Contribution to Book
Lucius Verus and the East, 161–165
The Encyclopedia of Ancient Battles
(2017)
Abstract
In 161 or 162 (the chronology of this campaign is uncertain), the Parthians attempted to install a new king in Armenia. Local Roman intervened but were defeated, and the eastern provinces overrun. Forces were taken from the German frontier, given competent generals, and placed by the emperor Marcus Aurelius under the nominal command of his colleague Lucius Verus. In 163 the Romans took Armenia and made preparations to invade Parthia. The Romans entered Mesopotamia in 165, taking cities including Nisibis and Dura‐Europos, which they retained following the peace. Mesopotamia's largest city, Seleucia, was sacked, and, after the capture of the Parthian capital (Ctesiphon), peace was agreed. The Romans withdrew without adding a new province to the empire but brought back a disastrous plague.
Keywords
- Armenia,
- Lucius Verus,
- Mesopotamia,
- Parthia,
- plague,
- Romans
Publication Date
April 21, 2017
Editor
Michael Whitby and Harry Sidebottom
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN
9781119099000
DOI
10.1002/9781119099000.wbabat0670
Citation Information
Jonathan P. Roth. "Lucius Verus and the East, 161–165" The Encyclopedia of Ancient Battles (2017) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jonathan_roth/51/