HKB

← back

History of the Wars, Books I and II: The Persian War

Procopius of Caesarea · c. 545–555 CE (composition of History of the Wars, Books I–II, covering the Persian war material) primary

passage 26 of 187 · BOOK I.--THE PERSIAN WAR 1 > BOOK I (21/70)

↪ you wandered here via “Siege of Amida” — the connecting lines are tinted below

in brief
Winter besiegers at Amida fail to storm the fortress but nearly succeed by starvation; Persians conceal their lack of provisions, agree to surrender the city for 1,000 pounds of gold, and the Romans retake Amida after a deception.

IX

After this Areobindus went to Byzantium at the summons of the emperor, while the other generals reached Amida, and, in spite of the winter season, invested it. And although they made many attempts they were unable to carry the fortress by storm, but they were on the point of accomplishing their object by starvation; for all the provisions of the besieged were exhausted. The generals, however, had ascertained nothing of the straits in which the enemy were; but since they saw that their own troops were distressed by the labour of the siege and the wintry weather, and at the same time suspected that a Persian army would be coming upon them before long, they were eager to quit the place on any terms whatever. The Persians, on their part, not knowing what would become of them in such terrible straits, continued to conceal scrupulously their lack of the necessities of life, and made it appear that they had an abundance of all provisions, wishing to return to their homes with the reputation of honour. So a proposal was discussed between them, according to which the Persians were to deliver over the city to the Romans upon receipt of one thousand pounds of gold. Both parties then gladly executed the terms of the agreement, and the son of Glones, upon receiving the money, delivered over Amida to the Romans. For Glones himself had already died in the following manner.

← previous passage read in the full work → next passage →

topics: conquest, plunder, and captives · siege and fortification · treaties, truces, and peacemaking

History of the Wars, Books I and II: The Persian War · Procopius of Caesarea · 545–555