: Seq[PersistentImpl])
   case class Delete(p: PersistentImpl)
   case class Confirm(processorId: String, sequenceNr: Long, channelId: String)
   case class Replay(processorId: String, fromSequenceNr: Long, toSequenceNr: Long, replayCallback: (PersistentImpl) ⇒ Unit)
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWriteJournal.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWriteJournal.scala
index e841a5622a..d3d557001f 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWriteJournal.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/AsyncWriteJournal.scala
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 
 package akka.persistence.journal.japi
 
-import scala.concurrent.Future
+import scala.collection.immutable
+import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
 
 import akka.persistence.journal.{ AsyncWriteJournal ⇒ SAsyncWriteJournal }
 import akka.persistence.PersistentImpl
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ abstract class AsyncWriteJournal extends AsyncReplay with SAsyncWriteJournal wit
   final def writeAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl) =
     doWriteAsync(persistent).map(Unit.unbox)
 
+  final def writeBatchAsync(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl]) =
+    doWriteBatchAsync(persistentBatch.asJava).map(Unit.unbox)
+
   final def deleteAsync(persistent: PersistentImpl) =
     doDeleteAsync(persistent).map(Unit.unbox)
 
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWriteJournal.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWriteJournal.scala
index 992ca8f5d6..e91af7ce0e 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWriteJournal.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/japi/SyncWriteJournal.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 package akka.persistence.journal.japi
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
+import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
+
 import akka.persistence.journal.{ SyncWriteJournal ⇒ SSyncWriteJournal }
 import akka.persistence.PersistentImpl
 
@@ -16,6 +19,9 @@ abstract class SyncWriteJournal extends AsyncReplay with SSyncWriteJournal with
   final def write(persistent: PersistentImpl) =
     doWrite(persistent)
 
+  final def writeBatch(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl]) =
+    doWriteBatch(persistentBatch.asJava)
+
   final def delete(persistent: PersistentImpl) =
     doDelete(persistent)
 
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/leveldb/LeveldbJournal.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/leveldb/LeveldbJournal.scala
index b1c8c14543..1eed3cd9df 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/leveldb/LeveldbJournal.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/journal/leveldb/LeveldbJournal.scala
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ package akka.persistence.journal.leveldb
 
 import java.io.File
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
+
 import org.iq80.leveldb._
 
 import akka.persistence._
@@ -36,11 +38,11 @@ private[leveldb] class LeveldbJournal extends SyncWriteJournal with LeveldbIdMap
 
   import Key._
 
-  def write(persistent: PersistentImpl) = withBatch { batch ⇒
-    val nid = numericId(persistent.processorId)
-    batch.put(keyToBytes(counterKey(nid)), counterToBytes(persistent.sequenceNr))
-    batch.put(keyToBytes(Key(nid, persistent.sequenceNr, 0)), persistentToBytes(persistent))
-  }
+  def write(persistent: PersistentImpl) =
+    withBatch(batch ⇒ addToBatch(persistent, batch))
+
+  def writeBatch(persistentBatch: immutable.Seq[PersistentImpl]) =
+    withBatch(batch ⇒ persistentBatch.foreach(persistent ⇒ addToBatch(persistent, batch)))
 
   def delete(persistent: PersistentImpl) {
     leveldb.put(keyToBytes(deletionKey(numericId(persistent.processorId), persistent.sequenceNr)), Array.empty[Byte])
@@ -56,6 +58,12 @@ private[leveldb] class LeveldbJournal extends SyncWriteJournal with LeveldbIdMap
   def persistentToBytes(p: PersistentImpl): Array[Byte] = serialization.serialize(p).get
   def persistentFromBytes(a: Array[Byte]): PersistentImpl = serialization.deserialize(a, classOf[PersistentImpl]).get
 
+  private def addToBatch(persistent: PersistentImpl, batch: WriteBatch): Unit = {
+    val nid = numericId(persistent.processorId)
+    batch.put(keyToBytes(counterKey(nid)), counterToBytes(persistent.sequenceNr))
+    batch.put(keyToBytes(Key(nid, persistent.sequenceNr, 0)), persistentToBytes(persistent))
+  }
+
   private def withBatch[R](body: WriteBatch ⇒ R): R = {
     val batch = leveldb.createWriteBatch()
     try {
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageSerializer.scala b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageSerializer.scala
index afcbbe0183..0da51c0c47 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageSerializer.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/main/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/MessageSerializer.scala
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import scala.language.existentials
 import com.google.protobuf._
 
 import akka.actor.ExtendedActorSystem
+import akka.japi.Util.immutableSeq
 import akka.persistence._
 import akka.persistence.serialization.MessageFormats._
 import akka.serialization._
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ import akka.serialization._
 class MessageSerializer(val system: ExtendedActorSystem) extends Serializer {
   import PersistentImpl.Undefined
 
