The Battle of Barbalissos was fought between the Sassanid Empire, Sasanian Persians and Roman Empire, Romans at Barbalissos. Shapur I used Roman incursions into Sasanian Armenia, Armenia as pretext and resumed hostilities with the Romans. The Sasanian Empire, Sassanids attacked a Roman force of 60,000 strong at Barbalissos and the Roman army was destroyed. The defeat of this large Roman force left the Roman east open to attack and led to the eventual capture of Siege of Antioch (253), Antioch and Siege of Dura-Europos (256), Dura Europos three years later. This battle is only known through Shapur I's inscription at Naqsh-e Rostam.

Overview

The battle was fought between the Sassanid Persians and Romans at Barbalissos, an old Roman town near Aleppo in modern-day Syria and close to the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The battle was fought in 252 when Shapur I (239-270 AD), King of the Sassanian Empire led his army from the Euphrates, Euphrates River and met with a Roman Empire, Roman army 60,000 strong of legionaries, archers, and Roman cavalry. Although the number of forces of Sasanian Empire, Sassanid Persians are unclear, through tactics and use of strategy Shapur I managed to win the battle and open a way through the Syrian cities and castles. The defeat was very costly for Valerian (emperor), Valerian who appointed many more armies to stop Shapur I from quick advance into Roman soil and later decided to lead an army of 70,000 legionaries himself in what became known as the Battle of Edessa.

Sources

* Kaveh Farroukh, ''Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224-642'' * David S. Potter, ''The Roman Empire at Bay'' * ''Res Gestae Divi Saporis

References

{{coord, 36.0610, N, 37.8912, E, source:wikidata, display=title 250s conflicts, Barbalissos Battles of the Roman–Sasanian Wars, Barbalissos Battles involving the Roman Empire, Barbalissos Battles involving the Sasanian Empire, Barbalissos 253 250s in the Roman Empire 3rd century in Iran Shapur I