Eastern Mediterranean 297: Second Battle of Carrhae

In late 296 war broke out between Sasanian Persia and the Roman Empire. Distracted by a revolt in Egypt in early 297, Diocletian sent Galerius with a reduced force to confront the Persians. Galerius met Shah Narseh in battle between Carrhae and Callinicum, but was heavily defeated.

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? Mar 293–1 May 305 Diocletian’s provincial reform ▲

During his reign, the Roman emperor Diocletian increased the financial efficiency of the provincial governors by dividing up the Roman provinces, until their number had risen from about fifty (in 286) to over one hundred (by 314). This process seems to have started with the breaking of Italy and Hispania Tarraconensis into multiple provinces as early as 293, followed by the separation of Insulae—Rhodes and the Aegean islands—from Asia by August 294. Many other new provinces were introduced in the late 290s and early 300s, although most of the details are now lost. in wikipedia

296–297 Narseh’s Roman campaign ▲

In late 296 war broke out between Sasanian Persia and the Roman Empire. Shah Narseh first invaded the Roman client state in western Armenia, then overran Roman Mesopotamia and Osrhoene. In the spring of 297 he defeated Galerius near Carrhae, but does not appear to have followed through from this victory by advancing beyond the Euphrates. in wikipedia

297? Roman Dioceses ▲

As a result of Diocletian’s reforms, the Roman Empire came to contain over 100 provinces. To facilitate their management, these provinces were grouped together into twelve larger units known as dioceses, with three dioceses for each of the tetrarchs. Each diocese was placed under the authority of a subordinate of the praetorian prefect, known as a vicarius. Most modern historians believe that the dioceses were created in around 296–297, although it is possible that they were introduced as late as 314, during the reign of Constantine. in wikipedia

297–298 Domitius Domitianus and Achilleus ▲

In 297 Domitius Domitianus proclaimed himself emperor in Egypt, probably with the support of the corrector Achilleus (ancient historians talk only of Achilleus whereas surviving coins are only of Domitianus). The rebellion forced Diocletian to leave the Persian campaign in the hands of Galerius while he himself marched south and quickly defeated Domitianus. Diocletian then besieged Achilleus in Alexandria, which finally fell after an eight-month siege. In retribution, Diocletian had the traitors put to death and ordered a massacre of many of the people in the city. in wikipedia

297 Second Battle of Carrhae ▲

As Diocletian was forced to deal with the revolt in Egypt, he sent his Caesar Galerius at the head of a depleted Roman force to confront the Persian invasion of Syria. Galerius engaged the army of Shah Narseh between Callinicus and Carrhae, but the Romans were completely overwhelmed by the superior Persian numbers and fled the battlefield. As a sign of his displeasure at this outcome, Diocletian allegedly made Galerius run alongside his chariot for several miles in his robes, but kept him on as commander. in wikipedia