Persia was Rome's principal eastern rival, a persistent adversary against which both Roman and later Byzantine emperors fought recurring, resource-draining wars stretching from at least the third century onward. The Roman emperor Carus sacked the Persian capital in 283 before dying on the Tigris, yet the conflict remained unresolved, and Persia continued to threaten the Byzantine Empire's eastern frontier into the era of Justinian. In 544, recovering from plague, the Persians invaded Byzantine Mesopotamia and extracted 28,000 gold pieces annually to withdraw, representing one of several simultaneous crises straining imperial resources during the Italian campaigns.
What each episode says
Episode 2 (1 mention)
The eastern rival against which Rome fought chronic wars. Carus led an expedition there in 283, sacking the Persian capital, before dying on the banks of the Tigris; Brownworth notes these eastern campaigns were a perpetual drain on Roman resources and attention.
“In 283 Charis decided to go east on one of the Roman Empire's chronic wars with Persia.”
Episode 7 (1 mention)
Rome's ancient eastern enemy, described by Brownworth as always threatening to reignite chronic and inevitable war with the Byzantine Empire. The Persian threat was one of several pressures making the empire's survival look doubtful in the generation before Justinian.
“Enemies were all around, barbarians to the West, and to the East Persia, Rome's ancient”
Episode 9 (1 mention)
The Persians recovered from the plague in 544 and launched an invasion of Byzantine Mesopotamia, extracting 28,000 gold pieces per year to stand down. Brownworth presents the Persian front as one of several simultaneous crises draining the empire during the Italian campaign.
“28,000 gold pieces per year and returned to Persia.”
Episode 10 (5 mentions)
“He had penetrated further into the heart of Persia than any Roman commander before him.”
“Armenia in the Caucasus Mountains, and invade a virtually defenseless Persia.”
“The long, crippling war between Persia and Byzantium had been to the detriment of both.”
Related