+  val PersistentBatchClass = classOf[PersistentBatch]
   val PersistentClass = classOf[PersistentImpl]
   val ConfirmClass = classOf[Confirm]
 
@@ -26,25 +28,27 @@ class MessageSerializer(val system: ExtendedActorSystem) extends Serializer {
   def includeManifest: Boolean = true
 
   /**
-   * Serializes a [[Persistent]] message. Delegates serialization of the persistent message's
-   * payload to a matching `akka.serialization.Serializer`.
+   * Serializes [[PersistentBatch]] and [[Persistent]]. Delegates serialization of a
+   * persistent message's payload to a matching `akka.serialization.Serializer`.
    */
   def toBinary(o: AnyRef): Array[Byte] = o match {
-    case p: PersistentImpl ⇒ persistentMessageBuilder(p).build().toByteArray
-    case c: Confirm        ⇒ confirmMessageBuilder(c).build().toByteArray
-    case _                 ⇒ throw new IllegalArgumentException(s"Can't serialize object of type ${o.getClass}")
+    case b: PersistentBatch ⇒ persistentMessageBatchBuilder(b).build().toByteArray
+    case p: PersistentImpl  ⇒ persistentMessageBuilder(p).build().toByteArray
+    case c: Confirm         ⇒ confirmMessageBuilder(c).build().toByteArray
+    case _                  ⇒ throw new IllegalArgumentException(s"Can't serialize object of type ${o.getClass}")
   }
 
   /**
-   * Deserializes a [[Persistent]] message. Delegates deserialization of the persistent message's
-   * payload to a matching `akka.serialization.Serializer`.
+   * Deserializes [[PersistentBatch]] and [[Persistent]]. Delegates deserialization of a
+   * persistent message's payload to a matching `akka.serialization.Serializer`.
    */
   def fromBinary(bytes: Array[Byte], manifest: Option[Class[_]]): AnyRef = manifest match {
     case None ⇒ persistent(PersistentMessage.parseFrom(bytes))
     case Some(c) ⇒ c match {
-      case PersistentClass ⇒ persistent(PersistentMessage.parseFrom(bytes))
-      case ConfirmClass    ⇒ confirm(ConfirmMessage.parseFrom(bytes))
-      case _               ⇒ throw new IllegalArgumentException(s"Can't deserialize object of type ${c}")
+      case PersistentBatchClass ⇒ persistentBatch(PersistentMessageBatch.parseFrom(bytes))
+      case PersistentClass      ⇒ persistent(PersistentMessage.parseFrom(bytes))
+      case ConfirmClass         ⇒ confirm(ConfirmMessage.parseFrom(bytes))
+      case _                    ⇒ throw new IllegalArgumentException(s"Can't deserialize object of type ${c}")
     }
   }
 
@@ -52,6 +56,12 @@ class MessageSerializer(val system: ExtendedActorSystem) extends Serializer {
   // toBinary helpers
   //
 
+  private def persistentMessageBatchBuilder(persistentBatch: PersistentBatch) = {
+    val builder = PersistentMessageBatch.newBuilder
+    persistentBatch.persistentImplList.foreach(p ⇒ builder.addBatch(persistentMessageBuilder(p)))
+    builder
+  }
+
   private def persistentMessageBuilder(persistent: PersistentImpl) = {
     val builder = PersistentMessage.newBuilder
 
@@ -92,8 +102,10 @@ class MessageSerializer(val system: ExtendedActorSystem) extends Serializer {
   // fromBinary helpers
   //
 
