List of conflicts between Romans and Persians

The following is a list of wars fought between Romans and Iranians.

DateWarBelligerentsResultNotesRomansIranians54–50 BCEFirst of the Roman–Persian Wars Roman EmpireParthian Empire StalemateRoman invasion of 54 BCE under Crassus culminates in defeat at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BCE. Subsequent Parthian invasion of 51 BC under Pacorus I is repelled with their defeat in Syria following the Siege of Antioch (51 BC).Dio, 40.29.3Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 5.20.4Bivar (1968), 5640–38 BCEPompeian–Parthian invasion Roman EmpireParthian Empire Roman victoryStatus quo ante bellum Beginning of Antony's Atropatene campaign36–20 BCEAntony's Atropatene campaign Roman EmpireParthian Empire Parthian victoryStatus quo ante bellum Beginning of Antony's campaign against Armenia58–63 CERoman–Parthian War Roman EmpireParthian Empire InconclusiveTreaty of Rhandeia115–117 CETrajan's Parthian campaign Roman EmpireParthian Empire InconclusiveRomans annex Mesopotamia for a brief time period and Adiabene, Roman withdrawal after death of Trajan.161–166 CERoman–Parthian War Roman EmpireParthian Empire Roman victoryArsacids re–establish themselves on the Armenian throne as Roman clientsCtesiphon and Seleucia sackedRome has minor acquisitions in Mesopotamia198 CERoman–Parthian War of 194–198 Roman EmpireParthian Empire Roman victoryResulted in the sack of Ctesiphon following defeat of Vologases V and annexation of Mesopotamia and Osrhoene to the Empire.Dio 75.1.1-2.3, 76.9.1-13.1M. Gradoni, 'The Parthian Campaigns of Septimius Severus: Causes, and Roles in Dynastic Legitimation', in 'The Roman Empire under the Severan Dynasty, Case studies in History, Art, Architecture, Economy, and Literature', ed.E, De Sena (2013), 3-23.Dio 75.3.2-3Dio 72.36.4216–217 CEParthian war of Caracalla Roman EmpireParthian Empire Parthian victoryStatus quo ante bellum Romans are forced to pay tribute229–233 CEFirst Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I Roman Empire Sasanian Empire InconclusiveBoth sides scored victories 237–238 CESecond Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Sasanian victoryRoman forces defeated242–244 CESasanian campaign of Gordian III Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Sasanian victoryPhilip the Arab pays 500,000 denarii to the Sasanian Empire and cedes Armenia and MesopotamiaDeath of Gordian III252–256 CEShapur I's Invasion of Rome's Eastern Provinces Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Sasanian victorySasanian invasion resulting in the sack of AntiochEdwell, 2008, p. 190-94 and the plunder of numerous Roman territories and capture of slaves. Limited territorial gains.Goldsworthy, 2023259–260 CEShapur I's second invasion of Rome's Eastern Provinces Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Sasanian victoryRoman Emperor Valerian captured at the Battle of Edessa.261–266 CEOdaenathus' Sasanian Campaigns Roman Empire Sasanian Empire DisputedThe importance of this campaign is disputed: while some sources say it was a total defeat for the Persian forces during their withdrawal from Roman territories, others say it was a skirmish or a minor incident turned by Roman historians and their modern successors into repeated routings of Shapur by an ally of Rome.283 CECarus' Sasanian Campaign Roman Empire Sasanian Empire InconclusiveWithdrawal of the Roman forces296–298 CEGalerius' Sasanian Campaigns Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Roman victoryThe Sasanians pay up 400,000 denarii to Rome337–361 CEPerso-Roman wars of 337–361 Roman Empire Sasanian Empire InconclusiveThe Romans under Constantius II were defeated in several sanguinary encounters, however, Shapur was unable to secure a decisive victory.363 CEJulian's Persian expedition Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Sasanian victorySasanians annex five regions and fifteen major fortresses from the Roman Empire along with the consequent annexation of Armenia363–371 CEArmeno-Sassanid War of 363–371 Roman Empire Sasanian Empire Roman victoryPersians depose Arshak II of Armenia Armenia is put under Roman suzerainty through Pap of Armenia entronization.421–422 CERoman–Sasanian War Roman Empire Sasanian Empire StalemateStatus quo ante bellum440 CEByzantine–Sasanian War of 440 Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire InconclusiveStatus quo ante bellum Both empires agree to battle northern nomads (Scythians)502–506 CEAnastasian War Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire InconclusiveStatus quo ante bellum Rome made some payments to the Sasanian Empire526–532 CEIberian War Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire InconclusiveSasanians retained Iberia, Byzantines retained Lazica541–562 CELazic War Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire DisputedFifty–Year Peace Treaty No clear winner emerged from the conflict, however, the Sasanian Empire held a slight advantage since Rome was required to pay a set amount to Persia annually.572–591 CEByzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591 Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire Byzantine victory Khosrow II is restored to the Sasanian throne, Byzantine Empire gets most of Persian Armenia and the western half of Iberia602–628 CEByzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire Byzantine victoryStatus quo ante bellum Political and economic crisis of the Sassanids Beginning of the Arab conquests The Sasanian Empire pays for all the damage

References

Bibliography