Shapur I's first Roman campaign
Part of the Roman-Sasanian wars in 240–244 CE
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Shapur I's first Roman campaign was the first of three victorious campaigns that the Persian king Shapur I led against the Roman Empire in 240–244, 252–256 and 260.[3][4]
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| Shapur I's first Roman campaign | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Roman-Sasanian wars | |||||||||
Relief at Bishapur celebrating the victory of Shapur I over the Romans at Misiche: Gordian III is trampled by the Sassanid king's horse, while Philip the Arab is held tight by Shapur. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Roman Empire | Sasanian Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Gordian III † | Shapur I | ||||||||
Background
The Sasanian dynasty overthrew the Parthian Arsacid dynasty in 224.[5] Shapur I's father, Ardashir I, the founder of the Sasanian dynasty, began an aggressive policy towards the Roman Empire. He led two campaigns against the Roman Empire, the first one ended inconclusively but the second one ended victoriously with the fall of several Roman cities, including Nisibis, Carrhae and, most importantly, Hatra.
The war
In 240, Shapur I attacked the Roman Empire which provoked a response from Emperor Gordian III who mounted a counter-attack with a powerful army.[6] Initially victorious, the Roman forces routed the Persian army at the battle of Resaena. However, the following year, the Persian forces faced a Roman army composed of Roman legionaries as well as units made up of Goth and Germanic warriors and decisively defeated it with Gordian III being killed during the Battle of Misiche.[7][8] The battle is mentioned on Shapur's trilingual inscription at Naqsh-e Rustam. After the defeat and death of Gordian III, the new Roman Emperor, Philip the Arab, signed a "disgraceful" treaty with the Sasanian Empire. Strangely enough, Philip the Arab celebrated, describing himself as victorious over the Persians once he was at a safe distance from them,[9] but paid 500,000 denarii to the Persians in a peace settlement.[10]
See also
Notes
- Shapur I had to expect a military reaction from the Romans. For them, the loss of these cities warranted a counteroffensive, and Emperor Gordian III led an army against Shapur I, regaining both Nisibis and Carrhae. However, he suffered a major defeat in a battle at Misiche, north of Ctesiphon, in 243.[1]