+  private def persistentBatch(persistentMessageBatch: PersistentMessageBatch): PersistentBatch =
+    PersistentBatch(immutableSeq(persistentMessageBatch.getBatchList).map(persistent))
+
   private def persistent(persistentMessage: PersistentMessage): PersistentImpl = {
-    import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
     PersistentImpl(
       payload(persistentMessage.getPayload),
       persistentMessage.getSequenceNr,
@@ -101,7 +113,7 @@ class MessageSerializer(val system: ExtendedActorSystem) extends Serializer {
       if (persistentMessage.hasChannelId) persistentMessage.getChannelId else Undefined,
       persistentMessage.getDeleted,
       persistentMessage.getResolved,
-      persistentMessage.getConfirmsList.asScala.toList,
+      immutableSeq(persistentMessage.getConfirmsList),
       if (persistentMessage.hasConfirmMessage) confirm(persistentMessage.getConfirmMessage) else null,
       if (persistentMessage.hasConfirmTarget) system.provider.resolveActorRef(persistentMessage.getConfirmTarget) else null,
       if (persistentMessage.hasSender) system.provider.resolveActorRef(persistentMessage.getSender) else null)
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/EventsourcedSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/EventsourcedSpec.scala
index 45a4be11b4..4232e24a15 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/EventsourcedSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/EventsourcedSpec.scala
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ object EventsourcedSpec {
     }
 
     val commonBehavior: Receive = {
-      case "boom"   ⇒ throw new Exception("boom")
+      case "boom"   ⇒ throw new TestException("boom")
       case GetState ⇒ sender ! events.reverse
     }
 
