Back غزو تدمر لمصر Arabic Serangan Tadmur ke Mesir ID Conquista palmirena dell'Egitto romano Italian パルミラのエジプト征服 Japanese
| Palmyrene invasion of Egypt | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Crisis of the Third Century | |||||||||
 A map of the short-lived Palmyrene Empire at its zenith shortly after the invasion of Egypt | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Roman Empire |
Palmyra Support: | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Tenagino Probus † |
Zabdas Zenobia Timagenes | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 50,000 | 70,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Heavy | Unknown | ||||||||
The Palmyrene invasion of Egypt occurred in the summer,[1][2] or possibly in October,[3] of 270 AD when the forces of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, led by her general Zabdas and aided by an Egyptian general named Timagenes, invaded and subsequently annexed Egypt, which was under control of the Roman Empire at the time.
The invasion of Egypt is sometimes explained by Zenobia's desire to secure an alternative trade route to the Euphrates, which was cut because of the war with the Sasanian Empire,[4] although the Euphrates route was only partially disrupted. Zenobia's personal ambition and political motivation to establish Palmyrene dominance over the east definitely played a part in her decision to invade Egypt.[2]
The invasion coincided with, or probably even caused, serious unrest in Egypt, whose people were split between supporting and defying the approaching Palmyrene army.[2] What also made the situation worse for the Romans was that the prefect of Egypt, Tenagino Probus, was at the time preoccupied with naval expeditions against pirates.[2]
The Palmyrenes entered Alexandria, and left a garrison of 5,000, although shortly after, Probus was alerted to the situation in Egypt and quickly returned there.[2] He recaptured Alexandria, but his success was short-lived when the Palmyrene army regained control of the city.[2] Probus retreated to the Babylon Fortress.[5] However, Timagenes, a native of Egypt with knowledge of the land, ambushed the Roman rear and captured the fortress. Tenagino Probus then committed suicide and the Palmyrenes consolidated their dominion over Egypt.[5]
- ^ Southern 2008, p. 113.
- ^ a b c d e f Watson 2004, p. 62.
- ^ Southern 2008, p. 190.
- ^ Smith II 2013, p. 178.
- ^ a b Watson 2004, p. 63.
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