Battles & Campaigns · 244
Battle of Misiche
Misiche, near the Euphrates, Iraq
What happened
The Roman Emperor Gordian III fought the Sasanian Persian king Shapur I. Gordian III had invaded Persian Mesopotamia after an earlier win. Near Misiche, a major battle was fought, and the young emperor died. Persian and Roman sources tell very different stories about what happened.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Shapur claimed a great victory and renamed the town Peroz-Shapur, 'Victorious Shapur'. It was the start of a run of Persian victories over Rome.
What came next
The new emperor, Philip the Arab, made peace and paid Shapur a large sum. Shapur later defeated Rome again and even captured the Emperor Valerian in 260.
Did you know?
Shapur recorded his victory in a carved inscription in three languages at Naqsh-e Rostam in Iran.
Timeline
- 240Shapur I becomes king.
- Early 244The Battle of Misiche.
- 244Philip the Arab makes peace.
- 260Shapur captures Emperor Valerian at Edessa.