Days of resurrection

Days of resurrection. Parthians take over from the Greeks.

Rustam Pahlav Suren and the battle of Carrhae.53 B.C

Roman General Crassus amassed riches, resources, fortune,

Preying on people’s misery, adversity, affliction, mis-fortune.

Possessed pitiless, cruel, heartless, ruthless, merciless traits,

Acquiring benefit, profit from people in anguish, dire straits.

Whenever in Rome houses were consumed by frequent fires,

He’d for pennies buy them, those neighbors no longer desire.

Many killed, much plundered, when Sylla’d conquered Rome,

Crassus, his willing partner in crime, took over many a home.

Rustam Pahlav-Suren was from a family of prestige, renown,

For honour, courage, bravery, gallantry, heroism well known.

King Hyrodes, by his brother, Mihrdad, banished, replaced,

Suren restored his sovereignty, the crown, his head, placed.

Crassus had seven legions with 4,000 cavalry, 32,000 men,

1000 armoured lancers, 9000 horse-archers, Suren’s men.

Numerically inferior Persians in quality, weapons, superior,

Their spears longer, stronger, bows, arrows, much superior.

Roman armour, shield no match, penetrated by their arrows,

Turning skillfully in saddle on riding away, to shoot arrows.

Cataphracti, armoured cavalry, lancer, archer Iran created,

Havoc, devastation, destruction among the enemies created.

Marcus Licinius crassus born in 115 B.C was a Roman General, who rose to become a consul after crushing the slave revolt of Spartacus. he ruled rome along with caesar and pompey. he became incredibly rich as a result of many questionable, unscrupulous, crafty financial transactions such as buying wooden homes damaged by conflagration, he may have been responsible for. he took over the governorship of roman syria. he could have lived a comfortable life if he hadn't vainly desired to match military success of caesar and pompey. Assisted by armenian king artavazdes ii's 40,000 men, CRASSSUS crossed the euphrates into parthian MESOPOTAMIA, seeking wealth AND glory. his adversary COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE DISSIMILAR. born in 84 b.c.rustam suren pahlav WAS THE son of arash and massis, scion of a distinguished family. HE HAD exceptional strength and courage. he HAD restored the kingship to hyrodes, who had been dispossessed by his brother mihrdad.

Arab chief, Ariamnes, oddly Crassus’ camp himself showed,

Professing friendship, he some past favour to Pompey owed.

Suren through guileful, cunning, Ariamnes, opportunity saw,

Romans away from secure river, hills, into open desert draw.

Ariamnes with much cunning, Crassus’d, mislead, misguide,

Before Persian king, Hyrodes, should to support Suren ride.

Crassus, without reluctance, postponement should pursue,

Persians, discouraged disheartened, was Ariamnes’ view.

Hyrodes punished Armenia, attacked, assailed, waste laid,

For vengeance, Artavasdes, having provided Romans, aid.

Rustam Pahlav Suren, no means ordinary, run-of-the-mill,

Blessed handsome, great physical strength, weapons’ skill.

Cunning, ingenuity, craftiness, shrewdness, war could call,

Intrepid, courageous, fearless, first scaled Seleucia’s wall.

Hyrodes, to Suren was indebted, obligated, honour-bound,

From exile, sent by brother, Suren returned him, crowned.

Suren’s retinue, thousand camels, guard of thousand men,

Two hundred chariots and another ten-thousand horsemen.

Ariamnes drew Romans from river, vast plains, waterless,

Not a tree or shade, deep sand clutched their feet, endless,

Unwelcome news, Hyrodes’ attack on Armenians’d come,

Who could no longer, to support, stand by Romans, come.

Suren had himself led the successful assault on the walls of Seleucia for Hyrodes. ariamnes, the arab chief of edessa was in the pay of suren and he was entrusted with the crucial task of leading the romans astray in the unforgiving desert. although the romans had superior numbers, they were ill equipped for the challenge at hand. their lighter armour could be penetrated by the parthian arrows shot from their double bows. suren importantly had camels loaded with additional arrows, parthian lances were longer, stouter than the roman javelins. the romans, not used to the desert conditions had unwisely embarked on a campaign in june. crassus had foolishly disregarded the advice of the armenian king to advance through the armenian mountains, where they would be safe, secure from cavalry attack, preferring to add romans garrisoned in mesopotamia to enlarge his force and crossing the euphrates at zeugma. ariamnes led romans away from the river into the hostile desert and made good his escape.

