Siege of Nisibis (197)

For other uses, see Siege of Nisibis.

Siege of Nisibis (197)
Part of the Campaigns of Septimius Severus
The first panel of the triumphal arch in Rome shows the liberation of Nisibis and the escape of Vologases V (upper right register).
Date 197 Location Nisibis, modern-day Nusaybin, Turkey Result Roman victory [1] [2] Withdrawal of Parthian soldiers [3] [4]
Belligerents
Parthian Empire	Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Vologases V	Julius Laetus [5] [6] [7] Septimius Severus [6]
Strength
Unknown	Legions I, II and III Parthica under Severus [8]

The Siege of Nisibis in 197 was a siege carried out by Vologases V's Parthian army against the garrisoned city commanded by Septimius Severus' lieutenant, Julius Laetus. The city was initially captured by Severus' army in 195. ^[9] The city was besieged by Vologases V and was doomed to fall, ^[6] if not for the defense by Laetus. ^{[6] [7]} Septimius Severus then marches with his men into the city, and quickly liberates it, ^{[1] [2]} the Parthians retreating at the sight of the Roman army. ^[3]

References

1. An Encyclopedia of Battles, p. 112: "He relieved the siege of Nisibis in 197 ..."
2. Guerre partiche (in Italian): "Nuovo assedio di Nisibi. Settimio Severo, dopo essersi assicurato l'appoggio dei re d'Armenia e di Osroene, guida nuovamente le truppe a liberare la città." [New siege of Nisibis. Septimius Severus, after having secured the support of the kings of Armenia and Osroene, leads the troops again to liberate the city.]
3. Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica
4. The Expedition for the Survey of the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris, p. 421: "This city held out till Severus appeared, when the Parthians immediately retreated."
5. Emperor Septimius Severus, p. 157: "... because we later find him in charge of the defence of the city of Nisibis." and p. 158: "Julius Laetus was able to reach the city of Nisibis in 197 before the Parthians put it under siege."
6. Gradoni 2013, p. 10.
7. Gradoni 2013, p. 9.
8. Roman Syria and the Near East, p. 48: "In 197 Severus returned to Syria with three newly raised legions, I, II and III Parthica."
9. Scarre 1995, p. 98.

Sources

• Scarre, Chris (September 1, 1995). The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. London: Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN   01-40-51329-9.

• Gradoni, Mark K. (2013). "The Parthian Campaigns of Septimius Severus: Causes, and Roles in Dynamic Legitimation". American Journal of Ancient History. ISBN   978-1-59333-838-1. ISSN   0362-8914.