The ancient capital of the Persian Empire, Ctesiphon lay at the strategic heart of successive Roman and Byzantine military ambitions in the east. Julian reached its outskirts in the fourth century but found the city effectively impregnable, winning a battle outside its walls yet unable to take it before being forced to retreat; centuries later, Belisarius was preparing a similar assault when plague halted his campaign. Byzantine forces eventually arrived to find the city deserted, burning what they could not carry away.
Also known as: Testifon
What each episode says
Episode 5 (2 mentions)
The Persian capital that Julian planned to threaten and impose harsh terms upon. When he arrived, half his army had failed to materialize, and a huge Persian army blocked access to the city. Though Julian won a battle outside its walls, the city proved virtually impregnable, forcing his retreat.
“Julian's plan was to threaten the Persian capital of Testifon, and then impose harsh”
“Testifon was virtually impregnable, and Shapur's main army, far larger than the one he had”
Episode 8 (3 mentions)
Ctesiphon is referred to obliquely as the 'Persian capital of Sestafan' in the transcript — the city Belisarius was preparing to assault when the plague broke out and halted his campaign.
Episode 10 (5 mentions)
The ancient capital of the Persians, toward which the Byzantine army pushed after destroying the fire temple, pausing for winter so the Empress Martina could safely deliver a child. The Byzantines later arrived at the Persian capital to find it deserted, burning what they could not take.
Related