@@ -164,6 +164,51 @@ object EventsourcedSpec {
     }
   }
 
+  class UserStashManyProcessor(name: String) extends ExampleProcessor(name) {
+    val receiveCommand: Receive = commonBehavior orElse {
+      case Cmd("a") ⇒ persist(Evt("a")) { evt ⇒
+        updateState(evt)
+        context.become(processC)
+      }
+      case Cmd("b-1") ⇒ persist(Evt("b-1"))(updateState)
+      case Cmd("b-2") ⇒ persist(Evt("b-2"))(updateState)
+    }
+
+    val processC: Receive = {
+      case Cmd("c") ⇒ {
+        persist(Evt("c")) { evt ⇒
+          updateState(evt)
+          context.unbecome()
+        }
+        unstashAll()
+      }
+      case other ⇒ stash()
+    }
+  }
+
+  class UserStashFailureProcessor(name: String) extends ExampleProcessor(name) {
+    val receiveCommand: Receive = commonBehavior orElse {
+      case Cmd(data) ⇒ {
+        if (data == "b-2") throw new TestException("boom")
+        persist(Evt(data)) { event ⇒
+          updateState(event)
+          if (data == "a") context.become(otherCommandHandler)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    val otherCommandHandler: Receive = {
+      case Cmd("c") ⇒ {
+        persist(Evt("c")) { event ⇒
+          updateState(event)
+          context.unbecome()
+        }
+        unstashAll()
+      }
+      case other ⇒ stash()
+    }
+  }
+
   class AnyValEventProcessor(name: String) extends ExampleProcessor(name) {
     val receiveCommand: Receive = {
       case Cmd("a") ⇒ persist(5)(evt ⇒ sender ! evt)
@@ -272,7 +317,7 @@ abstract class EventsourcedSpec(config: Config) extends AkkaSpec(config) with Pe
       processor ! Cmd("a")
       expectMsg("a")
     }
-    "not interfere with the user stash" in {
+    "support user stash operations" in {
       val processor = namedProcessor[UserStashProcessor]
       processor ! Cmd("a")
       processor ! Cmd("b")
@@ -281,6 +326,25 @@ abstract class EventsourcedSpec(config: Config) extends AkkaSpec(config) with Pe
       expectMsg("c")
       expectMsg("a")
     }
+    "support user stash operations with several stashed messages" in {
+      val processor = namedProcessor[UserStashManyProcessor]
+      val n = 10
+      val cmds = 1 to n flatMap (_ ⇒ List(Cmd("a"), Cmd("b-1"), Cmd("b-2"), Cmd("c")))
+      val evts = 1 to n flatMap (_ ⇒ List("a", "c", "b-1", "b-2"))
+
+      cmds foreach (processor ! _)
+      processor ! GetState
+      expectMsg((List("a-1", "a-2") ++ evts))
+    }
+    "support user stash operations under failures" in {
+      val processor = namedProcessor[UserStashFailureProcessor]
+      val bs = 1 to 10 map ("b-" + _)
+      processor ! Cmd("a")
+      bs foreach (processor ! Cmd(_))
+      processor ! Cmd("c")
+      processor ! GetState
+      expectMsg(List("a-1", "a-2", "a", "c") ++ bs.filter(_ != "b-2"))
+    }
     "be able to persist events that extend AnyVal" in {
       val processor = namedProcessor[AnyValEventProcessor]
       processor ! Cmd("a")
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PerformanceSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PerformanceSpec.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c23ad9f920
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PerformanceSpec.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package akka.persistence
+
+import scala.concurrent.duration._
+import scala.language.postfixOps
+
+import com.typesafe.config.ConfigFactory
+
+import akka.actor._
+import akka.testkit._
+
+object PerformanceSpec {
+  // multiply cycles with 100 for more
+  // accurate throughput measurements
+  val config =
+    """
+      akka.persistence.performance.cycles.warmup = 300
+      akka.persistence.performance.cycles.load = 1000
+    """
+
+  case object StartMeasure
+  case object StopMeasure
+  case class FailAt(sequenceNr: Long)
+
+  abstract class PerformanceTestProcessor(name: String) extends NamedProcessor(name) {
+    val NanoToSecond = 1000.0 * 1000 * 1000
+
+    var startTime: Long = 0L
+    var stopTime: Long = 0L
+
+    var startSequenceNr = 0L;
+    var stopSequenceNr = 0L;
+
+    var failAt: Long = -1
+
+    val controlBehavior: Receive = {
+      case StartMeasure ⇒ {
+        startSequenceNr = lastSequenceNr
+        startTime = System.nanoTime
+      }
+      case StopMeasure ⇒ {
+        stopSequenceNr = lastSequenceNr
+        stopTime = System.nanoTime
+        sender ! (NanoToSecond * (stopSequenceNr - startSequenceNr) / (stopTime - startTime))
+      }
+      case FailAt(sequenceNr) ⇒ failAt = sequenceNr
+    }
+
+    override def postRestart(reason: Throwable) {
+      super.postRestart(reason)
+      receive(StartMeasure)
+    }
+  }
+
+  class CommandsourcedTestProcessor(name: String) extends PerformanceTestProcessor(name) {
+    def receive = controlBehavior orElse {
+      case p: Persistent ⇒ {
+        if (lastSequenceNr % 1000 == 0) if (recoveryRunning) print("r") else print(".")
+        if (lastSequenceNr == failAt) throw new TestException("boom")
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  class EventsourcedTestProcessor(name: String) extends PerformanceTestProcessor(name) with EventsourcedProcessor {
+    val receiveReplay: Receive = {
+      case _ ⇒ if (lastSequenceNr % 1000 == 0) print("r")
+    }
+
+    val receiveCommand: Receive = controlBehavior orElse {
+      case cmd ⇒ persist(cmd) { _ ⇒
+        if (lastSequenceNr % 1000 == 0) print(".")
+        if (lastSequenceNr == failAt) throw new TestException("boom")
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  class StashingEventsourcedTestProcessor(name: String) extends PerformanceTestProcessor(name) with EventsourcedProcessor {
+    val receiveReplay: Receive = {
+      case _ ⇒ if (lastSequenceNr % 1000 == 0) print("r")
+    }
+
+    val printProgress: PartialFunction[Any, Any] = {
+      case m ⇒ if (lastSequenceNr % 1000 == 0) print("."); m
+    }
+
+    val receiveCommand: Receive = printProgress andThen (controlBehavior orElse {
+      case "a" ⇒ persist("a")(_ ⇒ context.become(processC))
+      case "b" ⇒ persist("b")(_ ⇒ ())
+    })
+
+    val processC: Receive = printProgress andThen {
+      case "c" ⇒ {
+        persist("c")(_ ⇒ context.unbecome())
+        unstashAll()
+      }
+      case other ⇒ stash()
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+class PerformanceSpec extends AkkaSpec(PersistenceSpec.config("leveldb", "performance").withFallback(ConfigFactory.parseString(PerformanceSpec.config))) with PersistenceSpec with ImplicitSender {
+  import PerformanceSpec._
+
+  val warmupClycles = system.settings.config.getInt("akka.persistence.performance.cycles.warmup")
+  val loadCycles = system.settings.config.getInt("akka.persistence.performance.cycles.load")
+
+  def stressCommandsourcedProcessor(failAt: Option[Long]): Unit = {
+    val processor = namedProcessor[CommandsourcedTestProcessor]
+    failAt foreach { processor ! FailAt(_) }
+    1 to warmupClycles foreach { i ⇒ processor ! Persistent(s"msg${i}") }
+    processor ! StartMeasure
+    1 to loadCycles foreach { i ⇒ processor ! Persistent(s"msg${i}") }
+    processor ! StopMeasure
+    expectMsgPF(100 seconds) {
+      case throughput: Double ⇒ println(f"\nthroughput = $throughput%.2f persistent commands per second")
+    }
+  }
+
+  def stressEventsourcedProcessor(failAt: Option[Long]): Unit = {
+    val processor = namedProcessor[EventsourcedTestProcessor]
+    failAt foreach { processor ! FailAt(_) }
+    1 to warmupClycles foreach { i ⇒ processor ! s"msg${i}" }
+    processor ! StartMeasure
+    1 to loadCycles foreach { i ⇒ processor ! s"msg${i}" }
+    processor ! StopMeasure
+    expectMsgPF(100 seconds) {
+      case throughput: Double ⇒ println(f"\nthroughput = $throughput%.2f persistent events per second")
+    }
+  }
+
+  def stressStashingEventsourcedProcessor(): Unit = {
+    val processor = namedProcessor[StashingEventsourcedTestProcessor]
+    1 to warmupClycles foreach { i ⇒ processor ! "b" }
+    processor ! StartMeasure
+    val cmds = 1 to (loadCycles / 3) flatMap (_ ⇒ List("a", "b", "c"))
+    processor ! StartMeasure
+    cmds foreach (processor ! _)
+    processor ! StopMeasure
+    expectMsgPF(100 seconds) {
+      case throughput: Double ⇒ println(f"\nthroughput = $throughput%.2f persistent events per second")
+    }
+  }
+
+  "A command sourced processor" should {
+    "have some reasonable throughput" in {
+      stressCommandsourcedProcessor(None)
+    }
+    "have some reasonable throughput under failure conditions" in {
+      stressCommandsourcedProcessor(Some(warmupClycles + loadCycles / 10))
+    }
+  }
+
+  "An event sourced processor" should {
+    "have some reasonable throughput" in {
+      stressEventsourcedProcessor(None)
+    }
+    "have some reasonable throughput under failure conditions" in {
+      stressEventsourcedProcessor(Some(warmupClycles + loadCycles / 10))
+    }
+    "have some reasonable throughput with stashing and unstashing every 3rd command" in {
+      stressStashingEventsourcedProcessor()
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistenceSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistenceSpec.scala
index 5617e1a0db..8bb3ee3eff 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistenceSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/PersistenceSpec.scala
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import java.io.File
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger
 
