Trajan's Parthian Campaign
If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this event you can find it here:All Statistics
Was a military campaign by Roman Emperor Trajan in 115 against the Parthian Empire in Mesopotamia.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
January 116: With the beginning of the new war year, the Roman armies crossed the Euphrates from Syria, descended the River Tigris from the Armenian highlands and headed south against Parthia itself. Leaving garrisons in suitable places, Trajan reached Edessa, where he met Abgar VII, king of Osroene, for the first time.
January 117: The Roman commander, having a large abundance of ships and soldiers at his disposal, still managed to cross the river, then taking possession of the whole of Adiabene.
January 115: Trajan marched first on Armenia, deposed the Parthian-appointed king and annexed it to the Roman Empire as a province.
January 116: The Roman armies crossed the Euphrates from Syria, descended the River Tigris from the Armenian highlands and headed south against Parthia itself. Leaving garrisons in suitable places, Emperor Trajan reached Edessa, where he met Abgar VII, king of Osroene, who submitted to Rome.
January 117: After these successes, the Roman Emperor Trajan continued his advance and took possession of Babylon in 116 AD. Trajan visited the palace where Alexander the Great had died, highlighting the historical significance of the city as a major conquest for the Roman Empire.
January 117: Roman Emperor Trajan crossed the Tigris and entered Ctesiphon.
January 117: Characene conquered by Roman Empire.
January 117: At the end of this military campaign, Trajan decided to annex the new territories by creating the two new provinces of Mesopotamia and Assyria. Indeed, if Trajan's establishment of the provinces of Armenia and Mesopotamia is confirmed by the coinage of the period, the actual creation of the province of Assyria is more doubtful.
January 118: Armenia was then ordered into a Roman province by the emperor and remained so until his death (117), when it was abandoned by his successor Adrian. The latter adopted a policy of strengthening the old borders.
January 119: After the death of Trajan, Hadrian preferred to restore the imperial borders back to the Euphrates river.
