Theodosiopolis > Erzurum Erzurum Turkey

The compromise peace with the Persians concluded in 387 gives Rome a small section of Armenia, where the emperor founds Theodosiopolis (Erzurum)

The Persians had been forced by Diocletian to relinquish Armenia, and Tiridates III, the son of Tiridates II, had in about 287 been restored to the throne under Roman protection; his reign had determined the course of much of Armenia's subsequent history, and his conversion by St. Gregory the Illuminator and the adoption of Christianity as the state religion (c. 314) has created a permanent gulf between Armenia and Persia.

War breaks out between Constantinople and Ctesiphon because of the refusal of Theodosius to return to the Persians the Christians who have sought refuge from persecution in his empire.

In addition, the Persians have proven unwilling to return to the Romans gold-miners who had been working in Persian territory; they have also confiscated goods from Roman merchants.

Ardaburius, the emperor's magister militum praesentalis, conducts an invasion of Arzanene by way of Armenia.

After defeating the Persian commander Mihr-Narseh, …

The nomadic Hephthalites, or White Huns, help Sassanid ruler Kavadh regain the Persian throne from his usurping brother in exchange for a tribute.

The situation is exacerbated by recent changes in the flow of the Tigris in lower Mesopotamia, sparking famines and flood.

Kavadh, short on funds, requests financial assistance from Eastern Roman emperor Anastasius, who refuses and begins to interfere in the affairs of Persian Armenia.

Kavadh invades Eastern Roman Armenia in 502 and takes Theodosiopolis, the province’s major city.

A branch of the royal Armenian Arsacid line is recognized as autonomous local princes in the eastern fringes of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Artabanes is a member of this lineage: His father is named John, and he has a brother also named John.

Artabanes, apparently still a young man in 538/539, takes part in the Armenian conspiracy against Acacius, the proconsul of First Armenia, whose heavy taxes and cruel behavior are greatly resented.

Artabanes himself kills Acacius.

Sittas, an imperial general who had received the honorific title of patrician in 535, is credited with a victory against the Bulgars in Moesia, by the Iatrus (Yantra) in the same year, and had been named an honorary consul in 536.

In 538/539, Sittas is sent back to Armenia to face the revolt led by Artabanes.

Failing to negotiate peace, Sittas starts active fighting.

In the Battle of Oenochalcon, the nature of the terrain forces both armies to fight in scattered groups rather than in unified forces.

Procopius records that Sittas was killed by either Artabanes or Solomon, an otherwise obscure rebel.

Artabanes's father tries to negotiate a settlement with Sittas' successor, Bouzes, but is murdered by the latter.

This act forces Artabanes and his followers to seek the aid of Khosrau I.

Crossing over to Persian territory, over the next few years Artabanes and those who follow him will take part in Khosrau's campaigns against the Romans.

Abdallah, son of Caliph Abd al-Malik, was born around 677 and had grown up in the Caliphate's capital, Damascus.

During his youth he had accompanied his father on several campaigns.

He leads his own campaign for the first time in 700/701, as a retaliation for the attacks of the imperial general Heraclius.

During this expedition, he captures the border fortress of Theodosiopolis and raids into Armenia Minor.

Emperor Constantine V leads an invasion in 752 into the new Abbasid Caliphate under As-Saffah.

Capturing Theodosioupolis and …

Theophilos Kourkouas, fighting in Anatolia, captures Theodosiopolis for the Empire.