Roman Emperor Captured and Slaved

For a long time, the Roman Empire stood on the world stage as one of the greatest empires in history. However this glorious empire faced various crises and threats over time. Here is the story of Valerianus, one of the most challenging periods in the history of the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire has been ruled by many different emperors throughout its history. However this period, called the 3rd century crisis, marks a period of frequent changes of emperors and a lack of political stabilty. In addition, disasters such as famine and plague hit Rome during this period, the empire’s economy weakened and territory began to crumble.

During this period there were powerful rivals threatening Rome on many fronts. In the east, the Sassanid Empire attacked roman territory and, under the leadership of King Shapur I of Persia, conquered Syria and eastern Anatolia. In the west, the Roman Empire had to deal with internal rebellions and tribes such as the Goths raided Roman territory from the north.

Valerianus become the head of the Roman Empire during this complicated period. But the situation was so complicated that the emperor had to split his army in two. He sent his son Gallienus to the west to put down the rebellions in Gaul. He himself decided to fight against the Persians in the east. Valerianus was initially successful against the Persians in the east. However, this victory was short-lived. The Persian King Shapur I forced the Roman army to retreat to the fortress of Edessa. It was here that Valerianus made an unfortunate decision that afected the fate of the Roman Empire. While the Roman army was struggling with plague and starvation in Edessa Castle, the Persians laid siege. In desperation, Valerianus decided to send an offer to make peace with the Persian King Shapur I. An area for peace talks was designated and the Emperor decided to go there. But of course, things did not go as planned. During the peace talks, Valerianus fell into the trap of the Persian King Shapur I and was taken prisoner.

Valerianus’ captivity was a rare event in history. However, the Persian King Shapur I did not hesitate to use Valerianus as a slave. He persecuted and humiliated him. The capture of an emperor is not a rare event in history. However, as we are used to, great rulers usually treated their opponents well and did not persecute them because they were their equals. However, the Persian King Shapur I showed no mercy towards the Roman Emperor Valerianus, using him as a slave or servant and subjecting him to a series of humiliating and degrading acts after he was captured.

The King of Persia persecuted Valerianus to the extent that he used the Roman Emperor as a footstool even when Valerianus was riding his horse, chained Valerianus like a dog and carried him everywhere as a monument of victory. Valerianus lived a miserable life of captivity and Roman historians have put forward different claims about his death.

According to the first claim, Valerianus said that he would give Shapur as much gold as he wished in exchange for his freedom, but was executed by pouring molten gold into his mouth by the angry Persian King. According to the other claim, Shapur used Valerianus as a servant for a while, then skinned him and displayed him for a long time in the Persian temple as a monument symbolizing his victory. Either way, Valerianus died in a manner unbecoming of a Roman Emperor.

The Sassanid army on the other hand, looted as far as Konya and then retreated. Interestingly, Valerian’s son on the western front was Gallienus, who kept his father’s captivity a secret for a year and took no steps to rescue him. A year later, he proclaimed himself ruler.

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