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Parthia's Battle of Carrhae: The Day Rome Lost Its Eagles cover art

Parthia's Battle of Carrhae: The Day Rome Lost Its Eagles

Parthia's Battle of Carrhae: The Day Rome Lost Its Eagles

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In 53 BC, at the Battle of Carrhae, the Parthian general Surena crushed a Roman army led by Marcus Licinius Crassus, killing or capturing over 20,000 soldiers and capturing the legionary standards—the aquilae—that became symbols of Roman humiliation. This episode follows the battle's dramatic course: Crassus' disastrous invasion, the Parthian tactic of feigned retreat and the devastating Parthian shot, the death of Crassus' son Publius, and the final surrender. But the story doesn't end there. We also explore the decades-long Roman quest to recover the lost eagles under Augustus and later emperors, how the standards became diplomatic bargaining chips, and what their return meant for Roman-Parthian relations. Along the way, we meet key figures: the brilliant Surena, the avaricious Crassus, the young prince Pacorus, and the diplomat Augustus. This episode also touches on the historiographical debates—how much of the Roman accounts can we trust?—and what Carrhae reveals about the limits of Roman military power in the East. #BattleOfCarrhae #Crassus #Surena #ParthianShot #Aquilae #RomanEagles #MarcusLiciniusCrassus #Augustus #ParthianEmpire #AncientRome #Mesopotamia #Carrhae #LostLegions #Diplomacy #MilitaryHistory #ParthianHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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