Siege of Nisibis (350)
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The Siege of Nisibis in AD 350 was the third attempt by Shapur II, the Sasanian King of Kings, to capture the strategically important Roman frontier city of Nisibis (modern-day Nusaybin, Turkey). Like his previous unsuccessful sieges in AD 338 and 346, this campaign would end in failure, though it came closer to success than any prior attempt.
| Siege of Nisibis | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Perso-Roman wars of 337–361 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Roman Empire | Sasanian Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Lucillianus Vologaeses, bishop of Nisibis | Shapur II | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown, presumably light | Heavy, up to 10,000 killed | ||||||
Background
When Shapur II, who ascended to the throne of the Sasanian Empire in AD 309 (at the time an unborn infant), came of age and took in hand the administration of his kingdom, he dedicated himself to a lifelong mission of restoring his country's military power, and avenging its recent defeats by the Romans and Saracens. After thoroughly subduing the Lakhmid Arabs rebellion in the south, he directed his attention towards Rome, his main enemy.[1]
In AD 337, Shapur II had sent his general Narses to invade Armenia, but Narses was defeated and killed at Narasara. Following Constantine the Great's death, Shapur personally besieged Nisibis, which was then regarded as the key to Mesopotamia. After sixty days, no closer to taking the city and with a plague hampering his army, he lifted the siege and returned to Persia.[1]
Following a second failed siege of Nisibis in AD 346, another major engajement occurred, where Constantius met Shapur's forces near Singara. The date of this battle is uncertain,[3] and sources are divided as to the victor of the battle. While the Sasanians camped around Singara, the Romans launched a nighttime raid on their camp, killing many Sasanian soldiers in their sleep. This disrupted Shapur's AD 348 campaign, and the Sasanian army retreated to their own territory.[4]
Siege
In early spring AD 350, Shapur invaded and besieged Nisibis for the third time. Roman Emperor Constantius II had left the defence of Mesopotamia and the city of Nisibis to Count Lucillianus, a competent and respected officer.[5] Vologaeses, the bishop of Nisibis, also participated in the siege.[6]
There is no indication that Constantius sent Lucillianus any reinforcements from the field army.[7] It is assumed that Shapur, as was his custom in 359 and 360, upon his arrival before the walls of Nisibis, tried to persuade the garrison to capitulate.[8]
The Persians besieged the city for between 100 and 160 days.[9] The Persian engineers used every siege tactic, which Count Lucillianus successfully defeated. Finally, the Persian engineers brought down a section of the wall by use of the Mygdonius River, and the valley flooded. When the whole plain was filled with water up to the walls of the city, a Sasanid fleet was embarked and floated to the ramparts.[10]
A part of the walls collapsed and the Sasanids withdrew in preparation for the assault.[11] The attack which was launched, supported by Sasanid war elephants, bogged down in the muddy waters formed by the lake, and Shapur gave the signal to fall back.[12] According to the Chronicon Paschale, the Persians suffered heavy losses, amounting to 10,000 troops lost.[13]
Shortly after this failed assault, the Persian Army lifted the siege and retreated after suffering heavy casualties from combat and disease. Before retreating to Persia, Shapur burned all his siege equipment and executed some of his chief officers and advisors.[14] The lifting of the siege represented another humiliating defeat for the Persians.[15]