At the Battle of Edessa (modern Urfa, Turkey), Shapur I captured Emperor Valerian along with 70,000 Roman soldiers. This was the first time in history a Roman Emperor was captured alive—a humiliation Rome never forgot.
Fun Facts
Shapur immortalized this victory in three rock reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam, Bishapur, and Naqsh-e Rajab. In one, Valerian kneels while Shapur sits mounted on horseback. Some sources claim Shapur used Valerian as a footstool when mounting his horse! Roman prisoners built the Shushtar dam and Dezful bridge.
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Fall of Babylon to Persian Army
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