Carrhae (53 BC)

Along with Pompey and Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus formed the secret “Triumvirate” which all but controlled Rome. Reputedly the richest man in Rome, Crassus lacked any great military achievement to compare with Caesar’s conquest of Gaul and Pompey’s many …

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Along with Pompey and Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus formed the secret “Triumvirate” which all but controlled Rome. Reputedly the richest man in Rome, Crassus lacked any great military achievement to compare with Caesar’s conquest of Gaul and Pompey’s many exploits. An ambitious man, Crassus saw the conquest of the Parthian Empire as his opportunity to match or surpass his colleagues in glory. Crassus arrived in Syria with seven legions and 4000 cavalry and marched directly through the desert towards the Parthian heartland. Shortly after crossing the Euphrates, his army was surprised near Carrhae by the Parthian general Surena and a cavalry force made up of horse archers and cataphracts. Crassus formed his men into an open square, but Surena made no effort to close, content to harass the Romans with a hail of arrows. Crassus and his officers believed they had only to hold out until the horse archers expended the small number of shafts they could carry with them. However, Surena had brought along a camel train with a huge re-supply of arrows. Crassus sent his son Publius forward with the Roman cavalry to pin down the horse archers but the Parthians fell back. Publius rashly pursued too far and Surena annihilated his force. Publius’ head was carried back to the Romans upon a spear to taunt his father. This broke the spirit of Crassus and the Roman soldiers, throats cracking with thirst, were overwhelmed. Crassus withdrew with a mere 500 survivors westward when the Parthians retired for the night. During negotiations following the fight, Crassus was treacherously captured. Surena had heard that the Roman commander thirsted for wealth, so he had Crassus executed by pouring molten gold down his throat. Most of the legionary eagles were captured by the Parthians, a disgrace that would rankle the Romans for years to come.

Carrhae, Turkey

The Battle of Carrhae was fought in 53 BC between the Roman Republic and the Parthian Empire near the ancient town of Carrhae. The Parthian general Surena decisively defeated a Roman invasion force under the command of Marcus Licinius Crassus, who died at the battle. It is commonly seen as one of the earliest and most important battles between the Roman and Parthian Empires and one of the most crushing defeats in Roman history. According to the poet Ovid in Book 6 of his poem Fasti, the battle occurred on the 9th day of June.

Wikipedia: Battle of Carrhae

Parthian

Roman

Roman Persian Wars