Battle of Edessa
260 CE · Edessa (modern Sanliurfa, Turkey) · World · Ancient
The Roman army was worn down almost entirely by plague and siege, and when Valerian left the city for peace talks he was seized by the Sasanian army.
Belligerents
Sasanian Persia
- Commanders
- Shapur I
- Strength
- Sasanian Persian army
Rome
- Commanders
- Valerian
- Strength
- Roman eastern legions
Background
After its rise, Sasanian Persia repeatedly contested Mesopotamia and Syria with Rome; Valerian took the field in person but was put on the defensive.
Course of the battle
- Siege standoff as plague spreadsWhile the two armies faced off, plague spread through the Roman army
- Detained during peace talksValerian was seized by the Sasanian army when he left the city for peace talks
- Roman army collapsesLeaderless, the Roman army promptly collapsed
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 260 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Edessa (Sanliurfa, modern Turkey) |
| Result | The Roman army was worn down almost entirely by plague and siege, and when Valerian left the city for peace talks he was seized by the Sasanian army. |
| Winner | Sasanian Persia |
| Casualties | Most of the Roman army was captured or killed, and Valerian himself was held prisoner for the rest of his life. |
| Territorial change | Rome's eastern defenses collapsed for a time, and the Sasanians took the opportunity to raid deep into the cities of Syria. |
Impact
The only time in Roman history that a reigning emperor was captured by a foreign enemy, regarded as a great humiliation of the "Crisis of the Third Century."
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