Battle of Samarra(AD 363): Death of Rome's Last Pagan Emperor | Total War Historical Battle

In 363 C., Roman Emperor Julian achieved a remarkable triumph at the Battle of Ctesiphon. The Persian army suffered 2,500 casualties, while the Roman soldiers lost only 70 men. This victory instilled great confidence in the Roman soldiers, who realized that they could defeat the Persians in the field, even with their elephants. The Roman camp was filled with joy as decorations were distributed, He felt assured that the gods were on his side. However, the next day shook his confidence. During the sacrifice of ten bulls, nine of them collapsed and died before reaching the altar, while the tenth one escaped. Even when it was recaptured and sacrificed, its livers showed ominous signs. While a skeptical historian may speculate that someone had poisoned the animals for their own motives, Julian and his followers interpreted this as a sign that their mission was displeasing to the gods. The war council convened amidst the tumultuous events that had transpired. It was tasked with making a crucial decision, whether to lay siege to Ctesiphon or not, and in the event of the latter, what course of action to take. The council was divided on the matter, with the majority opposing a siege on account of the city's formidable fortifications. Moreover, the besiegers would be vulnerable to attack from both King Shapur's army and the city walls. Although Julian's stance on the issue is unknown, he acquiesced to the majority's counsel. Consequently, Ctesiphon was not besieged, and it can be inferred that there was no attempt to depose King Shapur and install his pro-Roman brother as the ruler of Persia. The retreat plan involved a 300-mile march back along the Euphrates to Circassium. In the blazing Mesopotamian summer, Romans didn't have access to their fleet that could help them travel upstream. The soldiers were worried about the long march, but it was possible if they kept the river between themselves and the opposing army. Suddenly, two Persian noblemen arrived at the Roman camp. They had been victims of King Shapur's tyranny, and they wanted to help the Roman soldiers. Their exact commitments to the Roman cause remain ambiguous in contemporary records, though it is posited that they may have offered intelligence on a route to rendezvous with another Roman army south of Armenia, or even proposed guiding Julian's forces deeper into Persia while evading Shapur's pursuit. The boats were burned down since the army wasn't planning to stay by the Euphrates River, and the fleet was useless. Destroying the fleet freed up 20,000 soldiers for other military duties. The soldiers became worried when they saw the smoke from the burning fleet since they realized they wouldn't be returning to the river anytime soon. The Persian deserter's story was suspicious, so they were put to the torture. They admitted that they lied to the Romans and had been disfigured out of loyalty to King Shapur. The orders were given to stop the burning of the fleet, but it was too late. On the initial day of their march, the Romans journeyed through rich, cultivated land located on the left bank of the Tigris. However, the Persians soon began setting fire to crops and grass ahead of them, impeding their progress and threatening them with famine. The Romans were relentlessly bombarded from afar with missile attacks and were occasionally targeted by Persian cavalry raids. The loss of their fleet prevented them from escaping harassment by crossing to the opposite bank of the river. The sight of what appeared to be glistening Persian armor loomed everywhere the Romans turned, leading to a sharp decline in morale. After a meeting of the Council of War, the soldiers wanted to go back the way they came. But Julian and his generals disagreed, as they had destroyed the land themselves, and there was no food for anyone. Additionally, the Euphrates had flooded and made the ground muddy, which would make it difficult to travel. Despite this, they didn't have any other ideas. They even sacrificed people and examined their entrails to try and figure out what to do, whether to go through Mesopotamia or march along the foot of the Zagros Mountains, looting as they went. However, it appeared that neither option would be successful. In the end, they decided to move northward along the foothills, as it was closer to Armenia, and they might be able to connect with the force under Procopius and Arsaces. The way this decision was made suggests that Julian was no longer in control, and was struggling to make up his mind. Whatever happened outside the walls of Ctesiphon had a significant impact on the emperor. On June 16, the army resumed their journey, marching along the left bank of the Tigris River. Throughout their journey, they faced light attacks from the Persians. As the day progressed, a large cloud of dust appeared in the north. Some speculated that it could be a herd of wild asses, which were common in Mesopotamia. However, others were more optimistic and believed that it was the army of Procopius and Arsaces coming to their rescue. On the other hand, some feared that King Shapur had finally caught up with them. Since the situation was unclear, they decided to set up camp for the night, although few could sleep. As the first rays of the morning sun appeared, they discovered that it was indeed the king's army, with rank after rank of glittering armor. It seemed that Shapur had been deceived by Procopius' feigned attack on Armenia and had stayed in the north until it was clear that this was not the main Roman offensive. Alternatively, he may have intended to avoid a direct confrontation with a large Roman army and opted instead to outlast them with attrition, allowing the Mesopotamian summer to take its toll. Finally, he descended from the hills and faced Julian's army. The Romans were positioned between the Tigris River on their left, which they could not cross, and the desert to their right, stretching to the Zagros Mountains, making it impossible to turn the Persian flank on that side. Across a small stream in front of them was Shapur and his army. Although the troops were confident of their ability to defeat the Persians in a regular infantry battle, Julian was cautious and apprehensive of a Persian trap. Skirmishing began between the two sides, and eventually, the Persians withdrew. The Romans emerged victorious, but the only disquieting feature was that the Persians had not bothered to fight. As the Romans moved forward after the battle to a place called Barsiftai, they were constantly harassed by Arabs loyal to the Persians, but the enemy kept their distance from the Roman infantry. The following day, the Romans marched to a vast irrigated estate, where they rested and refreshed themselves for two days. When the Roman soldiers resumed their march on 20 June, they noticed that the main Persian force was nowhere in sight. However, their relief was short-lived when a large group of cavalry suddenly emerged from the low hills and attacked the back of the Roman column. The Roman cavalry quickly