Eastern Mediterranean 166: Lucius Verus’ Parthian War
Lucius Verus’ Parthian War
spr 166 Lucius Verus’ Parthian War
3 May 175 Avidius Cassius’ Revolt
19 Apr 193 Year of Five Emperors
31 Mar 194 Second Battle of Issus
late 195 Annexation of Osroene
198 Severan Mesopotamia
sum 216 Caracalla’s Parthian Campaign
8 Jun 218 Macrinus and Elagabalus
sum 231 First Roman–Persian War
spr 232 Revolt of Taurinius
Hadrian was succeeded by Antoninus Pius (138–161), whose peaceful reign was followed by that of the militarily-inexperienced co-emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Seizing advantage of the situation, a resurgent Parthia invaded and occupied Armenia, defeating Roman legions sent from Cappadocia and Syria. Verus traveled to Syria to deal with the Parthian threat in 162, but left the conduct of the war entirely in the hands of his generals. Roman forces retook Armenia the next year then, after a fight over Osroene, invaded the Parthian Empire itself in 165. Despite sacking the capital Ctesiphon, the Roman campaign was called off in mid-166 following the outbreak of plague among the legions.