Battle of Edessa (260 AD) - Roman army defeated by the Sassanid Persians. The Battle of Edessa, which occurred in 260 AD, was a significant military engagement between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire. It took place near the city of Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa in Turkey) and resulted in a decisive victory for the Sassanids over the Roman forces.

The Roman army, under the command of Emperor Valerian, faced off against the Sassanid forces led by King Shapur I. The Sassanids had been expanding their influence in the eastern regions of the Roman Empire, seeking to reclaim territories lost to the Parthians and assert Persian dominance in the region.

In the Battle of Edessa, the Sassanids utilized their superior cavalry and tactics to outmaneuver the Roman legions. The Sassanid cataphracts, heavily armored cavalry, played a crucial role in breaking the Roman lines and inflicting heavy casualties on the Roman forces. Emperor Valerian himself was captured by King Shapur I during the battle, marking a humiliating defeat for the Roman Empire.

The capture of Valerian was a significant event in Roman history, as he became the first Roman emperor to be taken captive by a foreign enemy. Valerian's capture dealt a severe blow to Roman morale and authority, and it had far-reaching political and military consequences for the empire.

The Battle of Edessa underscored the growing military strength of the Sassanid Empire and highlighted the vulnerability of the Roman Empire's eastern frontier. It also marked a turning point in the ongoing conflict between the two empires, setting the stage for further hostilities and power struggles in the region in the centuries to come.

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