Battle of Edessa (260)

The Battle of Edessa was fought in 260 during Valerian’s campaign against the Sasanian king Shapur I. Disease had weakened the Roman army before the decisive confrontation, and the campaign ended in a catastrophic Roman defeat.

Valerian was captured alive, the only reigning Roman emperor known to have suffered that fate. His loss damaged imperial prestige, left Gallienus to rule alone and encouraged separatist regimes and local military powers to emerge across the empire.

Lion of the Sun begins from the political and military consequences of Valerian’s capture. The novel follows the collapse of Roman authority in the east and the rise of Odaenathus of Palmyra as a regional power capable of resisting Persia.