 import scala.reflect.ClassTag
+import scala.util.control.NoStackTrace
 
 import com.typesafe.config.ConfigFactory
 
@@ -53,12 +54,12 @@ trait PersistenceSpec extends BeforeAndAfterEach { this: AkkaSpec ⇒
 object PersistenceSpec {
   def config(plugin: String, test: String) = ConfigFactory.parseString(
     s"""
-      |serialize-creators = on
-      |serialize-messages = on
-      |akka.persistence.journal.plugin = "akka.persistence.journal.${plugin}"
-      |akka.persistence.journal.leveldb.dir = "target/journal-${test}-spec"
-      |akka.persistence.snapshot-store.local.dir = "target/snapshots-${test}-spec/"
-    """.stripMargin)
+      serialize-creators = on
+      serialize-messages = on
+      akka.persistence.journal.plugin = "akka.persistence.journal.${plugin}"
+      akka.persistence.journal.leveldb.dir = "target/journal-${test}-spec"
+      akka.persistence.snapshot-store.local.dir = "target/snapshots-${test}-spec/"
+    """)
 }
 
 abstract class NamedProcessor(name: String) extends Processor {
@@ -69,4 +70,6 @@ trait TurnOffRecoverOnStart { this: Processor ⇒
   override def preStart(): Unit = ()
 }
 
+class TestException(msg: String) extends Exception(msg) with NoStackTrace
+
 case object GetState
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorSpec.scala
index c9eb14fc7a..0b8dc56f4a 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorSpec.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 package akka.persistence
 