Legionnaires, now, Ariamnes ranted, cursed, abused, berated,

Moaned about charm that had Crassus bewitched, captivated.

Ariamnes reassured them, castigation accepted for their state,

Saying he’d sow anarchy in enemy, abandoned them, their fate.

Rustam Pahlav Suren’s abilities, Crassus disregarded at peril.

Around in the Roman camp, indications, portents, omens, ill.

Crassus emerged, black, not scarlet robe, he’d hastily replace,

Eagle standards, immobile, would not move from their place.

Unwelcome news, slaying of the scouts, apprehended, caught,

Rustam Suren’s entire Persian army, close proximity brought.

On Cassius’ advice, squares of 12 cohorts, soldiers, he placed,

Cassius, Crassus, his son flanks led, vanguard cavalry placed.

Reaching, small river, Ballissus, after heat greatly welcome,

Commanders advised rest,night, battle next day would come.

His son’s enthusiasm, impatience, zeal, Crassus, swept away.

Crassus let men eat, drink, standing, rushed them, their way.

Ominous, sinister hollow sound, war drums began, beat away,

Suren hid men's armour with coats, skins, suddenly cast away.

Romans survived, defied Parthian charge, who galloped away,

From distance, encircled Roman squares let the arrows away.

Parthians riding back, on horses, turned, their arrows shot.

Surrounded Romans under the shower of arrows a sorry lot.

Deadly penetration, destruction caused by Parthian arrows,

Worryingly, Parthians' inexhaustible camel loads of arrows.

The LEGGIONAIRRES CURSED ARIAMNES FOR HIS ILL ADVICE. ARIAMNES WOULD ACCEPT THEIR CURSES GLADLY AND AT AN OPPORTUNE MOMENT, SAYING HE WOULD GO AND MISLEAD,DECEIVE THE PARTHIANS, VANISHED, LEAVING THE ROMANS TO THEIR OWN DEVICES. THE SIGNS WERE ILL IN THE ROMAN CAMP. WHEN CRASSUS STEPPED OUT FROM HIS TENT, HE HAD MISTAKENLY WORN A BLACK ROBE. SWIFTLY HE WOULD CHANGE THIS TO THE SCARLET ONE BUT THE MEN WOULD BE DISTRESSED AND AFFECTED. THE EAGLE STANDARDS REFUSED TO MOVE FROM THEIR PLACES. SOME SCOUTS HAD BROUGHT NEWS THAT SUREN'S MAIN ARMY WAS CLOSEBY. FEW OF THEIR NUMBER HAD BEEN CAUGHT AND HAD LOST THEIR LIVES. CRASSUS PLACED THE MEN IN SQUARES, CASSIUS AND PUBLIUS WOULD LEAD A FLANK AND THE CAVALRY WOULD REMAIN IN FRONT. PARTHIAN HOLLOW DRUMS STARTED TO BEAT, A HAUNTING, MENACING, HOLLOW SOUND. parthians now uncovered their armour, steel glittering, giant intimidating figure of suren led the charge. following mailed archers now let loose their abundant arrows. roman losses were numerous THE PARTHIANS WOULD EXPERTLY TURN IN SADDLE AND SHOOT WHILE RETREATING.

Crassus messaged to his son, Publius, Parthians, charge,

1,000 Caesar’s cavalry,500 archers,8 cohorts, his charge.

Parthians tactically, shrewdly started retreat, withdraw,

Pursuing Romans, they would into the marshlands draw.

Publius, his cavalry, by hopes of victory was carried away,

Parthians rode around, in clouds of sand, let arrows away.

Legionanaires thus perished, arrows tore their flesh away.

Hands stuck, shield, feet, ground, couldn’t fight, run away.

Romans pulled Parthian riders off horses,Publius charged.

