Defeat of Rome in the East: Crassus, the Parthians, and the Disastrous Battle of Carrhae, 53 BC by Sampson Gareth C

Author:Sampson, Gareth C [Sampson, Gareth C]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: HISTORY / Ancient / Rome
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2012-07-22T16:00:00+00:00

In reality, Crassus and his army were heading along a main caravan route which led towards the Belikh River, a tributary of the Euphrates, which would have been swollen with waters from the Armenian mountains and the winter rains, as would the other rivers of the region. Thus the Roman army was not being misled into heading deep into a waterless desert, as the ancient sources portray. Crassus was sticking close to a major source of water and keeping to the line of fortified towns that had Roman garrisons: Nicephorium, Ichnae, Zenodotium and Carrhae. Once again the surviving sources are looking for reasons for the defeat and a chance to both excuse the disaster and blacken Crassus’ name.

This march took place in May 53 BC, which was the time that Orodes attacked the Armenians and King Artavasdes sent word to Crassus that he was unable to send him any reinforcements. At a similar time the Arab chieftain Ariamnes (or Abgarus) left the Roman camp for reasons we do not know. Plutarch states that it was a desertion before the battle, but perhaps Crassus had simply got tired of him.184 Ahead of them lay the Belikh River and on the other side lay Surenas’ army. It was here that Surenas had decided to make his stand against Crassus’ army. On the 9th June 53 BC Crassus’ scouts ran into Surenas’ force and came off worst. The survivors reported back that contact had been established with the first of the main Parthian armies.

Crassus was again faced with a key tactical decision; whether to camp by the river and wait until the following day before trying to give battle, or strike that very day. Crassus chose to strike whilst he could. Orders were given for his men to freshen up by the river and take a quick meal and then it was off in search of Surenas’ army. The two armies found each other on the plains of Carrhae on the afternoon of that day. The first full scale battle between the Romans and the Parthians was about to begin.

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