Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

134 4 The diplomatic solutions
but that the city would then be returned to its previous masters. 83 This
phase ended while Zeno was emperor. When the Sasanians refused to
hand over the city new disputes arose. The financial loss incurred by
the outstanding taxes remained an issue of contention and were at least
in part responsible for the attitude of the Byzantine emperor Zeno
(474–75/476–91).
The so called ‘Romance of Julian’, written by a monk from Edessa and
generally dubious as a historical source, contains an interesting remark in
this context. 84 The anonymous author states that Jovian agreed to hand
over Nisibis for 100 years and that during this period no Christians were
persecuted in the Sasanian Empire. 85 The two Syriac sources agree that the
clauses of 363 were limited to a fixed period of time. According to Ammianus
Marcellinus the peace was concluded for thirty years. 86 It is possible that
this was intended to be a time span of ‘one generation’ and the expected
lifetime of the Roman emperor Jovian, who in 363 was thirty years old; he
adhered to the terms of the treaty until his death. The discussions regarding
the foedus of 363 that arose during the fifth century illustrate that the time
limit was not simply a diplomatic formula but that it was a real aspect of
the treaty which could indeed cause problems later. 87
In any case, the time limit assigned a somewhat provisional character
to the treaty that had been concluded between Jovian and ˇ Sāpūr II. Its
clauses were not necessarily interpreted as binding and definitive. Given
the territorial losses that Rome suffered, this must undoubtedly be regarded
as a success for Jovian. It would not appear to be justified, and not even
in light of the ceding of Roman territories, to talk about a ‘shameful and
humiliating peace’ for Rome. 88 Although Ammianus Marcellinus tries hard
to criticise the Roman emperor for his wrong behaviour in the year 363, he
does not fail to notice that during the peace negotiations Jovian was above
all interested in securing the release of his troops (pro redemptione nostra).
After Julian’s military catastrophe (8) it must indeed have been Jovian’s
primary goal to see his army withdraw unharmed by Sasanian attacks. 89
He was able to achieve this goal by obligating Rome in the way discussed
above.
83 Ibid. 7; on the questionable historical accuracy of this passage see Luther 1997: 99–101.
84 Luther 1997: 100.
85 Nöldeke 1874: 285; see also ibid.: 284–92 for a detailed summary of the content and critical commentary
(on the basis of Hoffmann 1880 and Wright 1872: no. 918); see also Drijvers 1994: 201–14.
86 Zos. iii.31.1 also mentions a peace of thirty years.
87 Chrysos 1993: 186. 88 Agath. iv.26.7. 89 Cf. Ehling 1996: 186–91.