The Battles of History

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Battle of Callinicum
297
297
Romans vs Sassanid Persians 

type of battle

Ancient Pitched Battle

war or event

Roman-Persian Wars

at a glance

Roman defeat by the Persians

coordinates unknown

location

modern country

 (North)
In 295 or 296, Shah Narses (Narseh) of the Sassanid Persia declared war on Rome. When Narses invaded Roman Syria, Emperor Diocletian sent against him his son-in-law Galerius Maximus who was Caesar in the Tetrarhcy since 293.

Galerius crossed the Euphrates, but was forced to withdraw towards Carrhae. Ambushed to the south, between Carrhae (Harran, Turkey) and Callinicum (Ar-Raqqah, Syria), Galerius suffered a terrible defeat, effectively losing Mesopotamia to Persia.
Diocletian may or may not have been present at the battle, but would present himself soon afterwards at Antioch, where he forced Galerius to walk a mile in advance of his imperial cart while still clad in the purple robes of an emperor. The message was clear: Galerius alone was responsible for the defeat.


Romans  Sassanid Persians 
Commander Commander
Caesar Galerius Maximus  King Narses (Narseh) 
Forces Forces
CasualtiesCasualties