- Septimius Severus (193-211 CE) spent two years invading Parthia between 195-197 CE.
- As a result, in 198 CE, he was able to successfully annex Mesopotamia into the Roman Empire.
Prelude
- After a fifty year period of Peace, War in the East had reoccurred during the 160’s CE, when Armenia and Mesopotamia had fallen to the Persians, despite several attempts to eject them.
- Septimius Severus decided on a Campaign to regain Mesopotamia and reestablish the Euphrates as the Frontier.
Preparation (195-196 CE)
- To prepare for his invasion of Parthia, Septimius Severus created three new legions, Legio I Parthica, Legio II Parthica and Legio III Parthica. Then using the Syrian Legions, with vexillations from the Danube legions, he set off.
Invasion (197 CE)
- In 197 CE Septimius Severus broke the Parthian siege of Nisibis in Mesopotamia. He then continued to advance down the Euphrates sacking Seleucia and Babylon.
- Septimius Severus finally captured and sacked Ctesiphon and its Gold and Silver were confiscated and part of its population removed and sold as Roman Slaves.
Outcome (198 CE)
- However, Severus did not permanently occupy the Parthian Empire, but withdrew, instead annexing Mesopotamia into the Roman Empire in 198 CE. Two of the new Legions remained in the east permanently to reinforce the frontier.
- On his return to Rome the Senate awarded Severus a Triumphal Arch, the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Forum Romanum.
- Severus gave himself the title ‘Parthicus Maximus’.
Sources
- Dio Cassius History of Rome, Book LXXVI
Ctesiphon, Iraq