+import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
+
 import com.typesafe.config._
 
 import akka.actor._
@@ -13,8 +15,8 @@ object ProcessorSpec {
   class RecoverTestProcessor(name: String) extends NamedProcessor(name) {
     var state = List.empty[String]
     def receive = {
-      case "boom"                   ⇒ throw new Exception("boom")
-      case Persistent("boom", _)    ⇒ throw new Exception("boom")
+      case "boom"                   ⇒ throw new TestException("boom")
+      case Persistent("boom", _)    ⇒ throw new TestException("boom")
       case Persistent(payload, snr) ⇒ state = s"${payload}-${snr}" :: state
       case GetState                 ⇒ sender ! state.reverse
     }
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ object ProcessorSpec {
     }
   }
 
-  class ResumeTestException extends Exception("test")
+  class ResumeTestException extends TestException("test")
 
   class ResumeTestSupervisor(name: String) extends Actor {
     val processor = context.actorOf(Props(classOf[ResumeTestProcessor], name))
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@ object ProcessorSpec {
 
   class AnyReplayedMsgFailsTestProcessor(name: String) extends RecoverTestProcessor(name) {
     val failOnReplayedA: Actor.Receive = {
-      case Persistent("a", _) if recoveryRunning ⇒ throw new Exception("boom")
+      case Persistent("a", _) if recoveryRunning ⇒ throw new TestException("boom")
     }
 
     override def receive = failOnReplayedA orElse super.receive
@@ -283,6 +285,13 @@ abstract class ProcessorSpec(config: Config) extends AkkaSpec(config) with Persi
       processor ! GetState
       expectMsg(List("b-1", "c-3", "d-4", "e-5", "f-6", "g-7", "h-8", "i-9", "j-10"))
     }
+    "support batch writes" in {
+      val processor = namedProcessor[RecoverTestProcessor]
+      processor ! PersistentBatch(Seq(Persistent("c"), Persistent("d"), Persistent("e")))
+      processor ! Persistent("f")
+      processor ! GetState
+      expectMsg(List("a-1", "b-2", "c-3", "d-4", "e-5", "f-6"))
+    }
   }
 
   "A processor" can {
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorStashSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorStashSpec.scala
index 023bd3402c..08cf455c49 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorStashSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/ProcessorStashSpec.scala
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ object ProcessorStashSpec {
       case Persistent("b", snr)  ⇒ update("b", snr)
       case Persistent("c", snr)  ⇒ update("c", snr); unstashAll()
       case "x"                   ⇒ update("x")
-      case "boom"                ⇒ throw new Exception("boom")
-      case Persistent("boom", _) ⇒ throw new Exception("boom")
+      case "boom"                ⇒ throw new TestException("boom")
+      case Persistent("boom", _) ⇒ throw new TestException("boom")
       case GetState              ⇒ sender ! state.reverse
     }
 
diff --git a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/SerializerSpec.scala b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/SerializerSpec.scala
index 17a2d2633d..402770906b 100644
--- a/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/SerializerSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-persistence/src/test/scala/akka/persistence/serialization/SerializerSpec.scala
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package akka.persistence.serialization
 
+import scala.collection.immutable
+
 import com.typesafe.config._
 
 import akka.actor._
@@ -118,8 +120,9 @@ object MessageSerializerRemotingSpec {
 
   class RemoteActor extends Actor {
     def receive = {
-      case Persistent(MyPayload(data), _) ⇒ sender ! data
-      case Confirm(pid, snr, cid)         ⇒ sender ! s"${pid},${snr},${cid}"
+      case PersistentBatch(Persistent(MyPayload(data), _) +: tail) ⇒ sender ! data
+      case Persistent(MyPayload(data), _)                          ⇒ sender ! data
+      case Confirm(pid, snr, cid)                                  ⇒ sender ! s"${pid},${snr},${cid}"
     }
   }
 
@@ -147,10 +150,13 @@ class MessageSerializerRemotingSpec extends AkkaSpec(config(systemA).withFallbac
       localActor ! Persistent(MyPayload("a"))
       expectMsg(".a.")
     }
+    "custom-serialize persistent message batches during remoting" in {
+      localActor ! PersistentBatch(immutable.Seq(Persistent(MyPayload("a"))))
+      expectMsg(".a.")
+    }
     "serialize confirmation messages during remoting" in {
       localActor ! Confirm("a", 2, "b")
       expectMsg("a,2,b")
-
     }
   }
 }