Parthian armour, spears stronger, now arrows discharged.

Publius grievously wounded, was a sandy elevation taken,

His impaled arm was no further use, had an arrow taken.

Opened armour, asked armour bearer to run in his sword.

Censorinus, Megabacchus, others fell by their own sword.

Rest were in fighting killed, five hundred prisoners taken,

Publius' cut off head of was for Crassus to observe taken.

With Publius’ cut head carried upon the point of a spear,

Enquired about his parents, family as they rode up near,

Such a brave, courageous man, hero, to them was clear,

Couldn’t be a son of gutless, craven, Crassus, full of fear.

The Romans now disheartened, discouraged, dismayed,

Macabre sight’d filled them, a sense of foreboding dread.

Crassus' brave but impulsive,reckless son publius led a counter attack with 1300 horse, 500 archers and 4,000 infantry. the parthians slyly retreated drawing the heedless charging romans behind them. when they were removed,separated from the main body, they were surrounded and arrows rained on them. the romans were isolated on a raised area by the charging parthian cataphracts. when all hope faded, valiant publius asked his shield bearer to run his sword through him. censorius and megabacchus fell similarly. a few hundred men were taken prisoner and the cut off head of publius was exhibited by the parthians to crassus. THEY insultingly asked the ROMANS, how the father of such a fine, brave man could be the craven coward crassus. the attack on the remaining romans was relentless till nightfall. AT THE SIGHT OF PUBLIUS' HEAD ON THE POINT OF A SPEAR THE ROMANS WERE DEMORALIZED, DISPIRITED AND DISMAYED.

Parthians riding about, rained their arrows, after coming near,

Two men could be run through by their stronger, longer spear.

The warring soldiers in the camps were separated by the night

Parthians said to mourn his son, they’d give Crassus the night,

Romans neither tended wounded, buried their dead, that night,

Octavius, Cassius, decided it was better to fly, escape at night.

Suren detected, but interfered not with Romans escaping night,

Waited for dawn, put to sword, ones, came across at first light.

Varguntinus, four cohorts, from main army had broken away;

Parthians surrounded them, most slain on hill, on their way,

Admiring their bravery, Persians opened ranks, stood away,

Varguntinus,twenty men, Carrhae, were allowed to go away.

Suren got news, Crassus wasn’t at Carrhae, had taken flight

Seek him, the desert or besiege Carrhae, his dilemma, plight.

Peace offer through Arabs familiar to Crassus, Carrhae sent,

Suren’d give a safe passage if they from Mesopotamia went.

Cassius time, place, meeting demanded, acceptance voiced,

Big prize Crassus could be had, Arabs told Suren, rejoiced.

Rude demand, Crassus, Cassius chained, Suren appeared,

Men advised him fly, hope of Armenian help, disappeared.

Crassus, fatefully as guide, deceitful, Andromachus chose,

Led them astray into swamp, ditch, all night, until Sun rose.

Cassius, realizing deceit, towards Syria with 500 horse left,

Valiant Octavius with 5,000 for mountains of Sinnacea left.

THE PARTHIANS HAD A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF ARROWS. THEIR LONG SPEARS COULD RUN THROUGH TWO MEN.the romans spent a miserable night, dreading the prospect of dawn. THE officers octavius, cassius decided escape to the hills was the only resort. the cries of wounded left behind would reveal their flight. SUREN LEFT THEM ALONE AT NIGHT. the column of 2,000 men led by varguntius lost their way in the dark and were found by the parthians in the morning. they fought with exceptional courage,VALOUR. suren recognizing, ADMIRING this opened ranks to let the survivors pass towards carrhae. since carrhae had scant supplies to fEed a large body of men, they decided to break out towards the safety of the NEARBY mountains. fatefully crassus had chosen andromachus, who also was in suren's pay as their guide . crassus was led on a long march in the darkness and was a mile from them when dawn broke. cassius and octavius had left separately. octavius with his 500 men rode back to make a stand with the main body of crassus when he found out that suren was at hand. suren now sent a peace offer through arabs. they would be allowed to leave mesopotamia. romans readily accepted as hopes of armenian help had disappeared

Octavius, Petronius’d Crassus accompany down hill to meet,

Suren, who from his saddle, decorously would Crassus greet.

