Philip the Arab vs Psamtik III

Upon becoming emperor, Philip the Arab concluded a peace treaty with the Sassanid king Shapur I. The terms included a substantial payment to the Persians and Roman withdrawal from disputed territories, securing a temporary end to hostilities.

After the death of Emperor Gordian III under suspicious circumstances during the Persian campaign, Philip the Arab, then praetorian prefect, was proclaimed emperor by the Roman army. He quickly negotiated peace with the Sassanid Empire.

Philip the Arab presided over grand celebrations marking the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Rome. The Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) were held with great pomp, including spectacles and sacrifices, symbolizing the empire's continuity.

Rebel commander Decius, proclaimed emperor by the Danubian legions, defeated Philip's forces near Verona. Philip was killed in the battle, either by enemy soldiers or assassinated by his own men, ending his five-year reign.

Psamtik III ruled for only six months before the Persian invasion. His brief reign was marked by the looming threat of the Persian army. He had little time to implement any significant policies or reforms. His reign is primarily remembered for its abrupt end with the Persian conquest.

Psamtik III's Egyptian army was defeated by the Persian forces under Cambyses II at Pelusium. The Persians used a strategy of placing cats and other sacred animals in front of their lines, causing Egyptian archers to hesitate. This defeat led to the fall of Egypt to the Achaemenid Empire.

After the defeat at Pelusium, Psamtik III was captured by the Persians. He was initially treated with respect but later executed for plotting a rebellion. His death marked the end of the 26th dynasty and the beginning of Persian rule over Egypt, which lasted for over a century.