Battle of Praaspa

{{Short description|Part of the Roman–Parthian Wars}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Battle of Praaspa

| place = Praaspa, Atropatene

| partof = Antony's Atropatene campaign

| result = Parthian victory{{sfn|Pirnia|Ashtiani|Babaei|2012|p=160}}

| combatant1 = Parthian Empire
Atropatene

| combatant2 = Roman Republic
Kingdom of Armenia
Pontus

| date = 36 BC

| commander2 = Mark Antony
Artavasdes II of Armenia
Polemon I of Pontus{{POW}}

| commander1 = Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene

| image = Mark Antony's campaign in Parthia, 36 BC (hy - հայերեն).png

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Antony's campaign

| casualties1 = Unknown

| casualties2 = 25,000–32,000

}}

{{Template:Campaignbox Antony's Parthian War}}

{{Template:Campaignbox Roman–Persian Wars}}

{{Template:Campaignbox Roman–Parthian Wars}}

The Battle of Praaspa{{efn|Also known as Battle of Phraaspa or Battle of Phraata{{sfn|Minorsky|1991|pp=498–499}}}} was a military Conflict in 36 BC during the Antony's Atropatene campaign. It was organized by the Roman triumvir Mark Antony. The opposing sides were, on the one hand, the Roman Republic and its ally based on the Treaty of Artaxata the Kingdom of Armenia, and on the other hand,the Parthian Empire. By invading Atropatene Mark Antony aimed to use Praaspa as a base to penetrate the Parthian Empire becoming the ruler of the East.

The latter used the provisions of the treaty signed between King from King of Greater Armenia Tigranes the Great and Gnaeus Pompey to achieve his goals, by which, in fact, Armenia was considered "a friend and ally of the Roman nation" Thus Artavasdes II of Armenia who assumed the

legal succession to the Tigranian throne, was obliged to give in to the expansionist ambitions of the Romans.

The battle ended with the defeat of the 100,000-strong Roman legions{{Cite web |title=ARSACIDS ii. The Arsacid dynasty |url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arsacids-ii/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Encyclopaedia Iranica |language=en-US|quote=The Romans under Antony saw an opportunity to attack the Parthians when the latter rejected a peace offer, coupled with a demand to hand back the Roman standards and captives taken at Carrhae, and Antony began the war in 36 BCE. According to Plutarch (Antonius 37.3) he marched with 100,000 men across Armenia to Media.}} Before reaching the battlefield Artavasdes II returned with his troops from Armenia intending to confront the Parthians who had invaded Greater Armenia from the south In order to cover up the reality of the legions defeat,Antony presented it to the Roman Senate as the result of Armenian treachery As a result, the triumvir took revenge on Artavazdes II (by deceiving him and deporting the royal family to Egypt), earning him severe criticism from Romans.