Battle of Edessa

Battle of Edessa
	Part of the Roman–Persian Wars
	; A rock-face relief dating to the third century at Naqsh-e Rostam, depicting the triumph of Shapur I over the Roman Emperor Valerian.
Date	Spring 260
Location	Edessa, Osroene ; (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey)
Result	Sasanian victory
Belligerents
Sasanian Empire	Roman Empire; Germanic and Goth allies
Commanders and leaders
Shapur I	Valerian (POW); Successianus (POW)
Strength
unknown	70,000
Casualties and losses
	Entire force; c. 10,000 killed in the first battle

The Battle of Edessa took place between the armies of the Roman Empire under the command of Emperor Valerian and the Sasanian Empire (an Iranian imperial dynasty) under Shahanshah (King of the Kings) Shapur I, in Edessa (now the Turkish city of Urfa) in 260. The Roman army was defeated and captured in its entirety by the Iranian forces; for the first time, a Roman emperor was taken prisoner.^[6]

^ Blair Fowlkes-Childs; Michael Seymour (2019). The World between Empires: Art and Identity in the Ancient Middle East. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 254. ISBN 9781588396839.
^ Rome and Persia in Late Antiquity: Neighbours and Rivals "We learn that during the decisive battle near Edessa, not only high Roman officials but also the emperor Valerian himself were captured by Shapur with his own hands ... The Sasanians celebrated this victory, which was one of their greatest successes over the Western opponent, as an unparalleled triumph"
^ Encyclopaedia Iranica, "And in the third campaign, we set upon Carrhae and Edessa, and as we were besieging Carrhae and Edessa, Valerian Caesar came against us, and with him was a force (later specified as totaling 70,000) from the province (hštr) of the Goths and Germans (most Roman provinces are named)."
^ Cite error: The named reference Potter255 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Hughes2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Miller, Nick (13 May 2023). "Who was Emperor Valerian and what Happened to him? - Discovery UK". Discovery UK. Retrieved 29 June 2023.

[1] Blair Fowlkes-Childs; Michael Seymour (2019). The World between Empires: Art and Identity in the Ancient Middle East. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 254. ISBN 9781588396839.

[2] Rome and Persia in Late Antiquity: Neighbours and Rivals "We learn that during the decisive battle near Edessa, not only high Roman officials but also the emperor Valerian himself were captured by Shapur with his own hands ... The Sasanians celebrated this victory, which was one of their greatest successes over the Western opponent, as an unparalleled triumph"

[3] Encyclopaedia Iranica, "And in the third campaign, we set upon Carrhae and Edessa, and as we were besieging Carrhae and Edessa, Valerian Caesar came against us, and with him was a force (later specified as totaling 70,000) from the province (hštr) of the Goths and Germans (most Roman provinces are named)."

[Potter255-4] Cite error: The named reference Potter255 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Hughes2023-5] Cite error: The named reference Hughes2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[6] Miller, Nick (13 May 2023). "Who was Emperor Valerian and what Happened to him? - Discovery UK". Discovery UK. Retrieved 29 June 2023.

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