A Roman commander on foot, while I am mounted,” he said,

“We both follow customs of our own nations,”Crassus said.

“You will go, the river, sign truce with my master the king”,

Motioned a groom, elegant horse with gold trappings, bring.

Saddle of the exquisite horse, Crassus, forcibly placed upon,

Grooms, running besides it struck horse’s side, to spur it on.

Octavius, Petronius, holding bridle, restrain the horse tried,

Contrarily grooms, make it gallop, take Crassus ahead tried.

Pushing, shoving, to disarray, disorder, turmoil, descended,

Octavius, his sword, killed a groom, another, his life ended.

Crassus, in the chaos was by Parthian, Pomaxathres, killed.

Few Romans escaped, others by Arabs hunted down, killed.

10,000 Romans were taken prisoner, 20,000 in all, killed.

Crassus’ head, hand, sent, Hyrodes, prove he’d been killed.

Not from wound sustained, javelin, arrow, sword Suren died,

But jealousy, envy, betrayal, disloyalty, perfidy, Suren died.

Not at hands of the Roman, Greek, legionnaires, Suren died

Those of the deceitful Persian, he crowned king, Suren died.

3 long centuries, Suren Pahlavs had vengeance, retribution,

Against Parthians, for Ardeshir, made crucial contribution.

suren's king hyrodes had laid armenia waste.when suren rode up to offer parley, truce, crassus had no alternative but to accept, Suren is beleived to have unstrung his bow and opened his palm in a gesture of peace. crassus and octavius were taken down to the river to meet suren for the signing of the peace document. octavius suspected foul play and drew his sword to kill one of the grooms leading his horse by the bridle. then a scuffle broke out and crassus was killed. the romans lost some 20,000 dead and 10,000 were taken away as prisoners to be settled in Margiana. the fearless general rustam pahlav suren died not in battle but by the hands of the treacherous king hyrodes he served, the house of suren pahlavs did not forget, forgive this disloyalty, betrayal. they exacted their just revenge three centuries later when they stood with ardeshir papakan against the parthians.

ROMAN EMPEROR JULIAN'S INVASION OF IRAN. MARCH-JUNE. 363.A.D

Emperor Julian, energetic, brave, vain, immature, ambitious,

Possessing attitude, bold, bordering on reckless, audacious.

Desired, greater fame, acclaim’n predecessors, pretentious,

To subjugate Iranians, launched an attack, cruel, predacious,

Looting, plundering, settlements by Euphrates, quite vicious.

Reached gates of Ctesiphon, considering himself, victorious,

Regrettably faced, Shapur shrewd, wise, sensible, judicious.

From Roman border, he’d, without restraint, hindrance raced,

Sahpur’s huge army, worryingly, had not, for battle, surfaced.

No great loss of men, big towns, Persians suffered, endured,

Far from his secure border, forts, Julian’d been drawn, lured.

Doubts set in, his determination, conviction, resolve, shaken,

Feared, lost courage, great city, Ctesiphon couldn’t be taken.

Euphrates’ farms looted, food stores, lowered, disadvantage,

Shapur’s attack imminent, retreat, while they had advantage.

So looting Tigris’ farmlands, disilusioned, Romans, withdrew,

Shapur’s son’s men, perilously, resolutely, gravely, near drew,

Each passing day, made Romans, weaker, wearier, he knew.

Time was with him, intuitive, perceptive, sharp,Shapur knew,

Julian’s despondency, despair, dismay, anxiety, gloom, grew,

Samara, Shapur, men at dispirited, dejected, Romans, threw.

Romans forced, beat, undignified, shameful, ignoble, retreat,

Shapur’s army had dealt them a decisive, disastrous, defeat.

Emperor Julian, himself killed, his chest impaled, by a spear,

Roman hopes of a dignified, honourable, peace’d disappear.

Jovian his successor, with Emperor’s death, came to terms,

For peace, Shapur’d offered, disgraceful, humiliating terms.

