User:Kansas Bear/Treaty of 363

The Peace Treaty of 363 between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire was the consequent treaty from the Julian's Persian War. Upon Emperor Julian's death, the newly elected Emperor, Jovian, was forced into signing a humiliating treaty by which numerous territorial and diplomatic concessions were given to the Persians.

Julian's preparations
After his accession to the Roman throne in A.D. 361, Emperor Julian decided to reinitiate the war against Sasanid Persia. Over the winter of 362-63 Julian established his quarters in Antioch, and as soon as spring arrived he was ready to take the field. Within a month of his departure from Antioch, a force of 95,000 had been assembled at Carrhae. This army under Julian marched swiftly south-east along the river on route to Ctesiphon, the enemy capital. The remainder, which with the aid of the King of Armenia Arshak II, was ordered to effect a junction with the emperor before the walls of Ctesiphon, marching by way of Nisibis and along the Tigris.

Progress of the war
The southern arm of the expedition met with some initial success, taking Assyria, Anah and Macepracta. The canals which the Persians had destroyed to swamp the country as an expedient to halt the Roman advance, were repaired by the Roman engineers. Two cities which resisted, Pirisabora and Maiozamalcha were leveled. The Tigris was crossed, and the Persian army which contested its passage was defeated and penned up in Ctesiphon. Arshak II, however, had failed to rise to the aid of the Roman army. After a vain attempt to penetrate further east to Susa and beyond, in the course of which Julian was forced to abandon his fleet and most of his provisions, Julian was at length convinced that no option remained to him but a retreat, hopefully to rejoin the northern army in Corduene, and resume the contest in the following year.

On 26 June 363, during the Battle of Samarra, Julian was wounded. His death that night, and the subsequent election by the troops of Jovian as his successor, seemed to secure the ruin of the campaign. Jovian led the Roman legions to Dura. Their provisions almost exhausted and their attempts to cross the Tigris failed, Jovian, having no way out, petitioned Shapur for peace.

Terms of the treaty
The terms of the treaty were:
 * that the Roman influence in Armenia be renounced.
 * As the direct territorial spoil of the empire, Shapur required the return of Corduene, Sophene, and the other provinces beyond the Tigris which Narseh had previously had ceded to Diocletian
 * He required the surrender of Nisibis, Singara, and of all the strong cities of defense which Diocletian and his successors had founded on the frontier of Mesopatamia
 * He allowed their inhabitants to retire, and they were established in the restored city of Amida.
 * A thirty years truce was solemnly and mutually guaranteed, and high-born hostages exchanged.