James Baquet We’ve seen several episodes from the wars between Greece and Persia, but the later Roman Empire also got entangled with that empire to the east. Julian II, remembered as Julian the Apostate for rejecting Christianity, reigned from 331-363 – the latter date being the year he died in the Perso-Roman War of 363, also called “Julian’s Persian War.” As Western Emperor, Julian had conducted numerous successful campaigns against Germanic tribes. But his assault on the Sassanid Empire of Persia had a very different result. The Persian King Shapur II (yet another leader styled “the Great”) had invaded the Roman Empire’s eastern borders. Julian rejected Shapur’s proposed negotiations, intending to punish him for his transgressions by putting Shapur’s brother-in-law Hormizd on Shapur’s throne. Julian laid the groundwork for what appeared to be an invasion from the north, down the Tigris River. He did indeed send some forces to the upper Tigris, but his main army traveled to the lower reaches of the Euphrates and then up that river toward Ctesiphon, the Persian capital, accompanied by his fleet. Shapur had not expected an attack from the south, and Julian was largely successful in the early part of the campaign. The first attack on Ctesiphon went well, with only 70 Roman casualties as opposed to the Persians’ 2,500. But Julian’s reinforcements did not arrive from the north, and the walls of Ctesiphon held firm. At last, he gave up the siege and marched further north into Persia, to face Shapur’s army in the field. But first, he burned his fleet. It could not navigate further upriver, and he did not want it to fall into Persian hands. Nevertheless, it was a questionable move at best. Shapur, meanwhile, destroyed supplies ahead of the Romans’ march, and local guides led Julian’s army astray until they were dangerously short of provisions. At last, Julian called a retreat. But on July 26, 363, Julian’s army was ambushed from all sides. Having removed his armor due to the heat, Julian was vulnerable to the arrow that took his life that day. His successor, Jovian, was elevated in the field, and was forced to surrender under ignominious terms about a week later. Vocabulary: Which word above means: 1. offenses; violations 2. toward the source 3. susceptible to injury 4. of doubtful value 5. section nearer the sea 6. one who rejects his religion 7. away from the right path 8. humiliating 9. sail 10. tied up in | 