Nisibis, Sangara, provices east of Tigris, were surrendered,

Armenia, Roman military backing would never be rendered

Defeated Romans retreated, west of Dura, unhindered,

Even food, provisions, to them, the Persians rendered.

Ended Julian’s hubristic, ill fated, Persian misadventure,

For generations, this far, Romans, would never venture.

ROMAN EMPEROR JULIAN WAS A BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, VAIN AMBITIOUS MAN, SEEKING BOTH GLORY AND WEALTH, WHICH LED HIM TO HIS INVASION OF PERSIA IN MARCH 363. A.D TO DECEIVE SHAPUR II, THE PERSIAN KING, HE HAD SENT SOME OF HIS MEN TO HIS ARMENIAN ALLY ARSHAK II , WHILE HE HIMSELF SAILED DOWN THE RIVER EUPHRATES WITH THE BULK OF HIS TROOPS.RUTHLESSLY,VICIOUSLY BURNING, DESTROYING ALL THE PERSIAN TOWNS HE HAD ENCOUNTERED ON THE WAY, HE REACHED WALLS OF CTESIPHON, SHAPUR'S CAPITAL WITH SURPRISING EASE AND WITH FEW CASUALTIES AS SHAPUR HAD AVOIDED ANY FIERCE CONFRONTATION. INSTEAD HE HAD EMPLOYED A SCORCHED EARTH POLICY TO DENY THE ROMANS ANY SUPPLIES.JULIAN WON A MINOR VICTORY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY BUT SOON REALIZED THAT HE LACKED THE RESOURCES TO LAY A SUCCESSFUL SIEGE TO IT. HE BURNT HIS BOATS AND CARRYING 20 DAYS SUPPLIES STARTED TO MARCH INLAND, HE WAS FORCED TO RETREAT NORTH TOWARDS SAMARRA. SHAPUR NOW REALIZED THE TIME WAS RIPE TO HARASS AND ASSAULT. SHAPUR APPEARED WITH ALL HIS FORCES AND BEGAN INCESSANT, UNREMITTING, UNRELENTING ATTACKS ON THE RETREATING ROMAN COLUMNS.ON THE 26TH OF JULY 363.DURING ONE OF THESE ATTACKS BY ELEPHANTS AND HEAVY CAVALRY, JULIAN WAS TRYING TO PREVENT HIS LEFT FLANK FROM COLLAPSING, JULIAN HADN'T TIME TO EVEN PUT ON HIS ARMOUR. HE WAS PIERCED IN THE CHEST BY A SPEAR. HE WAS CARRIED UNCONSCIOUS TO HIS TENT AND AND BY NIGHTFALL HAD PASSED. HIS HASTILY CHOSEN SUCCESSOR JOVIAN WOULD ACCEPT MORTIFYING, SHAMEFUL, HUMILIATING TERMS FOR SAFE PASSAGE FROM MESOPOTAMIA INCLUDING THE SURRENDER OF ROMAN TOWNS OF NISIBIS, ANTIOCH, SANGARA, PROVINCES EAST OF THE TIGRIS AND FOREGOING, RELINQUISHING ROMAN INTERESTS IN ARMENIA, WHICH SHAPUR WOULD SOON ANNEX. THIS WAS THE LAST ROMAN CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA. IT WAS FUTILE AND CAME TO GRIEF DESPITE THE PERSONAL VALOUR, GALLANTRY AUDACITY OF EMPEROR JULIAN. HE HAD CERTAINLY UNDERESTIMATED, MISJUDGED THE RESOLVE, TENACITY, PERSEVERANCE, GUILE, CUNNING AND METTLE OF THE MAN HE WAS FACING, SHAPUR II.

Rustam Pahlav Suren. Muzay Bastan. Sacred h\Hamun mountain, Oshida lake and castle Zabol. courtesy: Behrad Nafissi Mistry

Days of resurrection. Parthians take over from the Greeks.

Shapur the second, 2,3. inscription at Kermanshah shows Shapur II not Ardeshir. 4. Niavaran palace. Tehran

ROMAN EMPEROR JULIAN'S INVASION OF IRAN. MARCH-JUNE. 363.A.D