Shapur I vs Valens

Shapur I defeated the Roman emperor Gordian III at Misiche in Mesopotamia. Gordian died during or shortly after the battle, and his successor Philip the Arab signed a peace treaty favorable to the Sassanids, paying a large ransom.

Shapur I captured the Roman emperor Valerian in battle near Edessa. Valerian was taken prisoner and spent the rest of his life in Persian captivity, a humiliation unprecedented in Roman history. Shapur used this victory to extract tribute and territory.

Following the capture of Valerian, Shapur I invaded Syria and sacked the city of Antioch, a major Roman center. The Sassanid army plundered the city and deported many inhabitants to Persia, demonstrating the empire's military reach.

Shapur I commissioned rock reliefs and inscriptions at Naqsh-e Rostam, depicting his victories over Roman emperors. The trilingual inscription (Middle Persian, Parthian, Greek) details his campaigns and the extent of his empire, serving as a key historical source.

Shapur I founded the city of Bishapur in Fars province, modeled partly on Roman urban planning. The city featured a palace with mosaics and reliefs celebrating his victories, becoming a major Sassanid administrative and cultural center.

Valens completed the Aqueduct of Valens in Constantinople, a major infrastructure project that supplied water to the city. The aqueduct remained in use for centuries and is a lasting monument of his reign.

Valens allowed the Goths to cross the Danube into Roman territory to escape the Huns. Mismanagement and corruption by Roman officials led to a Gothic revolt, escalating into a full-scale war that culminated in the Battle of Adrianople.

Valens led the Eastern Roman army against the Gothic rebels near Adrianople. The Roman forces were routed, and Valens was killed in the battle. This defeat was a major disaster for the Roman Empire, leading to the permanent settlement of Goths within imperial borders.