Eastern Mediterranean 336: Battle of Narasara

Political map of the Eastern Mediterranean on sum 336 (Constantinian Dynasty: Battle of Narasara), showing the following events: Calocaerus; Dalmatius; Overthrow of Khosrov the Small; Battle of Narasara.

To prepare for his succession, Constantine placed his three sons in charge of the three praetorian prefectures and in 335 elevated his nephew Dalmatius to head the new administrative region of Ripa Gothica. The following year the Persians conquered Armenia and invaded Roman Mesopotamia but were defeated at Narasara by Constantine’s son Constantius II.

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Main Events

333?–334? Calocaerus

In 333 or 334 Calocaerus, the Magister pecoris camelorum (“Master of the Flock and Camels”) in Cyprus, revolted and proclaimed himself emperor. News of the rebellion was barely out when it was suppressed by Flavius Dalmatius, Constantine’s half-brother and Censor in the East. Dalmatius took Calocaerus and his co-conspirators to Tarsus in Cilicia, where they were tried and executed. in wikipedia

18 Sep 335 Dalmatius

In September 336 Constantine made Dalmatius, the young son of his half-brother Flavius Dalmatius, into a Caesar and on the same day married his daughter Constantina to Dalmatius’ brother Hannibalianus. Dalmatius was given command over the ripa Gothica, which consisted of the dioceses of Moesiae—divided at about this time into the new dioceses of Dacia and Macedonia—and Thraciae. in wikipedia

336 Overthrow of Khosrov the Small

Apparently concerned about the alliance between the Christian rulers of Rome and Armenia, Shapur II, shah of Sasanian Persia, sent his general Narseh to invade Armenia in 336. Many Armenians were Zoroastrian or otherwise pro-Persian and welcomed Narseh, who quickly captured the Armenian king Khosrov III the Small and replaced him with a Persian client. At about the same time, Vache I, the Arsacid king of Albania, abandoned the Romans and became a vassal of Shapur. in wikipedia

336 Battle of Narasara

After conquering Armenia in 336, the Persian general Narseh crossed into Roman territory and took the fortified settlement of Amida by storm. He then advanced into Roman Mesopotamia but was soon defeated and killed by Constantius II at nearby Narasara. After this, Constantius retook Amida and restored the frontier. in wikipedia