Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

26 2 A chronological survey
His successor Carus (282–3) was proclaimed emperor with the explicit
goal of destroying the Persian Empire. 37 This may be literary fiction but
Carus translated into action a long-planned military offensive against the
Sasanians. The Roman army invaded Mesopotamia and did not meet any
Persian resistance. 38 Internal unrest during the reign of Bahrām II (276–93)
may have favoured the successful advance and capture of Ktēsiphōn. 39 This
was the only time ever that the Romans captured the Persian capital, which
to some extent made up for the humiliation Rome had suffered in 260. Not
surprisingly, Carus also adopted the titles Persicus maximus and Parthicus
in order to display his success over the Eastern rival. 40
Carus’ sudden death prevented Rome from further advances. In the
Historia Augusta we read that he was struck by lightning while in his
camp at the Tigris. No Roman emperor was destined to advance beyond
Ktēsiphōn. 41 According to the words of this so-called ‘Ktēsiphōn oracle’
Carus died because he did not abide by an oracular prophecy that anybody
who tried to conquer the Persian capital would be punished. Rome’s cautious
dealings with Persia were thus expressed not only in political terms
but also as a motif in the realm of myth and fiction. Carus’ successor,
Numerianus (283–4), withdrew his army immediately and without even
negotiating for a peace. 42 The campaign thus had no consequences for the
Sasanians. Rome was not able to use the prestigious victory over Bahrām II
and did not gain any territory in the long term. The latent state of war and
the unsettled situation along the frontiers that had existed already before
Carus’ Persian campaign continued. 43
Too many unresolved issues prevented a formal peace or agreement
regarding the frontiers, and this did not change until the Roman emperor
Diocletian (284–305) consolidated his rule and returned to the East in 286.
Immediately, he started to reorganise Roman rule and the defence system
along the frontier, a development which caused Sasanian concern. In the
year 287 Bahrām II sent ambassadors to Diocletian in order to negotiate for
a peace treaty. 44 Apparently the negotiations were successful and a peace
was concluded without any territory changing hands. Diocletian was satisfied
that the Sasanian king respected the existing Eastern frontier and in
37 Anonymus post Dionem, frg. 12 (FHG iv 198).
38 SHA Car. 8.1; Aur. Vict. Caes. 38.2–3; Eutr. ix.18.1; Fest. 24.
39 SHA Car. 8.1; Pan. Lat. xi (iii) 17.2 (p. 268, rec. Mynors).
40 CIL viii 12522 (= ILS 600); IGRR i 1144.
41 SHA Car. 9.1; in this context see Kerler 1970: 263–4.
42 Aur. Vict. Caes. 38.6.
43 For the Persian campaign of the emperor Carus see Winter 1988: 130–7.
44 Pan. Lat. x (ii) 7.5; 9.2.