Siege of Singara (360)
{{Short description|360 siege}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Singara
| partof = the Perso-Roman wars of 337–361
| date = 360
| place = Singara, Mesopotamia
| result = Sasanian victory{{sfn|Whitby|2007|page=316}}{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=206}}{{sfn|Lieu|2006}}
| combatant1 = Roman Empire
| combatant2 = Sasanian Empire
| commander1 = Constantius II
| commander2 = Shapur II
| strength1 = Legio I Parthica
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Perso-Roman wars of 337–361}}
{{Campaignbox Roman-Persian Wars}}
{{Template:Campaignbox Roman–Sassanid Wars}}
}}
The siege of Singara took place in 360, when the Sasanian Empire, under Shapur II, besieged the town of Singara, held by the Roman Empire.{{sfn|Whitby|2007|page=316}} The Sasanians successfully captured the town from the Romans.{{sfn|Whitby|2007|page=316}}
Siege
The fortifications of Singara—including its moat, both outer and inner walls, and projecting towers—clearly reflected the style of late Roman and early Byzantine military architecture, built to withstand well-equipped siege attacks.{{sfn|Oates|1956|p=196}} Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus describes the Sassanian siege in 360, during which a massive battering ram finally brought down a round tower that had only recently been repaired.{{sfn|Oates|1956|p=196}} This led to the capture of Singara.{{sfn|Oates|1956|p=196}}
The 1st Flavian and 1st Parthian legions which had formed the garrison, as well as the inhabitants of Singara, were sent into captivity in Sasanid Persia.{{sfn|Crawford|2016|p=206}}{{sfn|Lieu|2006}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
Sources
- {{cite book |last=Crawford |first=Peter |title=Constantius II: Usurpers, Eunuchs, and the Antichrist |publisher=Pen & Sword |year=2016|isbn= 978-1783400553}}
- {{cite encyclopedia | article = NISIBIS | last = Lieu | first = Samuel | authorlink = | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/nisibis-city-in-northern-mesopotamia | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link = | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica | pages = | location = | publisher = | year = 2006 }}
- {{cite journal |title=The Roman Frontier in Northern 'Iraq |first=David |last=Oates |journal=The Geographical Journal |volume=122 |number=2 (Jun.) |year=1956 |pages=190-199 }}
- {{cite book|last=Whitby|first=Michael|authorlink=Michael Whitby|title=The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare, Volume 2 Rome from the Late Republic to the Late Empire |publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0521782746| editor-given1 = Philip | editor-surname1 = Sabin |editor-link1=Philip Sabin| editor-given2 = Hans | editor-surname2 = van Wees | editor-given3 = Michael | editor-surname3 = Whitby }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singara, Siege of, 360}}
Category:History of Mesopotamia
Category:360s in the Roman Empire
Category:Sieges of the Roman–Persian Wars
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