Shapur I's second Roman campaign

Shapur I's second Roman campaign was the second of three victorious campaigns that the Persian king Shapur I led against the Roman Empire in the 3rd century AD.^[1][2] This campaign took place as part of the Roman–Persian wars, an escalation of the Roman–Parthian Wars.

Background

After Shapur I defeated and killed the Roman Emperor Gordian III, the new Roman Emperor, Philip the Arab, was forced to sign a "disgraceful" treaty with Shapur I and to surrender Mesopotamia and Armenia.^[3][4][5]

The war

In 252, Shapur ivaded the Roman Empire again, conquering Nisibis and destroyed a 60.000 strong Roman force at Barbalissos.^[6][7] The next year, the Sasanian forces laid siege to the city of Emesa and defeated the Roman forces at Antioch.^[8][9] During the years 253-256, the Sasanian armies destroyed and sacked more than 35 cities, including Dura Europos.^[10] The burning and looting show that while Shapur I deported a great number of populations, he had no intention of keeping the territories occupied by his forces.^[11]