Eastern Mediterranean 283: Carus’ Persian campaign

In late 282 Probus was assassinated and succeeded by Carus. Learning that the Persians were in civil war, Carus rushed east with his army, placing his son Carinus in charge of the West. Carus’ invasion of Persia proved to be a great success—that is, until he fell ill and was apparently struck dead by lightning in the summer of 283.

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Main Events

281?–285? Hormizd of Sakastan ▲

In the early 280s full-scale civil war broke out in Sasanian Persia when Shah Bahram II’s cousin and brother-in-law, Hormizd, revolted in Sakastan and gained support in the eastern provinces as far west as Gilan. This Hormizd also seems to have been aligned with Bahram’s brother, another Hormizd, who had rebelled a few years earlier as the shah of the Kushano-Sasanians. Although Bahram’s initial moves against the Hormizd of Sakastan were disrupted when the Romans invaded Persia in 283, he eventually defeated and executed the usurper, and appointed his own son Bahram III as governor of Sakastan. in wikipedia

Aug–Sep 282 Overthrow of Probus ▲

In around August 282 the Roman army in Raetia revolted and proclaimed the praetorian prefect Carus as emperor. Allegedly Carus was reluctant and tried to warn Probus, but when Probus sent troops to deal with the situation they defected to the rebels. Meanwhile, in Sirmium, Probus’ remaining forces—angered at being forced to work on land improvement—turned against him, chased him into an iron tower, and killed him. Carus had the assassins executed, then curtly informed the Senate that he was now emperor. in wikipedia

283 Elevation of Carinus ▲

In early 283 Carus appointed his eldest son Carinus as co-emperor and ruler in the West, so that he and his other son Numerian could march against Persia. Although Carinus dealt successfully with some incursions on the Danube, he was generally accused by ancient historians—no doubt at least partially under the influence of Diocletian’s later propaganda—of spending his time in Rome, indulging in cruelty and decadence. in wikipedia

283 Carus’ Persian campaign ▲

Having learned that Persia was in civil war in late 282, Carus marched rapidly to the East and invaded Mesopotamia via Armenia in spring 283. The Romans successfully stormed Ctesiphon and Seleucia but, in around July 283, Carus fell ill. The emperor was found dead some days later, apparently after lightning had struck his tent, prompting his son Numerian to abandon the campaign. in wikipedia