Siege of Pirisabora

Siege of Pirisabora
Part of the Julian's Persian War
Date 27–29 April 363[1] Location Pirisabora Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire	Sassanid Empire
Strength
65,000	unknown

The Siege of Pirisabora took place when the Roman Emperor Julian besieged the city of Pirisabora in April 363.

Background

After settling political affairs in Constantinople, Emperor Julian gathered an army of 95,000 in Antioch for his invasion of the Sassanid Empire.^[2] Upon his arrival at Carrhae, Julian sent his generals, Procopius and Sebastian, with 30,000 men into Armenia to join up with King Tiran's army of 24,000.^[3]

The Siege

Meanwhile, Julian marched his army to Pirisbora, placing the city under siege.^[4] After two days, the city fell.

Aftermath

Julian distributed spoils to his troops and had the city burned.^[5] Following this victory, the Roman army marched towards Ctesiphon, sacking and burning Bithra,^[6] Diacira and Ozogardana in the process.^[7]

References

1. Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus: XXIV, ed. J. Den Boeft, J.W. Drijvers, D. Den Hengst, H.C. Teitler, (Brill, 2002), xxiii.
2. R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. Dupuy, Harper Encyclopedia of Military History, (HarperCollins, 1993), 168.
3. R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. Dupuy, The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History, 168.
4. G. W. Bowersock, Julian the Apostate, (Harvard University Press, 1978), 112.
5. G. W. Bowersock, Julian the Apostate, 112.
6. G. W. Bowersock, Julian the Apostate, 112.
7. Julian's Against the Galileans, transl. R. Joseph Hoffmann, (Prometheus Books, 2004), 46.

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