responded by spreading out and riding up the valley, posing a threat to the Persian retreat. Eventually, the enemy was forced to pull back, but not before inflicting significant damage on the Roman army. The uncertainty of the situation began to take its toll on the Romans, with various units accusing each other of cowardice. One cavalry group was even publicly shamed and ordered to march on foot with the prisoners and baggage. Additionally, four light infantry officers were demoted. The oppressive heat, swarms of flies, and the knowledge that Shapur was lurking just beyond the hills made the soldiers even more uneasy about their mission. The pace of the march slowed down considerably, as the grass and crops in front of them were continuously burning. Supplies were also running low again. On 21 June, the army only managed to advance less than 10 miles to a place called Marenga, which was approximately 30 miles south of Samura. The soldiers set up camp there, exhausted, frustrated, and anxious about what was to come. As the sun began to rise on the following day, the sentries on duty spotted an enormous Persian army approaching their position. The sight of heavily armored Persian soldiers, their faces hidden by visors, was enough to unsettle even the bravest of Roman soldiers. The sound of the elephants that followed the Persian army only added to the sense of dread. Julian knew that he could not allow himself to be caught off guard by the Persians. If their archers were to get behind the Roman line, it would spell disaster. Although the Persians were better trained and equipped with missile weapons, Julian was confident in the strength and skill of his Roman infantry in close combat. With his army arranged in a wide crescent formation, Julian led his troops to meet the Persians head-on, marching at double speed to reduce the time they were exposed to the enemy's archers. The ensuing battle was brutal and prolonged, with both sides suffering heavy losses. But in the end, the Persians were forced to retreat, leaving countless dead on the battlefield. Despite this victory, the Roman army continued to face ongoing challenges. Supplies remained a persistent concern, and the Persian mounted troops and their Arab allies continued to harass the Roman army relentlessly, draining their strength and resources. From June 23 to 25, the Roman army stayed at Marenga. During that time, they had to bury their dead and tend to their wounded. Food supplies were running low, and all they had to eat was wheat porridge, which was not enough for everyone. Emperor Julian found it hard to sleep at night, and one night he thought he saw the spirit of the Roman people pass through his tent. He also saw a falling star and believed the gods were abandoning him. Before dawn, he called upon the Etruscan Haraspices who practiced divination to seek their advice. They warned him not to engage in battle, but Julian ignored their warning. He was determined to get out of his predicament because he knew that the Persian army could attack his troops at any moment. The Haraspices pleaded with him to delay his departure, but this would have meant marching during the hottest part of the day. On the morning of 26 June, as soon as daylight broke, the army set out towards Samora, not far from the riverbank. However, they were continuously attacked by the Sassanids from the surrounding hills, forcing them to march in battle formation. Julian, who was marching with the advance guard, received news that the rear of the column was under heavy attack. Without even taking the time to put on his heavy breastplate, he rode back to see what he could do to help. On his way, he learned that his left flank was also being attacked by a substantial cavalry force, supported by elephants, and was falling back. Riding up to the battle area, Julian saw his soldiers retreating, causing him to rally them in an attempt to steady the ranks. His presence and example served as a source of inspiration, causing the Persians to fall back. Julian then rushed forward, signaling to his men to follow him. However, his bodyguards got separated from him, and he found himself in the middle of a melee of fleeing Persians. His bodyguards called on him to come back, but he probably didn't hear them. Suddenly, a cavalry spear grazed his arm and pierced his side. He tried instinctively to pull it out, but only succeeded in cutting his hand. A few seconds later, Julian collapsed and fell off his horse. His bodyguards soon rallied around him and took him back for medical treatment, causing the army to stop and pitch camp. Oribesius attended to his imperial patient, and soon Julian felt well enough to call for arms. However, his gesture was empty, as he was too weak to walk, let alone fight. He asked for the name of the place and was told that it was called Phrygia. Julian had once received an oracle that he would meet his fate in Phrygia, and he had always believed that the province of Phrygia in Asia Minor was the place. However, now he realized the true meaning of the oracle and fell silent. As Julian lay dying, another indecisive battle was raging, with heavy losses on both sides. He made a formal deathbed speech, which was in keeping with his character. Julian was always responsive to such demands, and it was what the situation called for. Maximus and Priscus were by Julian's side as he lay dying. They spoke to him about philosophy, possibly discussing the nobility of the soul. However, due to Julian's failing strength and fading lucidity, their conversation was disjointed. Suddenly, Julian's wound burst open, despite Oribesius having previously treated him. He began to bleed heavily and struggled to breathe. Julian requested a drink of cold water, which he was given. He then lay quietly and passed away within a few minutes without speaking another word. He was 32 years old and had ruled as the sole emperor of the Roman Empire for two years. Julian's army faced a challenging situation when they had to elect a new commander to replace Julian. After some discussion, the prefect Seleudius was offered the position, but he declined. The commanders then agreed on Jovian, who led Julian's domestic guard, and whose father had been a general in the same service. The army retreated along the east bank of the Tigris, but they were frequently attacked by the Sassanians. After four days, they stopped at Dura and attempted to build a bridge to cross the river. Unfortunately, their efforts failed, and they found themselves surrounded by the Sassanian army. Jovian realized that their situation was dire. Fortunately, the envoys of Shapur II arrived in his camp and offered peace. Jovian, who had exhausted his provisions during the halt, had no choice but to accept Shapur's humiliating terms in order to save his army and himself from complete destruction. Under the treaty with Shapur, Jovian agreed to a truce of thirty years, a withdrawal from five Roman provinces, namely Arzimena, Moxona, Asbdeisna, Rehimna, and Cordena, and allowed the Sassanians to occupy the fortresses of Nisibis, Castrum Aurorum, and Syngara.