The Sasanian invasion of Armenia in 350 AD was led by Sasanian Shahanshah Shapur II (r. 309–379) against the joint Roman-Armenian army commanded by Emperor Constantius II (r. 337–361). It ended in a decisive victory for the allies, with Shapur barely escaping from his camp in Satala after a pitched battle. He lost much spoil in the sacking of his camp, and the victors forced him to recognize the succession in the Kingdom of Armenia of Arshak II (r. 350–368), son of Tiran (r. 339–350), who had been blinded and taken to Ctesiphon, capital of the Sasanian Empire in Asoristan, some time earlier in the same year.
Prelude
Since the death of Emperor Constantine I (r. 306–337), his immediate successors had been competing with the Sasanian Empire for control over the Kingdom of Armenia. In 338, Shapur II launched a massive invasion of the Roman East, taking control over many cities such as Amida and persecuting Armenian and Mesopotamian Christians, and massacring over 16,000 of them. In 350, following the treachery of the senekapet Antiochus II of Syunik, the Marzban of Caucasian Albania Barsabores took King Tiran (r. 339–350) to Ctesiphon, but not before burning out his eyes. The Armenian nakharars (nobles) and military officers gathered and hunted him down, but were unable to save the king, and decided to pillage and capture Sassanid territories in retaliation. Shapur II responded by leading a large expedition. The Armenians sent emissaries Arsaberus I and Antiochus II to Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire, and asked for help from Emperor Constantius II (r. 337–361), who agreed to help. The Roman army halted at Satala, preparing for battle.
Invasion
Battle of Satala, 350 AD
Constantius personally went with Arsaberos I and Antiochus II to the Persian camp at Satala to survey the conditions of the target and the size of the invading force. Having obtained the information they required, they returned to the Roman camp and prepared to march. At dawn the next day, the combined Armeno-Roman army attacked the Persians, who were taken by surprise. The entire Persian army was massacred, and the shahanshah was forced to flee, leaving behind his treasures and wives, including his chief consort (banbišn). Constantius installed Arshak II (r. 350–368), Tiran's son, as king and appointed Antiochus and Arsaberos as overseers of the country, bestowing upon them many gifts and honours. In Persia, on the other hand, Shapur conducted a thorough investigation to discover the cause of the conflict and as soon as he learned that it was all caused by Barsabores, he ordered that his diadem and ceremonial robe be removed and tortured. Then, he ordered that his skin be torn off and stuffed with straw and hung in the public square as a spectacle of reproach.